 |
|
|
| |
| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
white
rhinoceros, square-lipped rhino |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Perissodactyla |
| FAMILY: |
Rhinocerotidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Ceratotherium
(horn shaped) simum (snub-nosed) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
Large
stocky animal, naturally grey in color, two facial
horns and wide, squared lips |
|
| SIZE: |
1.7-1.9
m (5.5-6.25 ft.) tall at shoulder; 3.25-4.25 m long
(10.75-14 ft.) |
|
| WEIGHT: |
1600-2260
kg (3500-5000 lb.); females are smaller |
|
| DIET: |
Herbivore
that eats short grasses |
|
|
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
|
| MALE |
10-12
years |
| FEMALE |
4-6
years |
|
|
|
| RANGE: |
Eastern
and southern Africa; northern savannahs of central
Africa (rare subspecies) |
|
| HABITAT: |
Open
savannahs and grasslands |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
A
rhino's horn is not a true horn that is attached
to the skull. It grows from the skin and is made
up of keratin fibers, the same material found in
hair and nails. |
|
|
| 2. |
The
white rhino has a wide squared off lip that allows
it to eat a wide swath of the green, short grasses
that grow in the open savannahs. |
|
|
| 3. |
Unlike
other rhino species, the white rhino is semi-gregarious;
the females and sub-adults are rarely alone. The
dominant male patrols the territory that the females
and young pass through. Females in managed situations
will reproduce better if they are in a group. |
|
|
| 4. |
During
the European exploration of Africa, the white rhino
was actually less numerous than the black rhino.
In recent history the black rhino populations have
been heavily poached to alarmingly low levels. Today,
because of careful management in the Republic of
South Africa, the white rhino population has increased
dramatically. South Africa has approximately 80%
of the world's population of white rhinos. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
The
white rhino is one of the largest pure grazers
alive, making them an integral aspect of the southern
African grasslands. Seed dispersal and the hindering
of woody plant encroachment are important parts
of their role in the grasslands.
People
of some cultures believe that rhino horn contains
medicinal or curative properties. The medical
aspects are not proven but are still the primary
reason for the poaching of the species. Because
of education and awareness to the plight of the
rhino many things are being done with varying
degrees of success. Some of the conservation measures
that have been attempted by some range countries
are increased patrols by rangers, a shoot on sight
policy for poaching, a dehorning program for rhinos,
and the relocation of rhinos to safer areas.
Economic
sanctions, or the threat of such, against countries
that continue to consume rhino horn have had the
greatest impact in their regulatory policies.
Many of these countries have increased jail time
and amounts of fines for those involved in the
illegal trade in rhino horn.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Estes,
Richard D. The Safari Companion. Post Mills,
Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 1993. |
|
| MacDonald,
David. The Encyclopedia of Mammals:2. London:
George Allen & Unwin Co., 1985. |
|
|
Martin,
Esmond and Chryssee Bradley. Run Rhino Run.
London: Chatto and Windus, 1982.
|
|
| Nowak,
Ronald M. Walker's Mammals of the World.
Fifth edition. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991. |
|
|
|
|
|
