Last year on March 2022, I accompanied one of the researchers from the University of Copenhagen in the Chitwan National Park as a research assistant. When we were strolling around the park, my attention was drawn to the scene of the rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae) wallowing in the Narayani River on the side of the dead and decaying trees. Since it remained still for more than 10 minutes, at first I thought it was dead.
With curiosity, I asked our humble nature guide Som Lamaabout it. He briefly explained to me that this widespread behavior is called whining. It helps rhinos cool off, keep their skin moist, and protect their skin from insects and the sun. Also, it protects the rhino against attacks from biting insects (Tabanidae). And the dead skin gets washed away and acts as a repairing medium.
This is a perfect example of how nature heals.
