Fun Facts
Rhino
BLACK RHINO
LATIN NAME: Diceros bicornis
STATUS: Critically Endangered (CR)
MATURE POPULATION: 3,142
HEIGHT: 5.2 feet
WEIGHT: 1,760 – 3,080 pounds
LIFESPAN: 35-50 years
HABITAT: Forests, Wetlands, Woodland, Semi-Desert Savannah
WHITE RHINOCEROS
LATIN NAME: Ceratotherium simum
STATUS: Near Threatened (NT)
MATURE POPULATION: 10,080
HEIGHT: 5-6 feet
WEIGHT: 3,080 – 7,920 pounds
LIFESPAN: 40-50 years
HABITAT: Savannah, Grasslands
There are two species of African Rhino including the White Rhino and the Black Rhino.
HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT?
Despite their names, there is no difference in the colour of these two species! The name White Rhino is a misinterpretation of the word “weit” which natives called the White Rhino. This word means “wide” referring to the wide mouth of the White Rhino.
Black Rhinos have a pointed upper lip, adapted for eating leaves off bushes and trees.
White Rhinos are larger than Black Rhinos, weighing more than double Black Rhinos body weight.
POPULATION
Rhinos were once widespread throughout many places in Africa, Asia and Europe. Prehistoric paintings of Rhino have even been found in many European caves! As many as 500,000 Rhinos roamed Africa and Asia at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1970, the population of Rhino fell to 70,000. Today there are only 27,000 Rhinos left in the wild, found in national parks and reserves.
