Did you know that rhinos are often referred to as “living dinosaurs”? While they’re not actually dinosaurs, this nickname captures the essence of their ancient legacy. Rhinos, or rhinoceroses, are ungulates (hoofed mammals), whereas dinosaurs were reptiles known as archosaurs. Except for modern birds, dinosaurs went extinct around 65 million years ago.
The late Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick was one of the first to call rhinos “the last living dinosaurs.” It’s a fitting description—rhinos have survived ice ages, prehistoric predators, and countless challenges over the past 60 million years. With their thick skin and powerful horns, they seem indestructible. Yet, despite their formidable appearance, rhinos face a single, devastating threat: humans.
Rhinos are what zoologists call a keystone species, much like African elephants, sharks, sea otters, and beavers. The term “keystone” comes from architecture: it’s the wedge-shaped stone at the top of an arch that holds the structure together. Remove the keystone, and the entire structure collapses. Similarly, keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Without them, entire ecosystems can unravel, leading to irreversible changes or even collapse.
In the wild, rhinos act as nature’s grassland gardeners. Their constant grazing keeps the grasslands short, creating open spaces where antelope can graze more easily and spot predators like lions and leopards. By maintaining these open areas, rhinos play a key role in supporting biodiversity.
But rhinos do more than just trim the grass. They also influence water systems, clear pathways for other animals, and create opportunities for smaller creatures to thrive. Dung beetles, for instance, roll rhino dung into balls, lay their eggs in it, and provide food for their larvae. Rhinos also host oxpeckers, birds that ride on their backs, picking off ticks and other parasites to keep the rhinos healthy.
These are just a few examples of how rhinos, as keystone species, support a wide range of life forms. If we lose rhinos, we risk losing not just these magnificent animals, but also the many species that depend on them. And the ripple effects don’t stop there: their disappearance could cause drastic changes to the habitats they help sustain, ultimately contributing to broader environmental shifts, including climate change.
The message is clear: without keystone species like rhinos and ecosystems could collapse. Protecting rhinos means protecting a fragile balance of life that sustains our planet.
Learn more about our rhino conservation efforts: click here.