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 Rhino
As a species, the rhino has suffered severely because of an almost mystical faith that
some Asian peoples place in medicines contained in the Rhino horn. Only 17,000 Indian, 500
Sumatran, and a scarce 70 Javan rhinos -- the rarest in world -- remain. In light of the
fact that the rhino dominated the world for almost 150 million years, this is an
incredible decline. Like other subspecies, Asian rhinos -- those found in Bhutan --
reside in water a good portion of the time. Water protects the animals from bloodsucking
insect pests and the oppressive heat of the day. The mud that later forms makes a dry coat
on their hides that serves to protect them. They graze mainly on grasses and other aquatic
plants, many of which are submerged. To get at a plant below the surface, the rhino
submerges its head, pulls a plant out by the roots, and lifts its head out of the water to
chew and swallow its newly grasped meal.
 Large animals that can measure up to 12 feet in length and weight
over two tons, rhinos are renowned for their horns. A rhino's horn is actually a form of
agglutinated hair. If removed or broken off, a rhino's horn will re-grow.
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