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What do rhinos eat?
Today there are five species of rhinoceros, each with their own unique physiological and ecological differences, but while there may be some differences in their diets, there are some key characteristics that are common to all species. Rhinos are versatile herbivores, which means that their diet consists of many different plant substances. The black rhinoceros, for example, has witnessed the consumption of 32 of the 34 available plants in its habitat. Variety is important to the rhino’s diet, but this huge herbivore must also consume large amounts of food to stay full. While actual intake may vary by species, some rhinos need to consume over 100 pounds of grass per day to maintain their weight and nutrition.
In terms of dietary habits, rhino species fall into two categories. The hunters lower their heads and feed mainly on grass, giving preference to shorter grass. Both Native American and white rhinos are classified as herbivores. Black, Sumatran and Javanese rhinos fall into the browser category. Instead of eating grass, they instead focus on food above eye level – with preferences, including twigs, fruits, and leaves. Despite the diversity of their diets, rhinos do have a taste preference – and especially a sweet tooth – a fact, as evidenced by the fact that they are known to destroy farmland in their pursuit of fruit. Browsers will graze and vice versa when needed, and most species will resort to root and bark eating when options are limited. The roots also provide moisture during dry seasons and droughts.
What do rhinos eat in captivity and in the wild?
In captivity, rhinos are usually fed alfalfa and soybeans for practical and financial reasons. Unfortunately, research into the eating habits of the endangered southern white rhino suggests that such a diet may be the cause of infertility in females of this species. In the wild, these species can graze on dozens of different types of plants over the course of a typical year, and chemicals called phytoestrogens are a regular part of their natural vegetarian diet. Without phytoestrogens, female rhinos often have trouble producing enough of their own hormones to maintain a healthy reproductive cycle.
White rhinoceros vs black rhinoceros
White and black rhinos are two species found in Africa, and although they look very similar in appearance, there are two main differences between them. The first is size. White rhinos are significantly larger: an adult white rhino weighs up to 5,000 pounds on average, while an average black rhino weighs half as much. This is also reflected in their diets. White rhinos often eat 100 pounds of grass or more per day, while black rhinos consume only half that amount. Another big difference is the feeding habits. Black rhinos are browsers and white rhinos are grazing animals.
The rhinos diet includes:
- Herbs (about 40% of the pasture diet)
- Twigs
- Leaves
- Roots
- Barking
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Alfalfa and soybeans (in captivity
How do rhinos get food?
Food availability may determine whether rhinos are herbivores or hobbyists, but different rhino species have also evolved different mouths to facilitate their feeding behavior. The upper lip of rhinos is pointed and tenacious to varying degrees. This allows them to manipulate their lips in the same way they would when pruning — trimming branches, leaves and fruit from trees and ripping bark off the surface. Herbivores, on the other hand, have a wider, square upper lip, which allows them to eat large amounts of grass in a short time. Considering that the largest grazing species, the African white rhinoceros, can consume over a hundred pounds of food per day, this is an important trait.
The sheer amount of food that rhinos have to eat means that food takes up most of their day. Half the time the white rhino is awake, grazing and digesting food. And while all of these species can be identified as herbivores in general, they tend to have a particular consumption. Research on the black rhino shows that they eat almost all edible plants in their environment, but they are selective about the plants they consume and often favor foods that are either less readily available or have no immediate nutritional value. This suggests that while rhinos are not picky about their food, they require variety in their diet. Species such as the Javanese and Indian rhinoceros often favor aquatic plants for both their nutritional value and their ability to hydrate.
As we learn more about the complexities of rhino feeding habits, it becomes increasingly clear that human intervention is affecting their long-term nutrition. Their high nutritional requirements require large areas for grazing or viewing, and their invasion of agriculture often leads to conflict between rhinos and human communities. Human activities also seem to affect the eating habits of rhinos. Although all species are predominantly diurnal, both black and white rhinos have been spotted in highly hazardous habitats using nocturnal feeding practices.
What animals eat rhinos?
The plains of southern and eastern Africa are home to dangerous animals, from the lion to the Nile crocodile, but none of these top predators seek to face an adult rhinoceros. A healthy adult rhinoceros encounters only one true predator – humans. But while there are jokes about African tribes feasting on rhino meat after a hearty meal, there is no evidence that this is nothing more than a clumsy attempt to attract the attention of big game hunters. Most poachers rip the horn off a rhinoceros for resale on the black market and leave the carcass to rot in the sun.
Rhino calves are a completely different case. Both African and Asian baby rhinos are sometimes prey to large cats – lions and tigers, respectively. In most cases, predators will not actively hunt calves, but they will not miss the opportunity to catch a calf that is knocked out of the herd. Calves become especially easy prey at night, when, due to the poor eyesight of rhino mothers, they easily lose sight of their offspring. Other predators that prey on baby rhinoceroses are flock hyenas and Nile crocodiles.
Next: what do cardinals eat?
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