Mysuru: As part of World Rhino Day, visitors to Mysuru Zoo were provided information about this large, herbivorous mammal.

World Rhino Day is an international ecological observance celebrated on September 22.

It was inaugurated in 2010 to raise awareness on the need to protect the five existing species of rhinoceros — white rhino, black rhino, Indian rhino, Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino.

Zoo Education Officer C. Sneha, who explained about this large mammal, said that out of the five species of rhinoceros, Black, Sumatran and Javan Rhinos were critically endangered.

She said that there were about 30.000 rhinoceros left in the world with India having only about 2.600 rhinos and added that Assam is the home to the largest population of rhinoceros.

Explaining about the threats faced by Rhinos, she said that habitat loss and poaching for their horns were the major threats to them and added that Mysuru Zoo houses Indian Rhino and Southern White Rhino.

Visitors also observed feeding of rhinos at the Zoo. They also gained knowledge about the Rhinos through facts and other information about them which were put up near the enclosures.