Southern white rhinoceros

Status

Near Threatened

Classification

Mammal

Exhibit

African Plains

Size

5-6 ft. tall at the shoulder, 5,000 and 6,000 lbs.

Big and Bulky

The Southern white rhino is the second largest land animal after elephants, standing close to six feet tall at the shoulder and weighing between 5,000 - 6,000 pounds. Being this big doesn’t stop a white rhino from rolling around in the mud. These big guys will roll around and cover themselves with mud which cools them and protects their skin from sun and insects.

Saving the Species

Once thought to be extinct in the wild, the White rhino is now listed as Near Threatened by the International Conservation of Nature (IUNC) because of intense conservation interference. Issues plaguing the White rhino include poaching, habitat destruction and climate change.