So imagine you just landed in South Africa. Did you also remember to bring your safari hat and water?

We also got to see a very special, huge gray beast. There is no doubt that by its shape I am talking about a prehistoric time! We are also going to land in South Africa to spot a black rhino. And we do it on top of the elephants! Great indeed!

So what’s so special about this four-thousand-plus pound species? As you know, they are herbivores, only green things, thanks for asking.

So one day I asked myself this question, “how could a beast like that be important?” We see them in the water a lot, and yes, they do get quite dirty. So being patient, I found the answer. I was like, “How about that, yeah, wow! That’s another key animal!”

What is a key species? Why do they get the job of being responsible for the survival of other species. This is the good thing about this animal! Eat things like bushes and roots. And when you take a bite out of something, you have 24 inches to do it. It’s a pretty natural road grader, don’t you think?

You see, if this species goes extinct, the grasses become overgrown with roots and bushes. You got it, what these beasts eat. Keeps grasslands clean. And that is the precise value of this species. Once again, this is the tapestry of how animals work together.

Poaching is a problem due to the value of rhino horn. Personally, I also like to watch them run around and do their thing. I’m sure you do too.

Their is a wonderful organization called Conservation International. The website is Conservation.org This group is solving problems for animals in many countries right now. And there preserving the rainforest one acre at a time.

For example, let’s say cheetahs are eating cattle in South Africa. So the farmers don’t like the cheetah for that. So they take out as many as possible. This group comes in and pays the farmers for the cattle they lose. The result? The cheetah becomes too lively! What a novel concept and brilliant solution.

Hope this saved you some time to learn something new.

I’m Scott Bright.