White rhinoceros
The white rhinoceros is a mammal belonging to the genus Rhinoceros in the family Rhinocerotidae of the order Perissodactylus. It has a robust, rounded body with thick, smooth skin that is nearly gray in color. Its head is exceptionally long, with reduced incisors and canines, and seven pairs of well-developed cheek teeth covered in a very thick calcareous layer. It has two horns, one large and one small, one in front and one behind; these horns are not made of bone but are derivatives of epithelial tissue, composed of accumulated keratin fibers. Its shoulders are formed by prominent acromions from well-developed medullary spines, which connect to ligaments to support the head. Its limbs are strong and powerful, with three toes on both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. Its upper lip is flat and wide, square in shape, hence the names “broad-snouted rhinoceros” and “square-snouted rhinoceros.” Males are heavier than females.
White rhinos are distributed in southern and northeastern Africa, living in jungles, grasslands, forests, and plains, occasionally venturing into steep mountain swamps. In hot weather, they are mainly active in the morning and evening, spending the rest of the time wallowing in mud or resting; in cool weather, they nap in the shade. They are solitary or live in small groups. While males are territorial, they are not strongly possessive, and females exhibit strong protective behavior towards their young. White rhinos feed on grasses. Males reach sexual maturity around 11 years old, and females around 7 years old. They reproduce year-round, with a gestation period of approximately 17-18 months, giving birth to one calf every 3 years. Their lifespan is nearly 50 years.
The white rhinoceros reigns supreme in the rhinoceros kingdom with its enormous size. Among terrestrial vertebrates, it is second only to the elephant in size and the hippopotamus in weight. Its imposing stature makes it a star attraction in zoos worldwide. Overhunting for rhinoceros horns led to a drastic decline in their numbers, placing it at Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Subsequent efforts, including enhanced conservation and increased breeding programs, have led to an increase in white rhinoceros populations in many national parks and protected areas across Africa. Recent data suggests that there are approximately 6,000 white rhinoceroses remaining in forests.
According to data from the International Rhino Foundation, at least 586 rhinos were poached in Africa in 2023, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year.
