Frequently Asked Questions about rhinos

Q. Why do people call the white Rhinos white when in reality they are not white?
A: This originates from its WIDE muzzle (mouth), ‘weit’ in Afrikaans.

Q: Are black rhinos black?
A: No, they are grey, exactly the same colour as white rhinos!

Q. Why are black rhinos called black rhinos?
A. Because Africa has two rhino species, so we can’t name them ‘African rhino’, like they did with the other 3 rhino species in the world (Sumatran rhino, Javan rhino, Indian rhino). We already explained why one species was called ‘white rhino’, so we called the other one ‘black’!

Q: What is the difference between black and white rhinos?
A: Main difference is the mouth: white rhinos have a wide, flat mouth, suitable for grazing grass. Black rhinos have a pointy mouth, with the upper lip bending over the lower lip, almost like the beak of a parrot. This helps them to browse bush. Also, a black rhino is smaller than a white rhino.

Q: How long is the gestation period of a rhino (how long are they pregnant)?
A: 14-16 months (it is very hard to see when a rhino is pregnant, even short before calving)

Q: How long does the calf stay with the mother?
A: On average 2-3 years, until she gets another calf.

Q: How many calves can a rhino get?
A: They always get 1 at the time. Starting at age 7 years, up till approx. age 32 years is 25 years of reproduction. They get one calf average per 2-3 years, so one female rhino could produce 12 calves.

Q: How fast does a rhino horn grow?
A: about 3 cms per year.

Q: What is the lifespan of a rhino?
A: 30-40 years. They get a bit older in captivity than they do in the wild.

Q: How many rhinos are in Africa?
A: approx. 11,000 whites and 3,500 blacks.

Q: Do rhinos make sounds?
A: Yes, they puff and snort when it charges, give high-pitched squeal when it calls another rhino, grunt and bellow when it fights with another rhino.

Q: How long can a rhino horn be?
A: Black rhinos can have a front horn up to 1 meter! The second, shorter horn can grow up to 50 cm.

Q. What is the history of rhinos in Uganda?
A. We had thousands a long time back, about 60 in the 1960s (in the North and Northwest) and the last rhino was seen in 1982!