The white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) is the larger of Africa's two rhino species and one of the biggest land mammals alive. A grazer with a broad, square lip for cropping grass, it is generally calmer than the black rhino. Heavily targeted by poachers, it survives in the Kruger as a conservation priority.
Name
White Rhino [Ceratotherium simum]
Appearance
The White Rhino is the third largest land mammal in the world. These wonderful animals have massive and stocky bodies with a reputation of being less aggressive than the Black Rhino. Bulls have been recorded weighing up to 2 000 Kg and standing at 1.58m at the shoulder. Their massive horns are made of densely packed fibres and are not actually bone. They have a grey skin that is mostly hairless. It has a wide, square lip that also gives it its name. The White in White Rhino is derived from ‘Wyd’ which means wide in Afrikaans and Dutch.
Diet
White Rhino are strictly grazers that favour short grass but will feed on tall gras if need be. Their wide lips allow them to easily grab grass in clumps to eat.
Breeding
White Rhinos are not seasonal breeders and even though breeding takes place in the wet season. Calves are born after a gestation period of 16 months during the Dry season.
Behaviour
Though the Rhino has such a stocky body and stubby legs, it can reach great speeds for a short distance. Dominant bulls have territories ranging 5 km2 , with subordinate bulls often allowed in these bulls’ territories. Female territories often intersect with the bulls’ territories and certain cows are held in the dominant bull’s territory while mating season is in place.
Where they can be found
White Rhinos as well as Black Rhinos’s numbers have been lowered significantly because of poaching. Very few rhinos are found in the wild as many have been relocated to wildlife preservation reserves to slowly help increase their numbers. White Rhinos prefer savannah grasslands with some good cover by trees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a white rhino and a black rhino?
The names have nothing to do with colour. The white rhino has a wide, square lip for grazing grass and is larger and more placid, often seen head-down in the open. The black rhino has a pointed, hooked lip for browsing leaves and twigs, is smaller, more solitary and more aggressive, and holds its head higher.
Why is it called a 'white' rhino?
The 'white' is thought to come from the Afrikaans and Dutch word 'wyd', meaning wide, describing the animal's broad, square lip. English speakers are believed to have misheard 'wyd' as 'white'. The name stuck, and the other species became the 'black' rhino by contrast, despite neither being those colours.
Where can you see white rhino in the Kruger?
White rhino favour open savannah grassland with some tree cover, where they graze on short grass. Poaching has drastically reduced their numbers and many now live under heavy protection, so sightings are less common than they once were. The southern Kruger, where Kurt Safari operates, remains a better area to see them.
Are rhinos endangered, and why?
Rhino numbers have fallen sharply because of poaching for their horn, which is made of densely packed fibre, not bone. Both white and black rhino have been heavily targeted, and many have been moved to protected reserves and sanctuaries to help their numbers recover. Seeing a wild rhino today is a genuine privilege.
