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Common Characteristics
All rhinoceroses share many common features. These mammals all reproduce very slowly, with gestation times around 16 months and individual females giving birth once every three or four years. All species browse vegetation during the day while ranging across their territory, which they mark with scent and dunghills. Only human predators alarm adults, while young individuals occasionally succumb to hyenas or big cats such as lions and tigers. All species possess either one or two horns of varying size, which get used for purposes including reproduction, search for sustenance and defense.
White Rhinoceros
The largest extant (living) rhinoceros species, the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), weighs between two and three tons, second in size only to the African elephant. Two distinct subspecies, the northern and southern white rhinoceros, exist. The northern white rhinoceros lived only in the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo until 2008. After poachers killed the entire wild population, scientists flew four of the seven remaining individuals to a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya, where reports indicate they began mating in early 2011. The southern white rhinoceros boasts considerably more success, increasing in population from around 20 in the late 1800s to around 17,000 today. This subspecies roams across Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa. White rhinoceroses sport two horns and prefer open savanna habitat.
Black Rhinoceros
Enjoying the largest range of any rhinoceros, the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) historically lived in much of sub-Saharan Africa. The species adapts readily to many different habitat types, from desert to savanna to forest. Smaller than C. simum, the black rhino weighs between three quarters and one and a half tons. Ceaseless poaching and habitat destruction during the 20th century reduced the population from 300,000 to around 2,500. Intense protection and management stabilized the wild population, which currently numbers around 4,200. Several hundred more live in zoos throughout the world, where breeding programs help support the species.
Indian Rhinoceros
Also called the greater one-horned rhino, this rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) lives south of the Himalayan mountain range in India and Nepal, although its historic range includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and possibly eastward into China. This species rivals the white rhinoceros in size but has only one horn. These animals prefer the wet grassland ecosystems found at the base of the Himalayas, where the mountains' meltwater feeds a lush habitat that also includes swamps and wet forests. The Indian and Nepalese governments take an active and considerable role in the Indian rhino's conservation, helping the animal recover from a low of 200 individuals over a century ago to a present population around 2,900.
Javan Rhinoceros
With only 50 or so individuals left on Earth, the javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) faces probable extinction due to poaching and habitat loss. These creatures resemble black rhinos in size, but have only one horn. Found in low, dense tropical rainforests in Indonesia and Vietnam, the few dozen remaining animals live solitary lives, browsing on vegetation and wallowing in mud. Due to their lifestyle, tracking and counting the individuals brings significant challenges for researchers. Conservation efforts show little success so far, with limited remaining habitat, difficulty enforcing hunting bans and no captive animals or breeding programs.
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Also critically endangered, the sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) stands much shorter than the other four species. Reaching a height of only 3 to 4 feet, this solitary, wandering species roams through a variety of habitats in Bhutan, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia and Sumatra. They prefer forested areas, but confirmed sightings in swamps, coastal areas and foothills speak to the species' adaptability. Individuals grow two small horns on their snout. The overall population, currently estimated between 220 and 275, continues to fall from poaching and habitat loss. The sumatran rhinoceros tolerates disturbance very poorly and flees any areas inhabited by people.