White rhinoceros

Adopt online

We also have a group adoption scheme for just £55 which is perfect for schools & clubs – call us on 01962 777988 to find out more.

About the White rhinoceros

What do I eat?

White rhinos are grazers and have a wide, flat lower lip so they can eat short grasses. They spend about half of the day grazing.  White rhinos can go for several days without drinking.

Where do I live?

White Rhinos are found in grasslands and savannah in Southern Africa. Most white rhinos (98.8%) are in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Breeding

White rhinos usually first breed at 6 or 7 years of age. The gestation period is about 16 months. A single calf is usually born, but twins occur very occasionally.

Predators

Rhinos aren’t generally threatened by predators because of their large size, but calves and young rhinos are sometimes killed by lions, hyenas and occasionally crocodiles. Mothers will stay close to their calves to guard them.  

Conservation

The white rhino is a conservation success story. Their numbers have increased from less than 100 in 1900 to over 20,000 today. This success is due to an intensive protection and translocation programme.  However, rhinos are still under threat. In recent years there has been a massive increase in poaching, as demand for rhino horn has increased.  Many rhinos are now in protected areas so it is easier to try to protect them from poachers.