Just being so big and strong, if they didn't have really tough skin they would be getting cut up all the time. I marvel at anything that can get through those forests with so many things sticking and poking you. Even with my denim, I always get scratched up. Things like nettle, and blackberrys can really get you. I know I wouldn't last long if I tried walking through that with bare feet. They also have very thick muscles and thick skeletons ( Its large size would require that). I think it too might help account for some possibly surviving being shot. I still think that they are vulnerable, and might very well die a short time latter which is one reason I am not in favor of them being shot for a specimen. I think it might be a terrible waste of a precious life, precious because it is so rare and I think also magnificent. The evidence clealy indicates that they are hard to kill if you believe those reports.
Posted on Jun 20, 2002, 9:32 PM from IP address 65.188.64.221