White rhinoceros

• Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
• Order: Odd-toed ungulates
• Family: Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae)
• Genus: Ceratotherium
• Species: Ceratotherium simum
• SubGenus: C. s. simum

Size

The white rhinoceros is the world’s largest rhinoceros species, and can exceed 3 tonnes in weight. There are two species in Africa: the white and the black rhinoceros.

Ecology

The white rhinoceros inhabits the open savanna preferring areas with access to water. They take mud-baths to cool their bodies on hot days, and the mud protects their skin from insects sucking their blood.
Under normal circumstances the white rhinoceros is a peaceful animal, but when angered or startled it is able to attack with incredible agility and speed.

Food habits

The white rhinoceros has a broad, flat muzzle making it a typical grazer.

Longevity

The white rhinoceros lives for 40 to 45 years.

Reproduction

A single young is born after a gestation period of approximately 17 months. It begins grazing after a few months, but continues to suckle from its mother for over a year, and generally stays with her for 2 to 3 years.

Conservation status

Rhinoceroses have long been hunted for their horns, which are falsely considered to have aphrodisiac qualities when ground and ingested.
There are two distinct subspecies, their current survival status differing greatly. The northern white rhinoceros is critically endangered due to recent civil wars and attendant disruptions. It only survives in Garamba National Park in Congo. The southern white rhinoceros subspecies has recovered, but is still threatened by extensive poaching.

IUCN Threat Category:

Near Threaten