These adorable giants are intelligent and resourceful. When it gets too hot, rhinos dip in muddy puddles to cool their bodies. Once the mud dries, it acts as a natural sunscreen. African savannas can reach 30 degrees Celsius during summer, which is quite hot. Unlike their peers, rhinos don't have fur or feathers to protect them from the scorching heat. They must utilize whatever is available to adapt.

However, it doesn't end there. They also cover themselves with mud to drive away flies, parasites, and bugs. Genius!

You might often find rhinos taking their afternoon nap under a tree. They're not slacking off, trust me. This siesta is a significant part of their daily routine, a much-needed break during the intense afternoon heat. Napping is an effective way of conserving energy. They are most active at dawn and dusk, keeping their afternoons free for that all-important power nap.

Aside from their horns, the rhinoceros fact below talks about another prominent feature of these animals.

Their skin is thick (up to two inches) and wrinkly. It acts as a natural armor against threats, shielding them from thorny bushes, rough branches, and the scorching sun. Furthermore, the folds on rhino skin aid in thermoregulation and easy mobility.

So what made their skin thick? The thickness of rhino skin results from a dense layer of collagen fibers. Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides structural support and strength to various tissues in the body. In rhinos, this collagen layer is particularly well-developed, offering robust protection against physical impacts and external injuries. 

Another contributing factor is the presence of a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. This layer acts as insulation and further enhances the skin's durability. However, it's important to note that though thick, their skin is extremely sensitive. That's why they use their mud sunscreen.

Did you know that rhinos use their poop to communicate important information1? The distinctive scent in their feces contains chemical signals that convey their sex, age, reproductive status, and territorial boundaries. When one rhino encounters these scent markings, it can learn crucial details about the other rhino, helping it to assess potential mates or rivals and avoid unnecessary conflicts.

In addition, rhinos also use vocalizations, body language, and physical interactions to communicate with each other. Grunts, snorts, and trumpeting vocalizations serve various social purposes, including mating displays, warning signals, and expressions of distress. Physical interactions, such as headbutting and body leaning, also help rhinos establish dominance, hierarchies, and social bonds within their community.

Rhinos have one of the longest gestation periods in mammals. They give birth to their calf after 15 to 16 months. The reason? This extended period is likely because they carry a much larger baby that requires more time and energy to develop. A newborn rhino calf can weigh between 88 to 140 pounds. Typically, rhino babies stay with their mothers for up to three years.

Their tenacity allows them to see decades, living an average of 40 to 50 years. This is even true in harsh conditions where these sturdy creatures face intense heat, droughts, and fluctuating food supply. Evolution has gifted them with adaptable digestive systems, letting them make do with dry grass and shrubs during lean times.

Then there are our captive rhinos. Here, they find themselves tucked away from danger, living under the vigilant eyes of caretakers. In zoos and sanctuaries, rhinos live even longer, reaching up to 60 years. Regular meals, clean water, and timely medical intervention are pivotal in extending their lifespan. Yet, while their days may be longer, it's crucial to remember that the safety of captivity can never substitute the vibrancy and diversity of life in the wild.

Did you know that African rhinos have a unique relationship with oxpeckers? These birds, sometimes called "tick birds" or "cleaner birds," are helpful companions to rhinos by providing grooming services. They eat ticks, parasites, and insects that infest rhino skin.

Additionally, oxpeckers serve as guards for rhinos, warning them of danger with their sounds since rhinos have poor eyesight. In exchange for their services, rhinos offer oxpeckers a reliable food source and a safe place to perch4.

Three subspecies of modern rhinos have tragically become extinct due to different threats.

Western Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes): It was declared extinct in 2011 by IUCN. The primary reason for its extinction was rampant poaching for its valuable horn. Loss of habitat due to human encroachment and conflict with humans also contributed to its decline.
Northern White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni): The last male of this subspecies died in 2018, leaving only two surviving females, making it functionally extinct. Poaching for their horns decimated their population.
Vietnamese Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) became extinct in 2011. The primary cause of its extinction was also poaching for its rhino horn, driven by the demand for traditional medicine and illegal wildlife trade. This subspecies was restricted to the Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam, making it one of the world's rarest and most critically endangered mammals.

In the early 1900s, there were approximately 500,000 rhinos found in Africa and Asia. However, by 1970, the rhino numbers dropped to 70,000. Unfortunately, today there are only around 27,000 remaining rhinos in the wild. Rhino poaching remains their most significant threat. Poachers target their valuable horns, which are highly sought-after trophies in the illegal wildlife trade and traditional Asian medicine markets.

Poachers relentlessly hunt and kill rhinos, pushing several rhino species to extinction. To make matters worse, the increasing human populations also contribute to habitat loss for these animals. Climate change is intensifying drought and affecting vegetation, further compounding the challenges rhinos face.

IUCN lists the three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—as critically endangered species. The white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) is listed as near threatened, with an estimated population of around 18,000. Despite being listed as vulnerable, the Greater One-Horned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) has one of Asia's most successful conservation stories. Thanks to the conservation efforts of Indian and Nepalese authorities, their population has significantly increased.

Conservation efforts to protect rhinos include anti-poaching measures, habitat protection, and community engagement. Well-trained rangers with advanced technology apprehend poachers and dismantle trafficking networks. Translocation, population management, and reducing demand for rhino products are also crucial.

Organizations like the International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino International, alongside governments and communities in countries with rhino populations, are actively involved in rhino conservation.

Be part of the solution by simply spreading these rhinoceros facts.

If monoculture is not ideal, why is it the most common agricultural practice in the world today? All the primary reasons for monocultural farming revolve around maximizing profits. 

If a farmer plants a single crop on the entire farm, there's more space available for that crop, making them a major supplier. Also, they can run the whole business using a single farming system: the same seed, pest control, weed control, and machinery. That helps farmers save considerable amounts of money and effort.

Popular crops grown in monoculture plantations include corn, wheat, rice, sugar cane, soybeans, and oil palm trees. Monoculture crops are usually essential sources of food, fiber, and other commercially important materials. 

Monoculture has helped to increase food and fiber production. The increase in grain production has helped reduce the number of malnourished people even as the population keeps rising.

Effects of monoculture on the environment

Monoculture has immediately noticeable advantages, but it also has adverse effects that are slow but destructive. Such effects include environmental degradation and risks to human health.

Let's consider some consequences of monoculture. 

Lack of biodiversity

Natural ecosystems consist of diverse wildlife communities that effectively sustain one another. Because of that diversity, essential ecosystem services like biological control of pests and diseases, carbon sequestration, pollination, etc., occur.

Monoculture is essentially a threat to biodiversity. Farmers remove all crops except the crop of choice. Consequently, they also force out animal species dependent on those removed plants by extermination, starvation, or lack of habitat.

Many native animal and plant species, some critical to the environment, become extinct because of monoculture. Agricultural expansion already threatens the natural environment, and monocropping makes it even scarier.