What is a southern white rhinoceros?

The southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum ) is a subspecies of the white rhinoceros. They are the largest rhino group by population. These mammals graze on short grasses and live in groups of up to 10. Southern white rhinos are typically larger than their northern counterparts, with males weighing 2,000–2,400 kg and can grow to be about 4 meters tall. Southern white rhinoceroses are found almost exclusively in southern Africa, with introduced populations in Kenya and Zambia. After facing near extinction with only 100 individuals around 1900, conservation efforts have increased their numbers to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the white rhinoceros as a near-threatened species.

Where does the southern white rhinoceros live?

The southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum ) is primarily located in southern Africa, spanning from Angola and Namibia eastward through Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique. There are also smaller, introduced populations in Kenya and southern Zambia. They can also be found in zoos and private nature reserves worldwide. South of the Zambezi River, the southern white rhinoceros was once very common across a large area of bushveld. By 1900, their population was reduced to fewer than 100 individuals. However, through conservation efforts, their numbers have increased to almost 20,000 in the 2020s.

What does a southern white rhinoceros eat?

The southern white rhinoceros is a grazing species that prefers short grasses between 7 and 10 cm high. They have a broad, square muzzle, which makes them specialized grazers. They also rest under shade trees and depend on surface water.

Why is the southern white rhinoceros endangered?

The southern white rhinoceros is classified as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Poaching is the major threat to the rhinoceros, where they are killed for their horns. These horns are in high demand for dagger handles and traditional medicine, particularly in powdered form. Protecting rhinos is costly, with estimates of $1,400 per square km annually to deter poaching, requiring multimillion-dollar budgets that many African governments cannot afford. The population of the southern white rhinoceros was reduced to fewer than 100 individuals around 1900. However, through conservation efforts, their numbers have increased to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s.

What efforts are being made to protect the southern white rhinoceros?

The southern white rhinoceros experienced a remarkable recovery, increasing from fewer than 100 individuals around 1900 to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the white rhinoceros as near-threatened, largely due to the southern white rhinoceros's population success. However, these conservation successes require considerable resources. Protecting rhinos from poaching, driven by demand for their horns, is costly, with estimates of $1,400 per square kilometer annually for detection and deterrence. Reserves safeguarding rhinos often span vast areas, necessitating multimillion-dollar budgets that can be challenging for African governments to maintain. Efforts to protect vulnerable species involve habitat protection, invasive species removal, and measures to prevent new threats. For species subject to hunting or collecting, national laws such as the Endangered Species Act in the U.S. and international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, prohibit commercial trade in designated species.

southern white rhinoceros

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Two white rhinoceroses standing on dry grass surrounded by scattered green bushes and trees at Mkhaya, Swaziland.

A southern white rhinoceros mother stands beside her calf on sandy ground with sparse bushes and green trees in the background at Ongava Game Reserve, Namibia.

Map showing the geographic ranges of the five living rhinoceros species across Africa and Asia. Orange areas in southern and eastern Africa represent black rhinoceros range, with purple areas for southern white rhinoceros. Pink highlights the Indian, or greater one-horned, rhinoceros range in northern India and Nepal. Red and green dots in Sumatra and Java indicate remaining strongholds for Sumatran and Javan rhinoceroses, respectively. A magenta dot in central Africa marks the last northern whi

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Also called:: square-lipped rhinoceros

Related Topics:: white rhinoceros

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southern white rhinoceros

mammal

Also known as: Ceratotherium simum simum, square-lipped rhinoceros(Show More)

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What is a southern white rhinoceros?
The southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) is a subspecies of the white rhinoceros. They are the largest rhino group by population. These mammals graze on short grasses and live in groups of up to 10. Southern white rhinos are typically larger than their northern counterparts, with males weighing 2,000–2,400 kg and can grow to be about 4 meters tall.

Southern white rhinoceroses are found almost exclusively in southern Africa, with introduced populations in Kenya and Zambia. After facing near extinction with only 100 individuals around 1900, conservation efforts have increased their numbers to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the white rhinoceros as a near-threatened species.
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Where does the southern white rhinoceros live?
The southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum simum) is primarily located in southern Africa, spanning from Angola and Namibia eastward through Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique. There are also smaller, introduced populations in Kenya and southern Zambia. They can also be found in zoos and private nature reserves worldwide.

