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.