Rhinos In Crisis
Rhinos have existed on Earth for more than 50 million years and have a glorious history. In the past, rhinos were much more diverse and widespread (occurring in North America and Europe as well as in Africa and Asia). Today, only five species of rhino survive. These five species are further divided into 11 identified subspecies. All rhinos are under threat of, and all but one species is on the verge of, extinction. Without drastic action, some rhinos could be extinct in the wild within the next 10-20 years. Only 17,500 of these marvelous creatures survive in the wild with another 1,200 in captivity. Of these rhinos, more than two thirds are white rhinos. There are only around 6,500 of the other four species combined:
Black rhino 3,725
Greater One-horned rhino 2,619
Sumatran Rhino <275
Javan Rhino <60
Extinct Rhinos
Although only 5 species of rhinoceros precariously survive today, rhinos have a long and distinguished history. Since their origin about 50 million years ago, they have been an extremely diverse group, representing many different ecotypes: Some were like giraffes, some like horses, some like hippos, others like modern rhinos. The extinct rhinos were also more widespread occurring in North America and Europe in addition to Africa and Asia. Moreover, rhinos were not confined to the tropics in the past but extended into temperate and even arctic regions.
Extinct rhinos include:
- Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal that ever lived, resembles a very big,muscular giraffe.
- Telecoeras, a single horned, hippo-like grazer common in North America.
- Woolly Rhino (Coelodonta antiquitatis), probably the most well known of the extinct rhinos.
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