The Javan rhinoceros, a critically endangered animal, is one species worth telling your kids about. If you are a teacher, parent or other educator, consider sharing these 10 important facts about the Javan rhinoceros with the kids in your care.
1. There were once thousands of Javan rhinos living on Earth. Today, there may be as few as 28 Javan rhinoceroses still alive.
2. Unless someone does something very soon to protect the Javan rhinoceros, it will probably be extinct within the next ten years.
3. The Javan rhinoceros has only one horn, while some other species of rhino have two horns. Most female Javan rhinos have no horn at all.
4. Adult Javan rhinos live alone, but babies may stay with their mothers for several months or years until they can survive on their own.
5. Javan rhinoceros mothers are pregnant for a very long time. Their gestation period-- the amount of time that they are pregnant-- is almost twice as long as human mothers.
6. It is hard for Javan rhinos to find mates because there are so few left, and many of those who remain are related to each other.
7. The Javan rhinoceros lives in the rainforests of Asia, which are being destroyed and replaced with farm land.
8. It is against the law to kill a Javan rhino, but some people, called poachers, do it anyway. They grind up the rhino's bones and horns to make medicine, but the medicine doesn't work.
9. The World Wildlife Fund and the Defenders of Wildlife are trying to help the Javan rhinoceros. They are planting foods that the Javan rhinoceros can eat, and they are helping adult rhinos find unrelated mates.
10. You can help the Javan rhinoceros. Ask your parents to help you donate to Javan rhinos. Share information about Javan rhinos with your friends and classmates. If enough people care, we can make sure that the Javan rhino is still here when you grow up.
Parents: If your child is interested in helping Javan rhinos, consider adopting a Javan rhino from the World Wildlife Fund for your child's next birthday or holiday.