Welcome to Perth Zoo

No, not even close! The name comes from the Afrikaans 'weit' referring to their wide, square lip.

Description: The Southern White Rhinoceros has a thick grey hide and two long horns on its snout. They also have a wide, straight upper lip. Their legs are fairly slim, allowing them to run up to speeds of 40 km/h, which is amazing for their size. Rhinoceros have poor eyesight but their sense of smell is very good.

Diet: Rhinoceros are herbivores and graze mostly on grass with their flat, wide muzzle like a lawn mower.

In the wild: Although they will charge to intimidate predators, rhinoceros are quite placid. Mother-calf pairs stay together for long periods of time. Full-grown males tend to be solitary.

Threats: Humans are the main predators of rhinoceros. Rhinoceros are hunted for their horns. The horn is made from keratin, the same as our fingernails and hair. Rangers in Africa have sedated rhinoceros and cut off their horns to stop poachers. Because the horn is made of keratin, it doesn’t hurt to have it removed.
 

Did you Know?

Splashing around in a mud wallow looks like a lot of fun, but it serves a practical purpose: it keeps them cool, provides protection from the sun and repels insects and parasites.

Precinct
African Savannah
Other Name/s
Square-lipped Rhinoceros, Wide-lipped Rhinoceros
Scientific Name
Ceratotherium simum simum
Conservation Status
Near Threatened
Body Length
3.6–4.2 m
Weight
Up to 2.4 tonnes
Class
Mammal
Gestation
16 months
Number of Young
1
Distribution
Southern Africa
Habitat
Savannah
Region
Africa

Where you can find me

extraMile by Integranet