White Rhinocerosシロサイ

Ceratotherium simumNT— Near Threatened

The white rhinoceros is the largest living rhino species, native to the grasslands and savannas of southern Africa. A specialized grazer with a distinctive wide, square lip for cropping short grass, it is divided into southern and northern subspecies with vastly different fates: the southern subspecies numbers in the tens of thousands, while the northern subspecies is functionally extinct, surviving only as two females under protection. The IUCN lists the species overall as Near Threatened, with poaching for its horn the primary threat.

White Rhinoceros (reference photo)
Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification
Perissodactyla / Rhinocerotidae Source
Size
Body length 335–420 cm, shoulder height 171–185 cm
Weight
Males about 2,000–3,600 kg / females about 1,400–1,700 kg (the largest rhinoceros species)
Lifespan
Wild: estimated 40–50 years
Diet
Herbivore Herbivorous grazer, feeding mainly on short grasses close to the ground, and occasionally on leaves
Activity
Rests during the day and feeds at dawn and in the evening
Distribution
The white rhinoceros is found mainly in southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, and is divided into southern and northern subspecies. Source
Sources
ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

  • Its eyesight is poor, struggling to see objects even 30 meters away, but this is compensated by an excellent sense of hearing and smell. Source
  • The horn is made entirely of keratin, the same protein found in fingernails and hair, with no bony core, yet mistaken beliefs about its medicinal value have made it a poaching target. Source
  • The northern subspecies has had no confirmed wild sightings since 2006, and as of the present day only two females survive under protection in Kenya. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4 · Overseas 1

Japan Overseas

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

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Nagasaki Bio ParkNagasakiOpened in 1980

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Nasu SafariParkTochigiAbout 15 minutes from the Nasu IC or about 25 minutes from the Kuroiso-Itamuro IC on the Tohoku Expressway.

Source

Fuji Safari ParkShizuokaOpened in 1980

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San Diego ZooOpened in 1916

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Conservation Story

Conservation Status

Near Threatened (NT)

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

What is the difference between the northern and southern white rhinoceros?
The southern white rhinoceros has recovered to a wild population of roughly 17,000 to 18,000, while the northern subspecies is functionally extinct, with only two related females remaining under protection in Kenya since no wild individuals have been confirmed since 2006. Source
What are white rhino horns made of?
The horns are made of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and fingernails, with no bony core inside. Source
What do white rhinos eat?
They are specialized grazers that feed mainly on short grasses close to the ground, using their wide, square lips to crop vegetation efficiently. Source
How many operating facilities are registered here?
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 4 · Overseas 1 Source

Books & gear

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org