Photo by: Donald Fraser
BY: Tasneem Johnson-Dollie
Celebrate World Rhino Day by finding out which of the world’s rhinos you have the most in common with!
Completing our World Rhino Day quiz will also teach you some rhino facts and fill you in on more about one of the world’s most endangered species.
And this is an important first step for anyone looking to get involved in rhino conservation.
So let’s dash right in and see which of these horned-nosed creatures is a rhino after your own heart.
The World Rhino Day quiz
Do you prefer the arid African outback, or are you partial to Asia’s forested terrains? Is lounging languidly in a water hole your idea of a good time, or would you rather be rolling in the dust? These are some of the differences between the world’s five rhino species. Let’s see which one you’ll be.
Answer these five questions and read through the feedback to see which rhino fits with your answer. At the end of the quiz, the rhino you’ve been paired with most will be your World Rhino Day matchup!
1) Would you prefer to live in Africa or Asia?
a) Africa
b) Asia
There are three species of Asian rhinos and two species of African rhinos. If you’ve picked Africa as your destination of choice, you’d be either the white rhino or the black rhino.
If you chose Asia, you could be a greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino or perhaps one of the Javan rhinos living on the continent.
2) What is your favourite pastime?
a) Swimming
b) Sunbathing
c) Exploring tropical terrains.
Asian rhinos are really good swimmers and greater one-horned rhinos are probably the best swimmers of them all.
In contrast, African rhinos prefer to soak up the sun after rolling around in the dust – it’s some of the savannah’s most sought-after sunscreen after all!
And, since tropical forests are one of their preferred terrains, Sumatran and Javan rhinos would be a perfect rhino matchup if you’re an avid explorer of lush terrains.
3) For your everyday attire, would you prefer a bulkier look, or an outfit that’s smooth and sleek?
a) The bulkier the better!
b) Smooth and sleek please!
One of the best-known rhino facts is that every rhino has really thick skin – it can be over five centimetres thick in some species. But, thickness aside, some rhinos, like Javan and greater one-horned rhinos, have bigger skin folds and look bulkier than others.
Black rhinos and white rhinos have smaller skin folds, which make their skin look deceptively smoother.
Photo by: Louise Pavid
4) Do you consider yourself a foodie, or are you a more conservative eater?
a) A foodie for sure!
b) I’m what you’d call a picky eater.
While rhinos are, in general, herbivorous, their eating habits differ according to the type of terrain they live in.
Asian rhinos live in forests, are browsers and have a much more diverse diet, feeding on fruits, twigs and leaves.
Javan rhinos are known to feed on 300 different species of plant life.
And African rhinos mostly feed on grass and shrub vegetation, because they live in grasslands and shrublands.
5) Do you prefer to be where the action is or are you more reserved?
a) Action all the way.
b) Reserved for sure.
The smaller rhino species – like Sumatran rhinos and Javan rhinos – are much less bold than their bigger cousins – greater one-horned rhinos, black rhinos and white rhinos. Because of this, smaller rhino species aren’t easily spotted in nature.
So, which rhino did you have the most in common with this World Rhino Day? No matter the outcome, you’ll have learnt a lot more about these thick-skinned creatures.
Here’s more on why knowing your rhino facts is so important.
Why knowing your rhino facts matters
All rhino species are affected by climate change, habitat loss and poaching, and they’re all listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
Two species of Asian rhinos – Javan rhinos and Sumatran rhinos – are considered critically endangered, as is the species of African rhinos known as black rhinos.
The rarest rhino subspecies of all is the northern white rhino, of which only two individuals are left. While not all rhino species are down to single digits, all rhinos depend on rhino conservation efforts.
Growing your rhino knowledge means getting to know more about these creatures and the challenges they face. Rhino facts also put into perspective why rhino conservation is key right now.
You can keep building on your rhino knowledge on a Bushwise Field Guides course online, before setting off to sharpen your practical skills on an in-country course in the African savannah.
This way, you’ll be adding to your ability to raise awareness about rhinos in your community, and build on your potential to make an impact in rhino conservation worldwide.
Check out our online Nature Enthusiast course and in-country field guiding courses.