♡ All about the Northern White Rhinoceros! By Keira Lin Ziying☆

This animal is extremely rare! In fact, it is under the IUCN’s critically endangered section.

1. Why this animal is extremely rare and how rare is it?

This animal species decreased significantly at a fast rate as there were many poachers who were trying to get rhino horns to sell to illegal markets. Today, this species is so rare that there are only 2 known female rhinos. It is now considered functionally extinct ever since the last male Northern White Rhino passed.

2. What makes the rhino’s horn so precious?

While many mistake that they have medical properties, these horns are actually made of keratin, the material that our fingernails are made of! The horns also serve as a defence mechanism, which helps protect the rhino and its offspring.

Structural adaptation of the rhino:

1. The northern white rhino had a wide mouth which allows it to crop large amounts of grass in one go!

2.These rhinos have poor eyesight. However, they have excellent sense of smell and hearing to detect possible threats.

3. Interestingly, rhinos communicate through their dung! The rhino’s diet affects the smell of its dung based on how much grass it eats. This tells other rhinos more about them.