FAQ on Rhino

Introduction

These mammals are easily recognised by their prehistoric features and the horns on their forehead. Rhinos are bold and have been seen to graze right next to lions, with the lions being equally un-fazed. Poachers are greatly responsible for the decreasing Rhino population.

White Rhino (ceratotherium simum) occur mostly in woodlands between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers, and less around Shingwedzi and Letaba. The Black Rhino (diceros bircornis) is found around thorny thickets and dense bush in southern Kruger between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop and also south of Lower Sabie near Crocodile Bridge.

How and when do rhinos sleep?

A rhino can be found dozing under a tree during a hot day, but when they take a deep sleep, they lie down with their feet curled up slightly to the one side. A rhino will sleep for a few hours every 24 hours. They sleep very deeply and can easily be approached.

How do Rhino keep cool?

During the unenduring hours of the day they will rest in the shade or in a breezy ridge. They will drink water on a daily basis when it is available. Rhino love to wallow in shallow mud. Not only does the mud cool them immediately, it acts as a sunblock against the harsh African sun. Rhinos tend to move around more during the night when it is cooler and more bearable.

What is the rhino horn made of and why is it in such demand?

The horn is composed of keratin (the same material that makes nails, claws and hooves) and is sought after for its ornamental and supposed medicinal uses.

What are the differences between black and white rhinos?

The biggest difference is that of size, with the white rhino being the bigger of the two. The horns of the black rhino tend to grow very pointedly and that of the white rhino are rounded with the front horn being the longer of the two. Other means of distinguishing between the rhinos is by the position in which they hold their head (the white rhino holds its head lower than the black rhino) and the back of the black rhino is more concave than that of the white rhino.