Hunting The White Rhino

The rhinoceros or rhino as it is commonly called, is a member of Africa’s Big 5 and Danger 7 and remains a prized trophy when hunting in Africa. The second biggest land animal after the elephant, there are five species of rhinos, including two African rhinos and three Asian rhino species.

The two African rhino species are the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). Contrary to popular belief, both the black and white rhinos are gray. The shade of gray may, however, vary as rhinos are known for wallowing in mud and dust, and, depending on their actual location, the sand may differ in color, which will then account for the different shades of animals.

There are two subspecies of white rhino:

• Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum)
• Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)

Also referred to as the square-lipped rhino due to its wide lips, the white rhino is a herbivorous grazer, tucking into the succulent short grasses in their savanna and grassland habitats. They use their large, square-lipped mouths to chomp the grasses close to the ground.

Even with its large and imposing size, the white rhino is relatively unaggressive. The majority (98.8%) of the southern white rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, with legal hunting of a white rhino only available in two countries, namely South Africa and Namibia.

White rhinos are known to have complex social structures. Females with calves may form groups of up to 14 animals. Adult males defend their one square mile territory, which they mark with vigorously scraped dung piles. The home range for adult females can be more than seven times larger, depending on habitat quality and population density.

Breeding females cannot leave a dominant male’s territory, which is marked and patrolled by its owner regularly. Males competing for a female may engage in serious conflict, using their horns and massive size to inflict wounds.

Although rhino poaching is illegal and there are several organizations in place to save rhinos and prevent poachers and traffickers, it remains prevalent, with a lucrative black market and rising demand from countries such as Vietnam and China.

The only two destinations worldwide where rhino hunting is legally offered, are South Africa and Namibia. CITES permits are required for these strictly controlled dangerous game hunting adventures. Rhino hunts are not cheap and only a few permits are issued annually.