It is said that even three or four large lions cannot match a single rhinoceros. This is because its skin is as tough as iron, and with its large horn like a bowl, any fierce beast that encounters it is doomed. No wonder even elephants keep their distance when it’s in a bad mood. Despite being such a rough character, it also has its “bosom” friend, known as the “oxpecker”. This bird is about the size of a sparrow. Its body is black. Despite the rhinoceros having such thick skin, its wrinkles are very tender and thin, often being attacked and stung by parasites and blood-sucking insects. In addition to applying mud to its body to prevent insects, the rhinoceros also relies on this little buddy for help! Because the oxpecker perches on the rhinoceros’ back and can peck at those ectoparasites as its main food. This kind of cooperative life, biologists call “symbiosis”; that is, two different organisms gather together to make a living, benefiting each other without disturbing each other.
In addition, the oxpecker has a special contribution to the rhinoceros, which is to sound the alarm to its partners in time. The rhinoceros, although it has a keen sense of smell and hearing, has very poor eyesight. If enemies sneak up quietly against the wind, it won’t notice them. In such situations, the oxpecker flies up and down, busy, to attract the attention of its “friends”.
In some tribes in Africa, people even call their beloved ones “my rhinoceros”. Originally, they compared themselves to oxpeckers!