White rhinoceros
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The southern #white #rhino is a major conservation success – but with only four #animalsremaining, the northern white #rhino is very close to disappearing from the wild. Together with the greater one-horned rhino, the white rhino is the largest of all rhino species. Its name comes from the Dutch "weit" (wide), in reference to the #animal's wide muzzle. It is also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros due to its squared (not pointed) upper lip. Compared to black rhinos, white rhinos have a longer skull, a less sharply defined forehead and a more pronounced shoulder hump. They have almost no hair and two horns. The front horn averages 60 cm, but occasionally reaches 150 cm in length. Size: 150-185 cm in height, females weigh 1,400- 1,700 kg, males weigh 2,000-3,600 kg
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The southern #white #rhino is a major conservation success – but with only four #animals remaining, the northern white #rhino is very close to disappearing from the wild. Together with the greater one-horned rhino, the white rhino is the largest of all rhino species. Its name comes from the Dutch "weit" (wide), in reference to the #animal's wide muzzle. It is also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros due to its squared (not pointed) upper lip.
Transcript of White rhinoceros
The southern #white #rhino is a major conservation success – but with only four #animalsremaining, the northern white #rhino is very close to
disappearing from the wild.
Together with the greater one-horned rhino, the white rhino is the largest of all rhino species. Its name comes from the Dutch "weit"
(wide), in reference to the #animal's wide muzzle. It is also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros due to its squared (not pointed) upper lip.
Compared to black rhinos, white rhinos have a longer skull, a less sharply defined forehead and a more pronounced shoulder hump. They have almost no hair and two horns. The front horn averages 60 cm, but
occasionally reaches 150 cm in length.Size: 150-185 cm in height, females weigh 1,400-1,700 kg, males weigh
2,000-3,600 kg
White rhinos appear to require thick bush cover, relatively flat terrain, water for drinking and wallowing, and short grass for grazing. They primarily inhabit grassy savanna and woodlands interspersed with
grassy clearings.
The ainmals tend to avoid the heat during the day, when they rest in the shade. They are usually active in the early morning, late afternoon
and evening.
During very hot periods, the cool and rid themselves of ectoparasites (external parasites) by bathing in mud in shallow pools. Adult males can spend almost their entire life in these areas, unless water is unavailable, in which case they follow a narrow corridor to a drinking site every 3-4
days.Breeding females are prevented from leaving a dominant's male
territory, which is marked and and patrolled by its owner on a regular basis. Males competing for a female may engage in serious conflict,
using their horns to inflict wounds.
Females reach sexual maturity at 4-5 years of age but do not reproduce until they reach 6-7 years. In contrast, males tend not to mate until
they are 10-12 years old. They can live up to 40 years.
Breeding pairs may stay together for up to 20 days. Mating occurs throughout the year although peaks have been observed from October to December in South Africa and from February to June in East Africa. The gestation period is approximately 16 months with a period of 2-3
years between calves.
White rhinos are the only grazer of all rhino species, feeding almost exclusively on short grasses.