South of the Zambezi River, the southern white rhinoceros was once very common across a large area of bushveld. By 1900, their population was reduced to fewer than 100 individuals. However, through conservation efforts, their numbers have increased to almost 20,000 in the 2020s.
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What does a southern white rhinoceros eat?
The southern white rhinoceros is a grazing species that prefers short grasses between 7 and 10 cm high. They have a broad, square muzzle, which makes them specialized grazers. They also rest under shade trees and depend on surface water.
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How can you tell a southern white rhinoceros from other types of rhinos?
The southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) can be distinguished from other rhinos through a combination of traits. As a subspecies of the white rhinoceros, it is a grazing species with a broad, square muzzle suited for short grasses. Southern white rhinos tend to be paler than other rhinoceros species.

Compared to the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), the southern white rhinoceros is heavier and larger, with shorter limbs and a longer palate. The top of the skull is also more concave in the southern subspecies. Male southern white rhinoceroses can weigh as much as 2,000–2,400 kg (4,400–5,300 pounds), whereas male northern white rhinoceroses weighed up to 1,600 kg (3,500 pounds).
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Why is the southern white rhinoceros endangered?
The southern white rhinoceros is classified as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Poaching is the major threat to the rhinoceros, where they are killed for their horns. These horns are in high demand for dagger handles and traditional medicine, particularly in powdered form. Protecting rhinos is costly, with estimates of $1,400 per square km annually to deter poaching, requiring multimillion-dollar budgets that many African governments cannot afford.

The population of the southern white rhinoceros was reduced to fewer than 100 individuals around 1900. However, through conservation efforts, their numbers have increased to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What efforts are being made to protect the southern white rhinoceros?
The southern white rhinoceros experienced a remarkable recovery, increasing from fewer than 100 individuals around 1900 to approximately 20,000 in the 2020s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the white rhinoceros as near-threatened, largely due to the southern white rhinoceros's population success.

However, these conservation successes require considerable resources. Protecting rhinos from poaching, driven by demand for their horns, is costly, with estimates of $1,400 per square kilometer annually for detection and deterrence. Reserves safeguarding rhinos often span vast areas, necessitating multimillion-dollar budgets that can be challenging for African governments to maintain.

Efforts to protect vulnerable species involve habitat protection, invasive species removal, and measures to prevent new threats. For species subject to hunting or collecting, national laws such as the Endangered Species Act in the U.S. and international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, prohibit commercial trade in designated species.
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Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

southern white rhinoceros, (Ceratotherium simum simum), subspecies of the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). The largest rhinoceros group in terms of population, the southern white rhinoceros is found almost exclusively in southern Africa from Angola and Namibia eastward through Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Eswatini, and Mozambique, with smaller populations made up of introduced animals in Kenya and southern Zambia. Southern white rhinoceroses also reside in zoos and private nature reserves worldwide.

Most researchers divide white rhinoceroses into two subspecies—the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and the southern white rhinoceros (C. simum simum)—although some report that comparative anatomy and DNA analysis suggest that the two groups may be different species. At the species level, the white rhinoceros is the only rhinoceros in which males are noticeably larger than females. A grazing species with a broad, square muzzle, it prefers short grasses 7–10 cm (3–4 inches) high for grazing, and it rests under shade trees. It tends to be paler than other rhinoceroses. It lives in groups of up to 10 individuals and fights with its horns.

Southern white rhinoceroses are heavier and larger than northern white rhinoceroses and tend to have shorter limbs and a longer palate, and the top of the skull is more concave than in their northern counterparts. Although the largest males of both subspecies ranged between 3.7 and 4 metres (about 12 and 13 feet) in length and stood nearly 2 metres (7 feet) tall, male northern white rhinoceroses tended to be shorter in length than male southern white rhinoceroses. (The last living male northern white rhinoceros died in 2018.) Male southern white rhinoceroses can weigh as much as 2,000–2,400 kg (4,400–5,300 pounds), whereas male northern white rhinoceroses weighed up to 1,600 kg (3,500 pounds).

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

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Male and female southern white rhinoceroses become sexually mature at different times. Females reach this point between ages 4 and 5, but males do not mate until after age 10. After a successful mating takes place, a single calf is produced some 16 months later. Although southern white rhinoceroses may breed throughout the year, females give birth to one calf roughly every 3–4 years. Southern white rhinoceroses may live as long as 50 years in the wild and up to 55 years in captivity.

geographic ranges of rhinocerosesThe geographic ranges of the five living species of rhinoceroses.

The range of the southern white rhinoceros is not contiguous. South of the Zambezi River the animal was once extremely common over a fairly large area of bushveld. The population in southern Africa was reduced to fewer than 100 individuals about 1900, but in the 2020s its numbers approached 20,000, one of the most remarkable success stories in African conservation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources classifies the white rhinoceros as a near-threatened species based overwhelmingly on the population success of the southern white rhinoceros; the northern white rhinoceros subspecies, however, is made up of only two females, and is considered critically endangered.

Eric Dinerstein The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

southern white rhinoceros

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