Quick Take
- White rhinos are among the largest land mammals on Earth and can easily overpower vehicles when agitated.
- They are usually most active during the cooler parts of the day and often rest or wallow in mud when temperatures rise.
- Although white rhinos are generally calmer than black rhinos, they can still react dangerously when startled or pressured.
White rhinos are among the largest land mammals on Earth and are second only to elephants in size, so it’s no surprise that they are immensely powerful. This clip shows us just how superbly powerful they actually are. It features an adult rhino in a safari park that was being moved into its pen by some keepers in a truck. The keepers made the mistake of getting too close, and the rhino was not pleased! The rhino appears to react defensively to the nearby vehicle, but it is impossible to know exactly what the animal perceived from the clip alone. It flipped the truck not just once but several times, making it look easy … like the truck was a toy. Rhinos are capable of delivering extremely forceful impacts because of their massive size, speed, and powerful neck and shoulder muscles. The moral of the story is – don’t ever annoy a rhino even if you are in a truck!
Watch the Action Now
How Big Are White Rhinos?
White rhinos are huge! The only land mammal that is bigger than them is the elephant. Their bodies are heavy and stocky, and they have large heads supported by powerful neck muscles. White rhinos are generally a little larger than black rhinos. A male typically weighs around 5,000 pounds, and a female weighs around 4,000 pounds. Their bodies are between 12 and 14 feet in length, and their shoulder height is between 5 and 6 feet.
How Do White Rhinos Normally Behave?
Rhinos spend a lot of time feeding and wallowing!
©Laura Holm/Shutterstock.com
White rhinos are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. They are least active in the middle of the day. Even though they rest at night, they also take breaks from resting to eat! In fact, resting and wallowing make up an important part of the rhino’s day. You’re most likely to see them resting at night, during the hottest part of the day, and after a prolonged period of feeding. White rhinos spend much of the hottest part of the day resting, often in shade or mud wallows, though exact sleep durations can vary.
Wallowing is also an important aspect of rhino behavior. This happens most between October and March when the weather is hottest. Wallowing is vital for regulating their body temperature but it also protects them from ectoparasites.
On the whole, white rhinos are less aggressive and temperamental than black rhinos. While you will often see females with their calves or with unrelated juvenile rhinos, males are often solitary. However, rhinos will sometimes group together when they are feeding or resting.
