The rhinoceros has been around for 50 million years and today just five species remain. One of these species is the white rhino, found in grasslands in Africa’s bushveld (suptropical woodland) savannah.
What makes a white rhino?
- Both males and females of the species have two horns, with the longest at the front. These are used in defence against rival rhinos and predators.
- The broad square-shaped upper lip comes in handy for cropping large quantities of grasses.
- The white rhino has a pronounced shoulder hump of muscle and a thick neck to support its massive head, which is lowered for grazing for much of the day.
- Don’t be fooled by the name – a white rhino’s nearly hairless skin is slate-grey to yellow-brown in colour, not white.
- The largest rhinoceros species, a male white rhino weighs in at 2.3 tonnes and reaches 3.7-4 metres from head to tail, while females are slightly smaller at 1.7 tonnes and 3.4-3.65 metres in length.
Look out for these distinguishing features in our white rhino herd when you visit ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
Rhinos under threat
Rhino horns are made of densely packed, tiny tubes of keratin (a protein that fingernails and hair are made of). And, like nails and hair, they grow back if they are cut off. The dark core of the horn is strengthened by calcium and melanin. The horns are used in traditional medicine in Asia and also to make dagger handles in the Middle East, and poaching for rhino horn is a huge problem.
Rhino horn is worth more, by weight, than either gold or diamonds. In recent years the impact of illicit wildlife trade (IWT) on species like the rhino has reached unprecedented levels.
ZSL is working to tackle to illegal willdife trade. Our conservation teams use community engagement, patrol techniques, training and technology to protect rhinos and tackle wildlife crime.
At Whipsnade we're now home to eight white rhinos, after the birth of female calf Nandi on 21 August 2021. Keeper Becca Miles introduces you to our herd...
Clara
Date of birth: 12 October 1981
Place of birth: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Gender: Female
Clara is our oldest white rhino and will be 40 this year! She always wants to be the centre of attention. She's small but sassy, and is the dominant female in the group. Her and Mikumi are strong matriarchs and together they're a formidable force! You can spot Clara as she's the lightest in colour and has a very long bottom horn which points down.
Sizzle
Date of birth: Exact date unknown, but born in 1988
Place of birth: Hluluwe-Umfolozi reserve in South Africa
Gender: Male
Sizzle, our only male, is a firm favourite of many keepers that have worked with him, is a big softy at heart and loves a good scratch! He's our chunkiest white rhino and has shorter, thicker horns than the girls. However, Mikumi gives him a run for his money in terms of size! He's dad to calf, Nandi.
Mikumi
Date of birth: 24 September 1990
Place of birth: Edinburgh Zoo
Gender: Female
Mikumi is the biggest female and is fairly close to the size of Sizzle. Her and Clara are the most dominant and grumpy! Her top horn has been cut down slightly.
Bertha
Date of birth: Exact date unknown but was born in 1998
Joined us from: Knuthenborg Zoo
Gender: Female
Bertha is probably our most stubborn white rhino! She is very independent but has now made very good friends with Jaseera who doesn’t leave her side, along with Fahari who is often seen nearby. You can tell her apart from the others as her top horn crosses over her bottom horn.
Tuli
Date of birth: 15 January 2007
Place of birth: Efurt Zoo, Germany
Gender: Female
Tuli is very energetic and food orientated. She's one of the quieter rhinos in the herd, often seen with Clara and Mikumi, but gets on with everyone. She has your ‘typical’ rhino horns, which are both curved and pointing upright. She's mum to calf Nandi.
Jaseera
Date of birth: 12 January 2011
Joined us from: Knowsley Safari Park
Gender: Female
When Jaseera first arrived with Fahari (from different collections), she was a mother figure to her, and is still just as close, and has also formed an attachment with Bertha. You can tell Jaseera apart from the others as she's lost her horn. This doesn’t hurt her at all, and it has started growing back already, but will take a good few years to fully grow back.
Fahari
Date of birth: 8 September 2017
Joined us from: West Midlands Safari Park
Gender: Female
Fahari is our smallest white rhino (apart from calf Nandi), but can stand her ground against all of the older rhinos! She is very close with Jaseera and Bertha. She loves a scratch and will lift her leg right up!
Nandi
Date of birth: 21 August 2021
Place of birth: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Gender: Female
Nandi, which means ‘sweet one’ in Zulu, was born to mum Tuli and dad Sizzle at 4am on 21 August. She took her first steps a couple of weeks later and is getting more confident on her big, rubbery feet every day.
Visitors can see Nandi and the herd, alongside ZSL Whipsnade Zoo’s 9,500 animals, by booking a ticket online.
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