How long do rhinos live?

Rhinos are unique animals that once lived in Europe, Africa and Asia. A small number of people know that European have made cave paintings that included rhinos. In the past, they were found all over Africa and Asia, but today only a small number of them lives in well-protected areas.

Rhinos lifespan

Rhinos belong to the group of large terrestrial mammals which is why they live for a relatively long period of time. Of course, their life expectancy depends on many things.

For instance, it depends on their species. The black rhinos live between 35 and 50 years while the white rhinos live between 40 and 50 years. These figures are mostly related to the animals that live in captivity. It’s very difficult to determine their life expectancy in the wild because they are affected by poaching, predators, and hunting.

Experts point out that adult rhinos have only one real threat in the wild: humans. But, it is not unusual for young rhinos to become victims of other predators like hyenas, lions, wild dogs and crocodiles. The governments in all the countries where rhinos live have taken measures to prevent poaching. They are also trying to stop illegal horn trade which makes hunters kill rhinos.

Rhinos facts

Rhinos or rhinoceroses are well-known for their large bodies, huge legs and their horns (some of them have one other have two horns). There are some species that have relatively small horns. Rhinos have a good sense of smell and hearing, but their eyesight is bad.

Species of rhinos

Today, there are five species of rhinos. The white rhino from Africa and the greater one-horned rhino from Asia are the largest species. The good news is that these two species have witnessed an increase in their numbers thanks to the efforts of local authorities. Habitat loss and poaching have made all these species of rhinos endangered. The number of rhinos today is twenty times lower compared to the number of rhinos five decades ago.

Asian rhinos

Asian rhinos are further separated into three species and all three species are extremely endangered. These three species include the greater one-horned rhino, the Javan rhino, and the Sumatran rhino. In the past, Asian rhinos were found in almost every region in Asia, but today they are found only in four countries: Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal, and India. It’s worth mentioning that there are only 63 Javan rhinos left in the world.

African rhinos

There are two species: white rhino and black rhino. They too were critically endangered, but in the recent period thanks to the efforts made by local authorities, governments and international organization, their numbers are growing. Today, there are over 5000 black rhinos and more than 20,000 white rhinos in Africa. They live mostly in Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Rhinos are amazing animals that were almost wiped out from the face of our planet in the last few years, but the latest statistics show that they are slowly recovering. With a life expectancy of 35-50 years, these animals live a relatively long life.