Erzsebet Frey

## SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS {#southern-white-rhinoceros .wp-block-heading}

Order: Perissodactyla  
Family: Rhinocerotidae  
Range or distribution: Eastern and Southern Africa.

[White rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/)
live in savannas and grasslands; swamps when is dry season Herbivores.
Graze on short grass and low savanna bushes. Lifespan: 25 to 30 years in
the wild; up to 45 years in zoos. Size: Length 13 to 17 feet.Height 5-7
feet. Weight 3200 to 8000 lbs.

Thick armor-like skin for moving through thorny shrubs. Wide, square
mouth with wide, flexible lips to "mow" the grass. Their short legs,
long head that almost reaches the ground, and wide mouth are used in
conjunction with sideways head movement to eat huge amounts of grass.
[Rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) have no
canines and front teeth. They have excellent hearing. They will turn
their ears to detect sound; the ears move independently and are
generally in motion. Acute sense of smell. The olfactory pathways used
for smelling are larger than their entire brain.

Behavior: They often roll in the mud which serves as both insect
repellent and sunscreen. Because they are very nearsighted, they often
charge when scared. Dominant bulls are usually loners White rhinos tend
to form small family groups in a loosely defined territory. Adult males
are territorial.

Mostly during the day, spending ½ day feeding, 1/3 day resting and the
rest walking, alerting, or splashing. They are most active at dawn and
dusk. A high stride is normally the fastest pace at 18 mph. They have
the ability to gallop 25 to 30 mph.

A [white rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/)
drinks twice a day if water is available, but can survive five days
without in the dry season. Dominant males use dung and urine to mark
territories.; there maybe 20 to 30 discharges to mark a certain
territory.

They eat grass most of the day, resting during the midday heat. Southern
white rhinos can go a couple of days without drinking water.

As pure grazers, white rhinos are of major importance in the southern
African grassland ecosystem. Seed dispersion and prevention of invasion
by woody plants are important parts of their role in grasslands.

Rhinos have a massive hump of muscle on their necks, to hold up a large
head that can weigh 800 to 1000 pounds. The
[rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) does not
have real horns and the horns are not connected to the skull grow from
the skin and is made up of keratin fibers.

Rhinos generally have no natural predatory for their massive, hard skin;
however, juveniles may be preyed upon by large carnivores. Rhinos are
perissodactyls and have three toes. The middle finger carries most of
its weight.

Reproduction: gestation varies from 17 to 18 months. Females reproduce
every 2,5 to 5 years. Their young ones stay up to 3 years of life.

SA is home to approx. 80% of the world's white rhinos. Females of white
rhinos are more social than [black
rhinoceros](https://simplyecologist.com/difference-between-black-and-white-rhinoceros/).
Sometimes females, their young, and older young congregate in groups of
up to 14, named crash.

The southern white rhino was also once endangered. In the late 1890s,
there were fewer than 100 individuals; but today, a more healthy
population of over 20,000 survive in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe,
and Kenya. People interested in this rhino have helped save it by
creating sanctuaries and patrolling areas where rhinos live.

Since the 1970s, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has welcomed more than 90
southern white rhinos and leads the world in successfully breeding white
rhinos.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists
this [rhinoceros](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) as
Near Threatened.

There are only 3 northern white rhinos as of November 2015. Two females
and a male live on a conservancy in Kenya. Like all rhinos, northern
white rhinos are hunted for their horns. Horns can be ground into powder
and added to popular medicines or displayed as a status symbol.The
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists this
rhinoceros as Critically Endangered.


SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS  Order: Perissodactyla Family: Rhinocerotidae Range or distribution: Eastern and Southern Africa. White rhinos live in savannas and grasslands; swamps when is dry season Herbivores. Graze on short grass and low savanna bushes. Lifespan: 25 to 30 years in the wild; up to 45 years in zoos. Size: Length 13 to 17 feet.Height 5-7 feet. Weight 3200 to 8000 lbs. Thick armor-like skin for moving through thorny shrubs.

Interesting facts about white rhinoceros

The northern subspecies were found in a past, west of the Upper Nile
River, from northwestern Uganda and the northeastern Democratic Republic
of the
[Congo](https://simplyecologist.com/where-does-the-western-lowland-gorilla-live/)
northward into southern Sudan and adjacent parts of the Central African
Republic and the southern border of Chad.

