The White Rhino

The word Rhinoceros comes from the Greek word rhino, meaning nose, and ceros, meaning horn. The White Rhino is light gray in color, not white. A story says that some early settlers in South Africa called the White Rhino wijde, Dutch for wide, referring to the wide lip of the White Rhino.


The Whito Rhinoceros is the world's largest land mammal after the elephant. They have large heads, wide chests, thick legs, poor eyesight and will charge when they are surprised. The White Rhino has a hump on the back of its neck to support its very big head. Rhinos chew on grass for most of the day, making it one of the largest pure grazers.

There are two horns on the White Rhinoceros; the front horn is the much larger one. Rhino horns grow as much as three inches a year and can grow up to 5 feet! Female rhinos use their horns to protect their babies, while male rhinos use their horns to fight off attackers.

A group of rhinos is called a "crash", a perfect word to describe these large animals that will charge when surprised. Rhinos look like they would win a battle with a tank, but their skin is really sensitive, especially to sunburns and biting insects. This is why they like to roll around in mud.

The White Rhinoceros is an ENDANGERED SPECIES. There are only 11,000 White Rhinoceroses in the wild. Some reasons why they are endangered:

1. Hunting - Poachers hunt the White Rhinoceros for its horn. People in Asia use the horns for medicinal use, while people in North Africa and the Middle East want the horn material to make knife handles.

2. Few babies - Although some rhinoceroses give birth while in the zoo under the watchful eyes of zookeepers, most female rhinos born in captivity have not reproduced. Studies are being made to solve this mystery.

3. Habitat destruction -The White Rhino lives in open grasslands and plains. As the people move into these places and develop them for homes and buildings, the White Rhino is left with smaller and smaller places to live.

White Rhino Fast Facts
Scientific Name: Ceratotherium Simum
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Height: 11 tp 13.75 feet
Weight: 3,168 to 7,920 pounds
Range: Africa, India, Southeast Asia
Diet: Watergrass and leaves

To make this Toilet Paper Roll Rhino, click on the image or here.