The name "rhinoceros" translates directly from Greek as "nose-horn".
All rhinos possess at least one horn (sometimes two), that is growing from the top side of the nose. The "horns" lack a bony core and are comprised of compressed hair.
They have purported medicinal properties and are also used to make traditional ornaments - as a result, all of them have been hunted to the brink of extinction.
They are also wallowers and will often find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with a natural bug repellent and sun block.
They have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. The eye sight might not be that great, but they will find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind.
This picture of a white rhino was taking at the Lake Nakuru National Park © Siggi HosenfeldThe Swahili name for rhinos is Faru. The Scientific names are Diceros bicorn for the black and Ceratotherium simum for the white rhino.
The size can be about 60 inch at the shoulder. Predators are: Humans.
They live between 35 to 40 years. The diet is vegetarian and the weight can be 1 to 2 tons for the black, and over 2 tons for the white.
This white rhino was taking a nap at the Masai Mara Rhino Sanctuary. As was the next one. We had a chance to get VERY close and it was a bit scary, but very exciting! © Siggi HosenfeldThe breeding programs in Kenya have been very successful after having a bad history of poaching. The white rhinoceros was introduced as part of a species conservation program from South Africa.
Both species can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park and Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy. Also those two you see here in the Masai Mara Rhino Sanctuary.
You are more than welcome to use these photos for personal use. I trust, you won’t reproduce or sell them without asking for permission.
All rhinos possess at least one horn (sometimes two), that is growing from the top side of the nose. The "horns" lack a bony core and are comprised of compressed hair.
They have purported medicinal properties and are also used to make traditional ornaments - as a result, all of them have been hunted to the brink of extinction.
They are also wallowers and will often find a suitable water hole and roll in its mud, coating their skin with a natural bug repellent and sun block.
They have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell. The eye sight might not be that great, but they will find one another by following the trail of scent each enormous animal leaves behind.
- Black rhinos have various habitats, but mainly areas with dense, woody vegetation.
- White rhinos live in savannas with water holes, mud wallows and shade trees.
- The black rhino is a browser, with a triangular-shaped upper lip, best referred as ‘hook-shaped‘. It eats a large variety of vegetation, including leaves, buds and shoots of plants, bushes and trees.
- The white rhino, on the other hand, is a grazer feeding on grasses. The white rhino's name derives from the Dutch word "weit", meaning wide. As a reference to its wide, square mouth which is excellent for grazing.
The size can be about 60 inch at the shoulder. Predators are: Humans.
They live between 35 to 40 years. The diet is vegetarian and the weight can be 1 to 2 tons for the black, and over 2 tons for the white.
Both species can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park and Laikipia Wildlife Conservancy. Also those two you see here in the Masai Mara Rhino Sanctuary.
You are more than welcome to use these photos for personal use. I trust, you won’t reproduce or sell them without asking for permission.