Geo-forming – fundamentally reshaping the land around them over time. Rhinos are ‘keystone species’ – mega-herbivores that help shape entire ecosystems by: Unlike other keystone species such as lions and wolves that are apex predators, the rhino is a mega-herbivore that ‘significantly alters the habitat around and thus affect large numbers of other organisms’- the very definition of a keystone species. The rhino has several essential roles that few people are aware of, and this article hopes to highlight those lesser-known environmental and biological services that they provide. That is why we should fight to keep rhinos alive in our wild ecosystems. Rhinos are what we call a ‘keystone species’ – one whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionate effect on other organisms within the system. But aside from those sound enough reasons, do rhinos earn the right to stay from an ecological point of view? Of course, no species should go extinct due to man, and rhinos are iconic symbols and tourism draw-cards. But why the inordinate fuss about rhinos? Are they special enough from an ecological point of view, that ecosystems need them to be around? Most people understand that the poaching of rhinos is cruel and could, quite possibly, drive rhinos to extinction. Guest bloggers: Dr Jane Wiltshire and Dr Ian A W Macdonald
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