NAIROBI, Kenya – Part of the legendary ‘Big Five, the rhinoceros is very much on the must-see list for many tourists across the globe.
However, it is good to note that there are two types of rhinoceros; White Rhinos aren’t white, and Black Rhinos aren’t black… So where did the names come from?
It is said that the white rhino got its name from the Afrikaans word ‘wyd’—meaning ‘wide’—which describes its broad, square-shaped lip.
Early English explorers mistook this word for ‘white’ and consequently named this species the ‘White’ Rhino, while the other was called the ‘Black’ Rhino to differentiate!
On the other hand, black rhinos have a pointed mouth.
South Africa is home to 80% of Africa’s rhino population. Safaris in Namibia and Kenya also typically offer good viewing.
Why northern white rhinos are functionally extinct
The black rhino and the white rhino live in Africa, and the Sumatran, Javan, and Indian (or greater one-horned) rhinos inhabit the tropical forests and swamps of Asia.
With an estimated 16,803 wandering savannahs in 11 African countries, white rhinos are the least threatened of the five kinds. The southern and northern white rhinos are the two subspecies.
With only two females left on the planet, northern white rhinos are currently regarded as functionally extinct due to poaching. Najin and her daughter, Fatu, reside in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
Seeing what the white rhino is eating is the first clue to telling it apart from a black rhino! It’s probably a white rhino if it’s munching grass on the savannah. Because black rhinos prefer to forage for vegetation in the shrubbery, they are typically more difficult to spot.
Because of the way they feed, their upper lips—and their entire heads—are very different from one another. Like lawnmowers, white rhinos can move their heads smoothly across the ground, thanks to their wide, flat, square lips!
Their name is derived from the Afrikaans word “weit,” which means “wide.” Their heads are carried closer to the ground, and their skulls are considerably longer. Black rhinos, on the other hand, have a shorter head that they often hold higher and a hooked, pointier upper lip that they use to catch leaves from bushes.
Why black rhinos require exceptional hearing
Their stature is another obvious physical distinction to watch out for. As the second largest mammal on the planet (after elephants), white rhinos assert their heavyweight championship here. They usually have a big, barrel-shaped body and weigh 1.5 to 2.5 tonnes.
Black rhinos have a more pronounced arch in their backs and are notably shorter, stronger, and more compact. Between 0.7 and 1.35 tonnes is their weight. In keeping with this pattern, white rhinos have acquired larger ears as a result of their nutritional preferences, while black rhinos have smaller, rounder ears.
Because of their limited vision and constant head proximity to the ground, they require exceptional hearing.
White rhinos enjoy congregating in “crash” groups, which are big gatherings of seven or more. Black rhinos, on the other hand, typically live alone and prefer to fly alone. Given that they must defend their territory by themselves and can be extremely hostile against invaders, it is not surprising that they are feistier.
Males become particularly hostile during mating season as they vie for supremacy. Although white rhinos tend to be more docile, don’t be fooled by that. Despite their size, both rhino species are capable of charging at up to 50 km per hour.
Although they both have two sets of horns, black and white rhinos differ in a few ways. Black rhinos have horns that are closer to one another in length, while white rhinos often have a front horn that is significantly longer than the second.
Contrary to what poachers believe, their horns, which are composed of the protein keratin, which forms hair and nails, are not endowed with any particular abilities.
