“Rhinoceros” is a Greek word that means “nose horn,” which, we all know, is the most distinctive feature of this animal. Its scientific name, Ceratotherium simum, is also Greek, translating into horn (cerato) wild beast (thorium) and flat nosed (simum). The white rhinoceros is also known as the square-lipped rhinoceros.
White rhinos live in open, grassy plains and savanna type habitats. South Africa has the largest population of white rhinos occurs in South Africa, though small populations can be found in Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Botswana.
Contrary to their popular name, a white rhino is not white in color. Early English settlers misunderstood the Afrikaans word “weit” (meaning “wide”) for white, thereby giving this rather unusual name to this animal. It is usually either brown or slate grey. The average white rhino can live up to 45 in the wild, but in captivity, they can touch upto 60 years.
Size-wise, the white rhinoceros is the second largest land mammal next only to elephants. They are typified by their incredible size, two distinct horns, and a hump on the back of their short necks. White rhinos have weak vision, but they more than make up for it with their keen sense of smell and hearing. They locate one another by following the trail of scent.
You may not think so looking at their size but white rhinos are classified as grazers, that is, they feed on grass. They spend close to 50% of their daylight hours feeding and can eat upto 60-80kg a day. It doesn’t happen too often, but sometimes white rhinos can be seen eating soil near termite mounds, which is rich in some minerals. Rhinos are also highly dependent on water and drink up to 80 liters of water a day. Also, since they have no sweat glands, they wallow in mud to cool off. The mud dries off and offers protection from flies and ticks.
The female rhinoceros achieves sexual maturity at 7 years while the male takes a little longer, maturing at the 10 to 12 years of age. Although mating can take place at any time of the year, it is higher around the rainy season. Females reproduce once every three to five years. Following a gestation period that lasts more than a year, a single calf is born.
The calf weighs 65kg at birth and is quite small in size. After it is born, the mother will produce colostrums (also known as “foremilk since it precedes the production of true milk) for the calf’s first feeding. Colostrums are rich in essential minerals and antibodies, which builds the calf’s immune system. The calf begins nibbling grass within three months of being born, but it continues to suckle its mother for more than a year.
The white rhino is on the verge of extinction since it is easy game for poaching. It’s also hunted for its horn, which is used for medicinal purposes in Taiwan, China Singapore, and Hong Kong. There are only 11,000 white rhinos in the wild today. Steps are being taken to protect it.
