White Rhinoceros: Facts & Habitat

Ceratotherium simum

GRASS-EATING GIANT

The rhinoceros is possibly one of the most well-known animal figures in the world. This is mainly due to its hallmark: the large horn at the front of its head, which makes the animal truly unique.

At the zoo, you can find the southern white rhinoceros, sometimes simply called the white rhinoceros.

The white rhinoceros lives on the savannas of southern and eastern Africa, where it inhabits grasslands and bush savannas. The species is easily recognised by its large, powerfully built body and its thick, grey skin. Additionally, the rhinoceros has ears that can rotate more than 180 degrees. This special ability allows the animal to effectively pick up sounds from all directions. By turning its ears, the rhinoceros can easily locate predators, fellow rhinoceroses, and other savanna inhabitants. This is an important skill, as the rhinoceros has rather poor eyesight.

It is not entirely wrong to compare the white rhinoceros to a lawnmower. The broad snout, which also gives the species its name, functions in many ways like a gardening tool. The rhinoceros eats large amounts of grass, and its soft, flexible lips allow it to clip the grass very close to the ground.

And now to the "rhinoceros" in the room: the horn. The white rhinoceros actually has two horns. The front one is the largest, often measuring around 100 cm, while the rear one is typically just under 40 cm. The horn is not part of the skull but is attached to a hardened part of the skull. Both horns are made of keratin – the same protein that hair, feathers, fur, and nails are made of. Imagine having a rhinoceros horn on your index finger! The rhinoceros uses its horn for fighting and defence, but the animal's weight and strong body are just as important when protecting calves or competing for females.

Female white rhinoceroses usually live in small social groups, and their territories often overlap with those of males. Rhinoceros calves typically follow their mothers for a long time – even after becoming independent, and even when the mother has a new calf. Social connections between rhinoceroses can be short-lived and are often very dynamic.

The white rhinoceros is active both day and night. During the day, when not feeding, the rhinoceros often rests in the shade or stays in mud wallows. Like all other thick-skinned animals, the rhinoceros spends a lot of time on skin care.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE WHITE RHINOCEROS

Gestation: 16-17 months
Habitat: Africa, savannah and open woodland
Diet: Grass
Lifespan: 35-40 years
Weight: 1.400-3.600 kg
Lenght: 330-380 cm

NUMBER TWO ON THE PODIUM

The rhinoceros is the second largest land animal in the world, surpassed only by the elephant. Among the five living species of rhinoceros, the white rhinoceros is the largest.

THE SPECIES IS EXTINCT IN THE WILD

The white rhinoceros is divided into two subspecies: the northern and the southern. The northern white rhinoceros is extinct in the wild, and today there are only two females protected in a national park in Kenya.

WYD or WHITE?

The square-lipped rhinoceros is also known as the white rhinoceros, but this name is due to a translation error. Early English explorers in South Africa translated the local Afrikaans word "wyd" as "white". However, the word "wyd" actually means broad.

COMMUNICATES WITH FECES

Rhinoceroses communicate using dung piles. In a shared area, the animals defecate in designated spots that serve as a kind of information point. This way, the rhinos can keep track of which members of their species are in the area, whether new ones have arrived, and if the females are in heat.

MILLIMETERS FROM EXTINCTION

In the early 1900s, the southern white rhinoceros was close to extinction due to uncontrolled hunting. Today, rhino horn is still in high demand, as it is associated with wealth in some cultures and is considered a miracle cure for influenza and cancer. Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, the population has slowly recovered, and today there are around 18,000 individuals.

STATUS IN NATURE

The white rhinoceros is near-threatened.

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