Rhinos are big herbivores (plant-eaters) that have a huge impact on their habitat, by spreading around seeds and walking through, pushing and shoving the vegetation, which helps other animals in their environments.
They have also had a big impact on human culture, appearing in all sorts of art for at least 700 years!
There are five species of rhinos alive today, but sadly four of these species are threatened with extinction. Rhinos are mainly threatened by habitat loss and hunting for their horns, which are used as a status symbol and in traditional medicines.
In the last 10 years, nearly 10,000 rhinos have been killed for their horns, with the majority of these in Africa. Thankfully, conservation efforts mean that three of the five species have populations that are increasing or staying the same, but much more effort is needed to “keep the five alive.”
This World Rhino Day, you can add to the collection of rhino art, and help raise awareness for the conservation of all rhino species, by building and decorating this rhino however you want to, and sharing what you’ve done with your friends and family!
Make a few of them, and you’ll have your own ‘crash’ of rhinoceroses.
Create a rhinoceros
You will need:
- Paper
- Pens or pencils
- Scissors
- Glue
- Rhino body shapes
- Print or draw your own rhino shapes template.
- Colour the shapes in, using different colours, patterns and shapes.
- Cut out your rhino shape pieces.
- Find different backgrounds to layer your rhino pieces onto.
- How many different rhinos can you create? Use glue to stick down your favourites.
Inspiration for this Crafty Creature was taken from Romano Frea’s colourful 1980 work “Interpretazioni del Rinoceronte”:
Learn more about rhinos in art from researcher Oscar Wilson.
Discover more about rhino conservation from the The International Rhino Foundation
Museum of Zoology Blog 
One thought on “A ‘crash’ of rhinoceroses”