A feature of the historical distribution of the species as a whole is
the limitation of large rivers, possibly due to its limited ability to
swim. [White
Rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/)
formerly occurred through much of East Africa, as is attested by
abundant fossil remains in early to mid-Pleistocene deposits in places
like Olduvai Gorge.

Teeth are found on the soil surface in Kenya, and rock paintings in
Tanzania, suggesting that the species persisted in East Africa until a
few thousand years ago. They had an extended range in North Africa
during the early Holocene.

## Current distribution of Northern White Rhino {#current-distribution-of-northern-white-rhino .wp-block-heading}

South Africa remains the stronghold of this subspecies, with significant
populations at Kruger N. P.and Hluhluwe -- iMfolozi, but also present in
many protected areas and private reserves across the country. There are
also smaller reintroduced populations within the species' historic range
in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Mozambique.

Populations were introduced out of the range of the previous subspecies
in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. An introduced population in Côte d'Ivoire
is considered semi-active. Northern subspecies are now extinct in
Uganda, Chad, Central African Republic, and at least until 2006 it
survived in the wild only as a small remnant in Garamba N.P. in DR
Congo.

The subspecies is now probably extinct in the wild. Reports of
[rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) surviving
in S Sudan are unconfirmed; none were reported during the survey by Fay
et al.(2007).

## Habitat of Northern White Rhino {#habitat-of-northern-white-rhino .wp-block-heading}

In the wild, the last remaining northern white rhinos live on the grassy
plains of Kenya, Africa. Historically, populations ranged from Kenya and
Ethiopia in the east to Nigeria and Ghana in the west. The Northern
[White Rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/)
(NWR) used to range over parts of northwestern Uganda, southern Chad,
southwestern South Sudan, the eastern part of the Central African
Republic, and the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The previous population in Garamba, the national park in the
northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is now considered probably
extinct, although systematic field surveys are likely and since 2006 new
foot patrols and aerial reconnaissance of live rhinos have been
observed, and no new signs since.

There continue to be unconfirmed reports/rumors of rhinos in southern
Sudan but these have not been reliably confirmed and wildlife hunting in
this area has increased, so it is unlikely to survive much longer.

The last four potential breeders of northern white rhinos in captivity
at Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic have been relocated to a
private conservancy in Kenya in the hope this would stimulate their
breeding but despite mating, no offspring were produced before the death
of the two old males, and it seems that the females do not reproduce
despite attempts.

IVF Advanced cellular techniques offer the possibility of increasing the
genetic diversity of founders because there are cells and tissues stored
by more NWRs than natural gametes. If induced pluripotent stem cells
(iPSCs) can be used to produce primordial germ cells, then it is
possible to create oocytes and sperm from other
[dead](https://simplyecologist.com/what-birds-feed-on-dead-animals/)
NWRs.

If IVF can be developed with embryos implanted into SWR surrogates, then
it should be possible to produce NWR calves. The latter in adulthood
could be used to create a self-sustaining
[rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) population.
In vitro fertilization crosses can also be attempted. In time if such
assisted reproductive methods can be successfully developed then once
numbers have built up sufficiently some of these animals could be
reintroduced to safe areas of the former range or close to the former
range in East Africa.

There is no guarantee that these techniques will be successful, but
progress has been made in creating embryos in the laboratory at this
stage.


The northern subspecies were found in a past, west of the Upper Nile River, from northwestern Uganda and the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo northward into southern Sudan and adjacent parts of the Central African Republic and the southern border of Chad. A feature of the historical distribution of the species as a whole is the limitation of large rivers, possibly due to its limited ability to swim.

Where does the northern white rhino live?

The [white
rhinoceros](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-white-rhinoceros/)
and the Indian
[rhinoceros](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) are
partially selective roughage herbivores. [White
rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/) feed
mostly on short, sweet, and appetizing grasses and do not ruminate
because they are monogastric.

White [rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) are
dependent on water and drink up to 50 liters at a time with average
water consumption of 12 liters per day. The white rhino's preferred diet
varies seasonally, and during the hot and humid summer season they
prefer the 5 to 12 cm of tall grass, mostly dry, in winter *Panicum*
season, they consume plants 12 to 35cm long.

