Overview

The white rhinoceros is the largest rhino species and a square-lipped grazer of African grassland. Despite the name, it is grey — 'white' may come from the Afrikaans word 'wyd' meaning wide, referring to its broad mouth. Bulls weigh over two tonnes and mark territory with dung piles and scrapes.

Rhino horns are made of keratin — the same protein as human hair and fingernails — yet demand for traditional medicine drives poaching that has devastated populations. South Africa holds most of the world's remaining white rhinos.

Habitat

Open grassland and savanna in South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya suit white rhinos. They need water, short grass for grazing, and intensive anti-poaching protection — most wild populations now live in fenced reserves.

Countries found

Interesting facts

01
Rhino horns are made of keratin — the same protein as human hair and nails.
02
White rhinos are grazers; black rhinos browse on shrubs and trees.
03
A rhino can run at over 40 km/h despite its bulk.

Conservation status

CR — Critically Endangered

White rhinos are Near Threatened globally but northern white rhino is Critically Endangered — functionally extinct in the wild. Southern white rhinos survive mainly in South African reserves under heavy protection.