White rhinoceros
Key Facts
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Common Name
White rhinoceros, square-lipped rhinoceros; Rhinocéros blanc (Fr); Rinoceronte (Sp)
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Scientific Name
Ceratotherium simum
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Habitat
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
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Status
Near Threatened (IUCN; CITES: Appendix I)
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Population
17,480
Downloads
- CoP13 White Rhino Factsheet - English 157 KB pdf
Related Links
Two subspecies at opposite ends of the survival scale
Information awaiting review.Two living subspecies of white rhino are recognised: the northern white rhino, and the southern white rhino. Recent studies have confirmed that the two subspecies are genetically distinct.
Only 4 northern white rhinos remain, all of them in the Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Efforts to protect them have been severely disrupted because of the ongoing civil war and incursions by poachers coming mainly from Sudan. Thanks to the dedication of park staff through years of armed conflict in the region, this Critically Endangered subspecies still survives, but for how much longer?
In contrast, the southern white rhino is one of conservation's greatest success stories. Thought to be extinct in the late 19th century, in 1895 a small population of less than 100 was discovered in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. After more than a century of protection and management, southern white rhinos are now the only non-endangered rhinos, being classified as Near Threatened.
Physical Description
White rhinos have almost no hair. They are larger than the black rhino, and have a squared (not pointed) upper lip, a longer skull and less sharply defined forehead, and a more pronounced shoulder hump. White rhinos have two horns, the front one averaging 60 cm long, but occasionally reaching 150 cm. The species name actually takes its root from Dutch, "weit" (wide), in reference to the animal's wide muzzle.The white rhino tends to avoid the heat during the day, when it rests in the shade. It is therefore usually active early mornings, late afternoon and during the evening.
During very hot periods, the rhino cools and rids itself 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.
Size
The white rhino measures 150-85 cm at the shoulder. Females weigh about 1,400-1,700 kg and males 2,000-3,600 kg.
Colour
White rhinos are slate grey to yellow brown in colour.
Habitat
Major habitat typeTropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands
Biogeographic realm
Afrotropical
Range States
Botswana (re-introduced), Cote d’Ivoire (introduced), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya (introduced), Namibia (re-introduced), South Africa, Swaziland (re-introduced), Zambia (introduced), Zimbabwe (re-introduced)
Geographical Location
Central and Southern Africa
Ecological Region
Namib-Karoo-Kaokoveld Deserts, Southern Rift Montane Woodlands, Central and Eastern Miombo Woodlands