The diet of the white rhinoceros is generally composed of 99% grass, the
[rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) chews its
food thoroughly 23 times. The daily food ration of an adult white
rhinoceros in the wild is 50 to 65 kg and when confined to a perch, 35
to 40 kg. Strictly pasture, with herbaceous plants which normally make
up no more than about 1% of the diet.

Occasional reported cases of white rhinos chewing on woody stems,
otherwise no slipping is observed. In Hluhluwe--iMfolozi Park, they
favor short grass areas where species of *Panicum, Urochloa, Digitaria,
Sporobolus, and Cynodon* dominate. These species can constitute more
than 50% of the diet during the rainy season.

Since some of these grass species grow elsewhere in a bushy form, a
prostrate growth form appears to be cultivated by [white
rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/white-rhinos-how-many-left/) grazing
pressure. Much of the foraging occurs around termite mounds, ancient
human settlement sites, and other areas where nutritious short grasses
prevail.

During the dry season, the white rhinoceros transfers its pastures
mainly to higher herbaceous species, *Particolare* in The latter species
can constitute up to half of the diet at this time of the year. In
extreme conditions, they may extend their search for food upward where
there are reserves of tall grass.

Apart from lawn-forming species like *Cynodon dactylon* and
*Dactyloctenium australe* growing under shade canopies, fibrous grasses
growing in sandy soil areas are eaten little. Grasses such as
*Cymbopogon spp. are rejected,* although *Bothriochloa* is eaten when
short.

The grazing impact of white rhinos promotes the formation of a mosaic
interspersion of short and tall grasslands. White rhinos of the northern
subspecies have been observed feeding on medium-sized grasses
*Hyparrhenia, Panicum, Chloris, Heteropogon, and Brachiaria* in the
Garamba N.P., *Loudetia arundinacea* was only grazed by white rhinos
when the grass was below 0.5 m in height.

During the subsequent rainy season, their diet was largely limited to
medium-sized grasses, genera *Brachiaria, Pennisetum, Sporobolus,
Cynodon,* etc. White rhinos are typically active for about 50% of the
24-h cycle, distributed equally between day and night, with most of this
time spent foraging. Peak grazing occurs in the early morning and late
afternoon, extending well into the night, avoiding the peak heat of the
day.

However, when food is plentiful, daytime foraging activity is reduced.
Foraging time tends to decrease during the dry season, possibly to save
energy when only poor-quality grass is available. Peak daytime activity
occurs during the new grass growth period at the start of the rainy
season, and frequent splashing indicates that animals are under much
thermal stress at this time of the year.


The white rhinoceros and the Indian rhinoceros are partially selective roughage herbivores. White rhinos feed mostly on short, sweet, and appetizing grasses and do not ruminate because they are monogastric. White rhinos are dependent on water and drink up to 50 liters at a time with average water consumption of 12 liters per day.

What does white rhinos eat?

[White
rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-white-rhinoceros/)
lived in abundance alongside the indigenous people of southern Africa.
The Zulus did not regard their flesh as edible and so did not hunt them.
Only when white adventurers arrived with guns, and
[rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) hide and
horns became a trade commodity, did the situation change. Animals were
easily found waiting in the dry season for puddles, so some hunters
killed nearly 100 in a single year.  

Within about 50 years the southern subspecies were reduced to the verge
of extinction. The last animals were shot in Botswana in the late 1870s
and in Zimbabwe in 1893. Small numbers of white
[rhinos](https://simplyecologist.com/is-rhinoceros-extinct/) who
survived near Umfolozi in South Africa gained legal protection when the
Umfolozi GR was proclaimed in 1897.

Some individuals persisted in a remote area of ​​Mozambique until the
1930s when the last individuals were shot. Rookmaaker (2002) suggests
that there were never less than 200 white rhinos in Zululand before
1929. However, a founding remnant of 20--50 animals at the beginning of
the 20th century would be consistent with the increase in the population
of the next.

All surviving white rhinos of the southern subspecies derive from this
remnant. Under protection the [White
Rhino](https://simplyecologist.com/interesting-facts-about-white-rhinoceros/)
population it increased to about 550 in 1948 and to about 1,800 in 1968
Concerned about the risks associated with this one population, the Natal
Parks Board began live capture trials on the use of drug darts in 1961.
By 1970 a total of 730 White Rhino was recorded.

