White Rhinoceros

The white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros, is the largest species of rhinoceros. It is often considered the largest land mammal after the elephants. Adult males weigh up to 2,000-2,300 kg (4,400-5,100 lb) and females about 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Shoulder height is on average 1.5-1.85 m (4 ft 11 in – 6 ft 1 in) for males, and 1.5-1.6 m (4 ft 11 in – 5 ft 3 in) for females. Both sexes have a pair of horns growing at the front of their head, with the front horn always the largest, in contrast to the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), where the second horn can be just as long or sometimes even longer. The front horn averages a length of 60 cm (24 in), while lengths up to 150 cm (59 in) have been recorded. Only the horns of females can grow to such lengths, as the males use the horns for fighting and territorial marking, which continuously grinds the horn.

Despite its name, the white rhinoceros is not white, and the name comes from the British misinterpreting the Dutch word, “wijd”. The word “wijd” means wide and was used by the South African Dutch settlers to describe the wide mouth of the white rhinoceros. The British interpreted the word to mean “white” and the English name of the animal was born. The other name, square-lipped rhinoceros, is more describing and probably more correct, but seldom used.

The white rhinoceros is a grazer, and its wide mouth is perfectly designed to eat grass. It prefers open grasslands and savanna habitats with close proximity to water, though it can go without drinking for up to 4-5 days. Like all species of rhinoceros, it often wallows in mud to cool down and fend off parasites. Most of its day is spent feeding, though during the hottest hours it will often find a piece of shade and lay down to rest.

Females reach sexual maturity at around 6-7 years of age, whereas males does at ages 10-12. When breeding, a pair will stay together for 5-20 days, copulating several times a day. Gestation period for females is 16-18 months. The calf might suckle for over 12 months and will stay with the highly protective mother until she is ready to give birth again after 2-3 years, at which time she will chase her calf off. Here is a video of a female with a young calf:

The white rhinoceros is split into two subspecies, the Northern white rhinoceros (C. simum cottoni) and the Southern white rhinoceros (C. s. simum). The Southern subspecies is the most common and numerous one, whereas the Northern subspecies is at the verge of extinction with only two females left in captivity. Plans to resurrect the subspecies through cloning is ongoing, and the Southern white rhino will be used as surrogate. 

The Southern white rhinoceros is quite the success story. It was believed extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, before a population of less than 100 individuals were found. The area where they were found, on the East Coast of South Africa, was then turned into a protected area, and was the first ever protected nature reserve in Africa. This area is part of the iMfolozi-section of the now famous Hluhluwe-iMzolozi Park. In this area they did a massive comeback, and all Southern white rhinoceroses today come from this population. There are now more than 15,000 individuals, numbers are increasing, and the species is listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.