Rhino horns are product of keratin, a fibrous protein present in hair, fingernails, scales, and different elements of vertebrate animals. Elephant tusks are product of ivory, which consists of dentine, a calcified physique tissue additionally present in human tooth. 

Like fingernails, horns develop repeatedly all through a rhino’s life and might be trimmed with out inflicting ache. White, black, and Sumatran rhinos have two horns—a small horn within the again and a a lot bigger one within the entrance. Javan and Indian rhinos every solely have one horn. 

5. What do rhinos use their horns for? 

Male rhinos, particularly the African species, use their horns as a present of power and to specific dominance. These with the biggest horns are seen as fascinating mates by females. When presiding over his territory, a dominant male rhino will scare off different males by reducing his head and charging them together with his horn.  

Rhinos can even use their horns to dig for meals and unearth small crops with edible roots. The white rhino will do that when situations are dry and there isn’t sufficient grass to eat.  

Male rhinos additionally generally use their horns to maneuver their dung right into a pile, often known as a midden, to mark their territory. 

6. Are rhinos aggressive? 

Rhinos might be protecting of their younger, however they’re not often aggressive if unprovoked. Rhinos choose to roam unhindered and undisturbed. Nevertheless, in the event that they understand a menace, they might defend themselves by charging. Feminine rhinos are sometimes very protecting of their calves, which implies they’re harmful to come across within the wild.  

7. What’s a child rhino known as? 

A younger rhino is named a calf, whereas an grownup feminine is called a cow and a male is a bull. Collectively, a gaggle of rhinos is named a ‘crash’. 

Feminine rhinos can have calves as soon as they’re six years outdated. They offer start to at least one calf at a time and are pregnant for 16 months. Calves will stick with their moms for as much as 4 years. After the start of a calf, a feminine gained’t get pregnant once more for one more two to 4 years. Within the wild, rhinos dwell for round 40 to 55 years. 

A notable distinction between black and white rhinos is obvious when a calf is current. If threatened, black rhino calves comply with their moms intently. This is because of their habitat desire—they spend a major period of time in thick bush, via which the mom clears a path. White rhino calves, then again, have a tendency to face in entrance of their moms if threatened. It is because they dwell largely in plains—staying in entrance of their mom means she will be able to hold a detailed eye on them. 

8. How a lot do child rhinos weigh?