• Question: Why do Rynos have horns

    Asked by LowennaA to RachelFR, melissau, heatherthompson, Claire H, Benji Turnbull on 23 Mar 2026.
    • Photo: Melissa Upjohn

      Melissa Upjohn answered on 23 Mar 2026:

      That’s a great question – it probably serves several different purposes. The horn (or horns in some rhinos) can be used when they’re having a fight with another rhino or when they need to defend themselves against a predator who wants to attack or eat them. They may use their horn for digging when they’re looking for food or they may use their horn to indicate when they’re looking for a mate to breed with. It’s a great shame that they are hunted for their horn, but there are projects which aim to protect the rhinos from people hunting them, by making the horn radioactive or otherwise not valuable for people.

Comments