White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
White Rhinoceros: Large grazer of savannas and grasslands.
| Scientific name | Ceratotherium simum |
|---|---|
| Swahili name | Kifaru mweupe |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Size | Male: 2300-2700 kg; Female: 1600-2000 kg |
How to identify
Very large body, broad head; two horns, the front horn longer and curved; wide, square-shaped lips adapted for grazing; thick grayish-white skin; prominent hump-like muscles on the shoulders.
Habitat
Open savanna with scattered trees, grasslands, shrublands
Diet
Herbivorous, mainly feeds on short grass.
When it is active
Diurnal, active at dawn and dusk.
Where it lives
Mainly distributed in southern African countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana; very rare in Kenya and the Masai Mara region.
How to spot it
Observe at dawn or dusk in open savanna areas with scattered trees, maintain a safe distance, and use binoculars.
Photography tips
Use a telephoto lens to capture details, pay attention to changing light conditions, preferably photograph in soft morning or evening light, avoid disturbing the animal.
Threats
Poaching (illegal trade of horns), habitat loss and fragmentation.
Similar species
Black rhinoceros (pointed lips adapted for browsing shrubs); white rhinoceros has wide, square lips; white rhinoceros is larger in size.
