The Southern White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped
rhinoceros - Ceratotherium simum - is
one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist. It has a wide mouth
used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. White
Rhinoceroses are found in grassland and savannah habitat.
Description
It is the world's
largest land mammal after the three species of elephant. It has a massive body
and large head, a short neck and broad chest. Weight in this animal typically
ranges from 1,360 to 3,630 kg. On its snout it has two horn-like growths, one
behind the other. These are made of solid Keratin. The front horn is larger. The
White Rhinoceros also has a noticeable hump on the back of its neck. Each of
the four stumpy feet has three toes. The color of the body ranges from
yellowish brown to slate grey. Its only hair is the ear fringes and tail
bristles. White Rhinos have a distinctive broad, straight mouth which is used
for grazing. Its ears can move independently to pick up sounds but it depends
most of all on smell. The olfactory passages which are responsible for smell
are larger than their entire brain. Interestingly, the white rhinoceros has the
widest set nostrils of any land based animal.
Call
White
Rhinoceroses produce sounds which include a panting contact call, grunts and
snorts during courtship, squeals of distress, and deep bellows or growls when
threatened.
Breeding
Females reach
sexual maturity at 6–7 years of age while males reach sexual maturity between
10–12 years of age. Gestation occurs around 16–18 months. A single calf is born
and usually weighs between 40 and 65 kg (88 and 140 lb). Calves are unsteady
for their first 2 to 3 days of life. When threatened, the baby will run in
front of the mother, who is very protective of her calf and will fight for it
vigorously. Weaning starts at 2 months, but the calf may continue suckling for
over 12 months. The birth interval for the white rhino is between 2 and 3 years.
By the late
1800s, the southern white rhino was on the verge of extinction. Numbers were
estimated to be as low as 50. Today, thanks to decades of work by
conservationists and researchers, their numbers are above 17,000 and the
southern white is considered the most abundant rhino in the world.
While they do live in the wild, their habitat is restricted to protected areas,
parks and game reserves in Southern Africa.
A major threat
Poaching for their
horns remains a grave risk for the southern white rhino.
These majestic animals can be
seen on the following Aves Birding Tours
/ Safaris/Adventures: -
Aves Arid Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Eastern Cape Birding
Tour / Safari.
Aves Highlands / Tembe Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves KZN Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves North East Birding Tour /
Safari.
Aves North West Birding Tour / Safari.
Aves Western Cape Birding
Tour / Safari.
Aves West Coast Birding Tour /
Safari.