Southern white rhinoceros

The southern white rhinoceros, also known as the southern square-lipped rhinoceros, is one of the two subspecies of the white rhino. It is the more common and widespread of the two. As of December 2007, there were approximately 17,460 of these magnificent creatures in the wild, with South Africa being their primary habitat. Intriguingly, recent studies suggest that the southern and northern white rhinos might actually be distinct species rather than mere subspecies.

These rhinos are among the largest and heaviest land animals. Female southern white rhinos typically weigh around 1,700 kg, while males can weigh up to 2,300 kg. They possess two horns on their snout, with the front horn being larger. They inhabit grasslands and savannas in southern Africa, predominantly in countries like South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Uganda.

In the 20th century, the southern white rhino was nearly driven to extinction, with fewer than 20 individuals remaining. However, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, their population rebounded to an estimated 19,682–21,077 by 2015. Despite this success, they continue to face significant threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal demand for their horns.

Conservationists have been diligently working to reintroduce these rhinos to various countries within and beyond their historical range, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Some have even been brought into captivity for breeding programs aimed at increasing their numbers and ensuring genetic diversity. Researchers are also investigating factors that affect the reproduction rates of captive rhinos to support these conservation efforts.