Can rhinoceroses really put out fires?

  • Thread starter Ivan Seeking
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In summary, The Gods Must Be Crazy, a classic movie currently running on FMC, features a legend about rhinoceroses stamping out fire. This story has been common in Malaysia and Burma, where the rhinoceros even has a special name, 'badak api'. However, there is no evidence to support this claim and rhinoceros sightings in South East Asia have become rare due to illegal poaching. The idea of rhinos stamping out fire was also featured in an episode of The Simpsons.
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Ivan Seeking
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I happened to catch a favorite movie of mine, The Gods Must Be Crazy,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Must_Be_Crazy
which is currently running on FMC [Fox Movie Channel] and well worth the watch if you go for this sort of thing; in fact, a classic one-of-a-kind, IMO.

Mentioned in the movie is the claim that if a rhinoceros sees your fire he will come and stomp it out.

There are a number of legends about rhinoceroses stamping out fire. The story seems to have been common in Malaysia and Burma.

This type of rhinoceros even had a special name in Malay, 'badak api', where badak means rhinoceros and api means fire. The animal would come when a fire is lit in the forest and stamp it out.

Whether or not there is any truth to this has not yet been proven, as there has been no documented sighting of this phenomenon in recent history. This lack of evidence may stem from the fact that rhinoceros sightings overall in South East Asia have become very rare, largely due to widespread illegal poaching of the critically endangered animal.

The idea of rhinos stamping out fire featured prominently in the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy and also in an episode of The Simpsons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros
http://www.sosrhino.org/knowledge/faq.php
 
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  • #2
Ivan Seeking said:
I happened to catch a favorite movie of mine, The Gods Must Be Crazy,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gods_Must_Be_Crazy
which is currently running on FMC [Fox Movie Channel] and well worth the watch if you go for this sort of thing; in fact, a classic one-of-a-kind, IMO.

Mentioned in the movie is the claim that if a rhinoceros sees your fire he will come and stomp it out.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinoceros
http://www.sosrhino.org/knowledge/faq.php

"Ivan"; rhinos put out fires because they understand that fire and gas don't mix. They spend all day eat grass and farting, the fire is a danger that could get them killed. They are just being cautious.
 
  • #3
#Q17

I cannot definitively say whether or not rhinoceroses can actually put out fires. While there are cultural and historical accounts of this phenomenon, there is no scientific evidence to support it. It is possible that in certain situations, a rhinoceros may have accidentally stomped out a fire while in pursuit of food or water, but this would likely be a rare occurrence and not a reliable method of fire control. Additionally, the decline in rhinoceros populations makes it difficult to study their behavior and potential abilities. Until there is concrete evidence, the idea of rhinoceroses putting out fires should be viewed as a cultural myth rather than a scientific fact.
 

1. Do rhinos actually put out fires?

Yes, there have been documented cases of rhinos actively putting out fires in their habitats. They use their powerful bodies to stomp on flames and their horns to dig trenches to stop the spread of fire.

2. How do rhinos know how to put out fires?

Rhinos have an innate sense of danger and are able to recognize and respond to threats to their environment. They may also learn from observing other rhinos or through trial and error.

3. Can rhinos put out large wildfires?

It is unlikely that a single rhino would be able to put out a large wildfire on its own. However, in some cases, a group of rhinos working together may be able to make a significant impact in containing the fire.

4. Are rhinos in danger when putting out fires?

Yes, rhinos are at risk of injury or death when attempting to put out fires. They may also suffer from smoke inhalation or burns. However, their instinct to protect their habitat and their strong physical abilities drive them to take on this risky task.

5. What other animals help put out fires?

Elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas have also been observed using similar tactics to put out fires. In some cases, smaller animals like birds and insects can also play a role in extinguishing fires by carrying water or soil to the flames.

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