Northern White Rhino

GS 3 – ENVIRONMENT

Context:
The northern white rhino is on the verge of extinction, with only two individuals left. However, advancements in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) have sparked hope for the subspecies, as 36 embryos are now ready for implantation.

About Northern White Rhino:

What is a White Rhino?

• The white rhinoceros, or square-lipped rhino, is one of five rhino species.

Habitat:

• White rhinos thrive in grass savannahs, both short and long.
• Southern white rhinos mainly live in South Africa, with smaller groups in Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
• Northern white rhinos are critically endangered, with only two remaining at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Types:

• Southern White Rhino: Near Threatened.
• Northern White Rhino: Critically Endangered.

Features:

• Diet: Pure grazers, feeding almost entirely on short grasses.
• Biology: The second-largest land mammal after elephants, with two nasal horns—the front one being larger.
• Physical Traits: They have a wide, square upper lip suited for grazing. Despite the name, white and black rhinos share similar skin colors.