World Rhino Day 2022: History, Significance, Theme, And Quotes

Updated September 22, 2022

World Rhino Day is an international campaign, every year, it is observed on 22 September by the rhino experts, World Wildlife Fund, and other worldwide organizations. Generating awareness for all five rhino species and highlighting the steps being taken to protect them is the primary objective of this day.

The five species of rhinos include one-horned, Sumatran, black, white, and Javan Rhinos. These are magnificent creatures of the planet earth; they mainly roam the grassland and open savannahs of Africa and Asia.

World Rhino Day creates an avenue for people, non-governmental organizations, zoos, and wildlife conservation groups to raise awareness about the various rhino species and their threats. Moreover, on this day, new ways or steps are initiated to protect and preserve these five species of rhinos.

Significance of World Rhino Day

Over the decades, poachers have hunted or killed rhinos for blood and unique horns. Horns of rhinos have therapeutic properties. Because of this, it is used to prepare traditional Asian medicine. And it is believed to treat cancer, fever, convulsions, and increased male virility. That’s why their horns are in huge demand.

Rhinos are also hunted for their perceived price in the largest markets of Vietnam and China. Therefore, with time, Rhinoceros’ have become critically endangered in the World. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 500,000 rhinos; today, only 27,000 remain in the wild.

World Rhino Day plays a significant role in creating worldwide awareness about rhinos and their different species. Also, this day highlights the issues rhinos face and encourages organizations and governments to take appropriate steps to stop the illegal wildlife trade from protecting and saving them.

History of World Rhino Day

World or International Rhino Day was established in 2010 by the World Wildlife Fund South Africa, but on 22 September 2011, the first Rhino Day was observed. Since then, World Rhino Day has expanded to become a worldwide celebration.

This day was popularized by joint efforts of Lisa Jane Campbell and Rhishja Cota. In 2011, Lisa of Chishakwe Ranch in Zimbabwe was planning for World Rhino Day, and she needed collaborators to carry out that plan. During searching, she found Rhishja, founder and creative director of Annamitici, and sent her an electronic mail (E-mail).

They had a common goal, and they wanted to make World Rhino Day a day of observance for all five species of rhino. Both were passionate about protecting and preserving rhinos. And they made Rhino Day an international success online and offline.

The Theme of World Rhino Day 2022

Every year, organizations launch a particular theme to mark World Rhino Day with an aim to spread awareness about five species of rhinos. The 2022 world rhino day theme is “Five Rhino Species forever.” And the theme of 2021 was “Keep the five Alive.”

How to Observe World Rhino Day?

This year 2022, World Rhino Day is on September 22, Thursday. To observe this day, Rhino.org have organized some special events, with IRF’s Executive Director, Nina Fascione, at 9 am EDT. Videos related current rhino population will be streamed on social media, including FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN, and YOUTUBE.

On streaming, wildlife organizations worldwide will join us to answer any questions we may have about rhinos. Also, on this day first episode of ‘Rhino Case Files’ will premiere at 12 pm EDT. If you want to participate in World Rhino Day, don’t wait; go and join immediately.

Furthermore, on this day, you can visit zoos or sanctuaries near you that exhibit rhinoceros. And you can watch movies or documentaries based on rhinos to know more about them. Donate to charities that promote rhino conservation. The World Wildlife Fund and the International Rhino Fund are a couple of these.

World Rhino Day Quotes;

(I) “Whatever causes you to drop your plan forward and open your vision, your own, deeply personal vision of what your life could be at its very best, that’s what I call meeting your rhinoceros.”- Martha Beck.
(II) “The scary thing is that in my lifetime, 95 per cent of the world’s rhinos have been killed.” – Mark Carwardine
(III) “People can have rhinoceroses’ skin, but there’s a point when something’s going to hurt you.” – Janet Jackson

(IV) “These magnificent species of Africa – elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetah, the great apes (Africa has four of the world’s five great apes) – this is a treasure for all humanity, and they are not for sale. They are not for trade. They need to be valued and preserved by humanity. We all need a global commitment to that.” – Patrick Bergin
(V) “My parents were very permissive when it came to animals. As long as we earned the money to buy them and built whatever structure it was, they were going to live in, we could have any kind of pet we wanted. They would have let us have a rhinoceros if we could have afforded it.” – Maggie Stiefvater

(VI) “If all the beasts were gone man would die from a great loneliness of spirit. Whatever happens to the beast, soon happens to man. All things are connected.” -Chief Seattle.
(VII) “My biggest concern and main engagement with UNEP is focused on endangered species and illegal wildlife trade – mostly elephants, rhinos, etc.” – Yaya Toure
(VIII) “The rhino is more or less extinct, it is not because of global warming and shrinking habitat. It is because of Beyonce’s handbags.” – Steven Morrissey.

(IX) “Only way to save our rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives because does mutual dependency between it and millions of other species of both animals and plants.” – David Attenborough.
(X) “The illegal wildlife trade threatens not only the survival of entire species surges elephants and rhinos but also the livelihoods and option the very lives of millions of people across Africa who depend on tourism for a living.”- Yaya Toure.

(XI) “Rhinos are just fat unicorns. If we would give them time and attention they deserve, as well as a diet, they would reveal their majestic ways.”- Ashley Purdy.
(XII) “I have learned that a better experience can make you stronger. I know forcefully say that I have a head like a rhinoceros smiling. It is an interesting thing.”- Mel Gibson.

Frequently Asked Questions on Rhino Day

Q. What day is World Rhino Day?

Ans: World Rhino Day is an international campaign, every year, it is observed on 22 September by the rhino experts, World Wildlife Fund, and other worldwide organizations to spread awareness about Rhinos.

Q. What does World rhino Day do?

Ans: World Rhino Day creates an avenue for people, non-governmental organizations, zoos, and wildlife conservation groups to raise awareness about the various rhino species.

Q. What was the theme of World rhino Day 2021?

Ans: The theme of 2021 was “Keep the five Alive.”

Q. How many rhinos will be left in the world in 2022?

Ans: At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 500,000 rhinos, and only 27,000 remain in the wild today.

World Rhino Day: History, Significance, Quotes, Current Theme & Know How to Celebrate 22 September?