Fun Facts
Not-so-white rhino
There is actually no colour difference between the black and white rhinos species. The 'white' component of the name may have resulted from a mistranslation of the Afrikaans word “wyd” meaning “wide'
Highly endangered species
There are only two remaining individuals of other subspecies of white rhino, the northern white rhino. This is in comparison with the estimated 17,000 individuals of the southern white rhino species. The two remaining northern white rhinos are called Fatu and Najin and both are female and living in a conservancy in Kenya. The last male rhino, Sudan, died in 2018.
Scientists are attempting to use frozen sperm from deceased males to impregnate the two females to try and save the species.
Long horn
Southern white rhinoceros' front horns are on average about 60 cm long but have been known to grow up to lengths of 1.5 metres. Their horns are composed of keratin and are used as weapons against predators, to display dominance when threatened by other rhinos.