White rhinos rarely share their territory with black rhinoceroses.
White rhinos rarely share their territory with black rhinos (Diceros bicornis).
Home ranges of male white rhinos are typically between 0.75 to 13.80 square kilometers, while females occupy 6 to 8 square kilometers. These rhinos tend to have greater home ranges during dry seasons because they wander more for food in dry seasons than wet seasons.
The white rhinoceros has a dominance hierarchy where stronger rhinos claim more territorial space. Male white rhinoceroses actively defend a territory of about 0.7 to 3 square kilometers, on average. Female territories are slightly smaller, on average, 0.5 to 2.3 square kilometers.
Dominant white rhinos have their own non-overlapping territories. Males rhinos sometimes fight for their territories. Defeated males often move to other territories. Furthermore, males urinate to determine boundaries and only leave the territory to find water.
• Image | © Joel Herzog, Some Rights Reserved Unsplash
• Sources | (Dulal, 2017; Estes, 1991; Groves, 1972; Nowak, 1999; Pienaar, 1994; Rachlow, Berkeley, & Berger, 1998)
