White Rhinoceros ‒ Calf

White rhinoceroses are the largest of the five rhinoceros species, with males commonly reaching weights of up to 2.3 tons and females up to 1.7 tons. They inhabit the bushy grasslands of South Africa, where they graze on plants and grasses. An adaptation to their grazing lifestyle is their wide upper lip, a feature that distinguishes them from other rhinoceros species, particularly the black rhinoceros, which also has two horns. Unlike horns made of bone, rhinoceros horns are composed entirely of keratin, and in white rhinoceroses, the longer front horn can reach up to 1 meter in length. The primary threat to rhinoceros populations is illegal poaching for their horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine and for ornamental purposes. The name "white rhinoceros" is not related to its color; rather, it likely originates from a mistranslation of the word "wide," referring to the shape of its upper lip. Female white rhinoceroses give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of approximately 16 months. The calf becomes active shortly after birth and follows its mother for about three years until her next calf is born. Groups of young white rhinoceroses often graze together, and females without calves form temporary herds. Young females reach sexual maturity earlier than males.