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Meet Jericho

S. White Rhinoceros

Personal Info

Jericho arrived at Out of Africa Wildlife Park on September 5, 2013. Having traveled more than 2,100 miles from Busch Gardens in Tampa, FL, Jericho was eager to stretch his legs and claim his new 6-acre estate; an estate six times larger than his previous domicile. Jericho carries on the beloved legacy of Boom Boom, the park’s first rhino that passed away from old age. Jericho’s 4,800-pound frame and handsome features made it worth the yearlong wait.

Habitat

White rhinoceroses are found in grassland and savannah habitat. South Africa remains the stronghold for these rhinos, with smaller populations having been re-introduced to Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zambia.

Physical

The rhinoceros are the world’s second largest land animal after the elephant. The southern white rhino is the largest and most numerous species of rhinoceros that exists. It has a wide mouth used for grazing and is the most social of all rhino species. It has a massive body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. The head and body length is 11 to 13 feet in males and 10 to 12 feet in females, with the tail adding another 28 inches. The male shoulder height is 5 ½ to 6 ½ feet, while the female shoulder height is between 5 and 6 feet. Weight in this animal typically ranges from 3,000 to 8,000 pounds. The male, averaging 5,000 pounds is heavier than the female, at an average of 3,700 pounds. On its snout it has two horn-like growths, one behind the other. These are made of solid keratin. This differs from the horns of cattle and their relatives, which are keratin with a bony core, and deer antlers, which are solid bone. The white rhinoceros also has a distinctive hump on the back of its neck that houses the ligaments that support its large head. Each of the four stumpy feet has three toes that act like a footpad. The color of the body ranges from yellowish brown to slate grey. Its only hair is on the fringe of the ears and tail bristles. Its ears can move independently to pick up sounds but it depends most of all on smell.

Life Cycle

Females reach sexual maturity at 6 to 7 years of age while males reach sexual maturity between 10 to 12 years of age. Courtship is often a difficult affair. The male stays beyond the point where the female acts aggressively and will give out a call when approaching her. The male chases and or blocks the way of the female while squealing or wailing loudly if the female tries to leave his territory. When ready to mate the female curls her tail and gets into a stiff stance during the half hour copulation. Breeding pairs stay together between 5 and 20 days before they part their separate ways. Gestation occurs around 16 to 18 months. A single calf is born and usually weighs between 80 to 140 pounds. Calves are unsteady for their first 2 to 3 days of life. When threatened the baby will run in front of the mother, who is very protective of her calf and will fight for it vigorously. Weaning starts at 2 months, but the calf may continue suckling for over 12 months. A single calf does not live on it’s own until it’s about 3 years old. The birth interval for the white rhino is between 2 and 3 years. Before giving birth the mother will chase off her current calf. White rhinos can live 40 to 45 years in captivity.

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