They were moved to other parks, but 2,000 animals remained. The
immediate management's response was an accelerated takeover and takeover
program, aimed at reducing the population below this high level,
restocking the species through its former range, and supplying animals
to various zoos.

The objective was to allow the center of the population to naturally
adapt to changes in food resources by providing a safe outlet within the
fenced perimeter. This policy was eventually put into effect in 1985,
but following several adjustments to the sink locations only became
properly effective in 1998.

In December 2010, the number of southern white rhinos stood estimated at
20,160, 6,784 in 1993, 7,532 in 1995, 8,441 in 1997, 10,377 in 1999,
11,640 in 2001, 11,320 in 2003, 14,550 in 2005 and 17,475 in 2007. The
slight drop between 2001 and 2003 does not reflect a real drop in the
number.

As of December 2010, South Africa held 93% (18,796) of the wild white
rhino population, primarily in Kruger N.P. (10,500 animals) and
Hluhluwe--iMfolozi Park (2312). While the state-run conservation
agencies continue to manage most  
white rhinos in Africa 72%, the private sector also manages a
significant proportion (5,504, 27%) with probably more than 5,000 white
rhinos on private land in South Africa.

From 1960 to 62, Garamba N. P. and surrounding reserves to the NEDR
Congo contained more than 1,200 Northern White Rhinos, before armed
rebels and others reduced the population to 100--200 during the
rebellion following independence.

White Rhinos increased again to about 500 in 1976. The Garamba Project
was started in 1984, supported by a coalition  
of donors, and under protection the remnant population doubled to 30 by
1992 (0.015/km²), but following an upsurge in poaching in mid-2003 (11
carcasses were found during the March-May 2004 alone), the polls counted
only four individuals in the park and up to four more in an adjacent
hunting area.

Given the critical situation and unsustainable levels of poaching, an
emergency plan to temporarily translocate five animals to a Kenyan
sanctuary was developed, but it was not implemented for internal policy
reasons. A survey in 2006 only counted two rhinos with another two
different animals being seen subsequently. In the past years, there have
been no signs or sightings of animals (one carcass was found in 2008),
and it is feared this population is now extinct.

Until the 1970s, White Rhinos were reportedly seen by hunters in the
Central African Republic and S. Chad, but their continued existence
there seems unlikely. Fewer than 300 were estimated to occur in S Sudan
in 1981, but this population also seems now extirpated.

The species became extinct in Uganda in 1982 (CITES has downlisted South
Africa's, and more recently Swaziland's, White Rhinos from Appendix I to
Appendix II, allowing limited trade in live animals although not in
products like horns. Hunting is permitted under strictly controlled
conditions.

Whether international trade in [rhino
horns](https://simplyecologist.com/horns-of-rhino/) should be allowed to
raise funds to conserve this and other rhino species effectively remains
highly contentious, especially in the context of the huge escalation of
the illegal trade in 2009-2012, due to the increase in demand,
particularly in Vietnam.

In 2011 alone, an estimated,450 people were killed by poachers, about
half in Kruger N.P. Unless an effective response is implemented, a
further escalation of the killings could lead to a down-turn in the
population trend of the species and reverse the conservation gains of
the past.

Although captive breeding of southern white rhinos has happened in 2006,
particularly when a number of animals were kept in large enclosures, the
captive breeding of northern white rhinos was less so.

The last birth among nine individuals held in two zoos had taken place
In 1989. At the time of going to press, the last four potential breeding
animals from Dvur Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic had been introduced
to a private reserve in Kenya. The animals are all related and are very
old, and the best that probably can be hoped for is to conserve some
adaptive genes of the [northern white
rhinoceros](https://simplyecologist.com/where-does-the-northern-white-rhino-live/)
by crossing the southern subspecies.

As of December 2005, there were more than 750 of the southern subspecies
in zoos worldwide. Nowadays more than 1,000 are present in the zoos.


White rhinos lived in abundance alongside the indigenous people of southern Africa. The Zulus did not regard their flesh as edible and so did not hunt them. Only when white adventurers arrived with guns, and rhino hide and horns became a trade commodity, did the situation change. Animals were easily found waiting in the dry season for puddles, so some hunters killed nearly 100 in a single year.

Postagens de Rogue Scholar

Interesting facts about white rhinoceros

Where does the northern white rhino live?

What does white rhinos eat?

WHITE RHINOS How many left?