Southern White Rhinoceros

*Ceratotherium simum simum*

### Regions

South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini

## Taxonomy

### Genus

Ceratotherium

The **Southern White Rhinoceros** (*Ceratotherium simum simum*) is a large African ungulate featured in the Standard Edition of *Zoo Venture*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population in the Wild:** 415,000

The Southern white rhinoceros is a large species of ungulate native to Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia). They are large, broad animals with thick, grey skin. The Southern white rhinoceros has two horns, with the front horn being much longer than the secondary horn. The head of the rhinoceros is almost rectangular in shape with a square snout. They have protuberant ears on the top of the musculature that supports the head. Male Southern white rhinoceros measure between 12,21ft and 13ft in length are 68 in 75in tall and weigh an average of 5060lb. Females measure between 11,22ft and 12,045ft in length are 64in to 70in tall and weigh an average of 3740lb.

The Southern white rhinoceros is near threatened but has returned from the brink of extinction thanks to long-term conservation efforts. This species was reduced to 20 individuals in the early 20th Century thanks to overhunting for meat and sport. Since then, consistent protection, captive breeding programs, and reintroduction to their historical home range has meant the Southern white rhinoceros population has recovered spectacularly. They continue to be threatened by poachers, who hunt the animal illegally for their horns. Horns can be sold for a high price for use in traditional medicine.

### Social

Male Southern white rhinoceroses are solitary: they do not interact except to mate or challenge each other territory or mates. Females may be solitary or may live in a temporary, loosely bonded group of several females and their offspring.

### Reproduction

Dominant male rhinoceroses are territorial and will preside over a large area of land that females will graze on. Females may whistle to males when they are ready to mate, or a male may detect a fertile female by smell. When a receptive female enters a male´s territory, he will track her and remain close to her for 5-20days until she reaches peak fertility. The male will attempt to prevent the female from entering the territory of other males during this time. However, if she successfully leaves his territory, he will leave her alone. If courtship is successful, they will mate. Copulation lasts 15 to 30 minutes and rhinoceroses will mate several times over 2-5 days while the female is most fertile. Following copulation during this fertile period, the female will leave the male.

Females will give birth to 1 calf after a pregnancy of 530 to 550 days. Males do not take part in rearing offspring. Newborn rhinoceroses will feed exclusively from their mother for 2 months, then they will start eating soft young grasses in addition to milk. Weaning begins at 6 months old. Rhinoceros calves will be weaned between 12 and 18 months of age. The female rhinoceros will begin to distance herself from her young and may be actively hostile towards them when they reach 2.5 to 3 years of age. She will then become sexually receptive again.