Rhino Database Of Nkorho Pan and Elephant Plains

White Rhinoceros
The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) is, behind the elephant, the most massive remaining land animal in the world, along with the Indian Rhinoceros and the hippopotamus, which are of comparable size. There are two subspecies of White Rhinos; as of 2005, South Africa has the most of the first subspecies, the Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). The population of Southern White Rhinos is about 14,500, making them the most abundant subspecies of rhino in the world. However, the population of the second subspecies, the critically-endangered Northern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), is down to as few as four individuals in the wild, and as of June 2008 this sub-species could even be extinct.[5]

The White Rhino has an immense body and large head, a short neck and broad chest. This rhino can exceed 3000 kg (6600 pounds), have a head-and-body length of 3.35-4.2 m (11-13.9 feet) and a shoulder height of 150-185 cm (60-73 inches). The record-sized White Rhinoceros was about 4500 kg (10,000 lb).[6]. On its snout it has two horns. The front horn is larger than the other horn and averages 89.9 cm (23.6 inches) in length and can reach 150 cm (59 inches). The White Rhinoceros also has a noticeable hump on the back of its neck which supports its large head. The colour of this animal ranges from yellowish brown to slate grey. The only hair on them is on the ear fringes and tail bristles with little across the body. White Rhinos have the distinctive flat broad mouth which is used for grazing.

Black Rhinoceros
The name Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) was chosen to distinguish this species from the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). This can be confusing, as those two species are not really distinguishable by colour. There are four subspecies of black rhino: South-central (Diceros bicornis minor), the most numerous, which once ranged from central Tanzania south through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to northern and eastern South Africa; South-western (Diceros bicornis bicornis) which are better adapted to the arid and semi-arid savannas of Namibia, southern Angola, western Botswana and western South Africa; East African (Diceros bicornis michaeli), primarily in Tanzania; and West African (Diceros bicornis longipes) which was tentatively declared extinct in 2006.[7]

An adult Black Rhinoceros stands 147–160 cm (57.9–63 inches) high at the shoulder and is 3.3-3.6 m (10.8–11.8 feet) in length.[8] An adult weighs from 800 to 1400 kg (1,760 to 3,080 lb), exceptionally to 1820 kg (4,000 lb), with the females being smaller than the males. Two horns on the skull are made of keratin with the larger front horn typically 50 cm long, exceptionally up to 140 cm. Sometimes, a third smaller horn may develop. The Black Rhino is much smaller than the White Rhino, and has a pointed mouth, which they use to grasp leaves and twigs when feeding.

Lets begin from the Nkoho ranger i am told: There are no resident bulls here except for Londoz which is down in the west and he moves between all the lodges in the western half..... Londoz is large male rhino with large front horn and possible loss of left eye

 An update from the Elephant plains Rangers .. taken from there monthly newsletter... The large bull that spent most of his time in the far south is now slowly moving into Londoz’s territory. This bull is very big and has particularly huge horns. I predict that, should he and Londoz get into a territorial fight, Londoz might just loose a piece of his territory! We don’t see too much of Utah these days, but every now and again he will make an appearance. Shorthorn might have to fight another bull for a bigger territory at some stage. He might even play the submissive game in Londoz’s territory. This will mean that whenever he encounters Londoz in his territory, he will have to place his head to the ground and make loud squealing sounds. This action will prove to Londoz that he accepts him as the superior male.

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                  Here is our first candidate to be i.d

This Large male rhino with an easily identifiable face was seen at nk on 13Th of the august 2008.. Currently waiting to check with rangers if he has been named yet ... Update: it is believed this rhino which i call scarface is named flop'n'drop ... he is regularly seen lurking near bbq's and is keen to chase chef wes of nkorho ...

Female with large horn .. i have been able to identify her a couple of times by her horn she has also made it easy being accompanied by her calf which i am assuming would be around a yr old..  there is also a male that visits with a similar length horn but his thicker from base to  point...

               Three rhino crossing a road near Nkorho

                            pic by jacques venter

reserved for rhino coming soon