White African Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum
Nikolas Pillsbury, Trey Dry, Chance Brown, Mackenzie Stall
Characteristics and Niche
- Actually gray, the difference between the White Rhinoceros and the Black Rhinoceros is the shape of their lip; White Rhinoceros's graze grasses with their heads and lips pointed towards the ground.
- They live in Africa, mainly in the bottom half of the continent.
- They live in grassy plains where they gather in groups as big as a dozen.
- They like to find muddy water holes to bathe and cool off in, coating themselves with a natural bug repellant and sunblock.
Populations
Population in 1900: 500,000
Population in 1970: 70,000
Current population: 20,405
Causes of Endangerment
- They are hunted for their horns, as they are used for medical purposes in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
- Their horns are also used for ornamental value from people in North Africa and the Middle East.
Solutions to Endangerment
- Create laws against hunting of rhinos until the species can recover.
- The species has recovered in recent years, nearly going extinct a few years ago.
- Place some rhinos in zoos to ensure the survival of the species.