White rhinos have a longer lifespan in the wild, living an average of 39-43 years in the wild and 27-30 years in captivity.
The lifespan of white rhinos differs between captivity and in the wild. The average lifespan of both males and females in the wild is 46 to 50 years. The recorded longest lifespan of northern white rhinoceroses in captivity is 30 years and 3 months. Similarly, the maximum recorded lifespan of the southern subspecies of white rhinoceroses in captivity is 30 years.
The expected lifespan of white rhino in the wild is between 39 to 43 years and 27 to 30 years in captivity, on average. However, most rhinos die unnaturally due to human poaching. Other causes of white rhinoceros death include drowning, getting stuck in mud, falling off cliffs, and burning in runaway wildfires.
• Image | © Fyre Mael, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY 2.0)
• Sources | (Carey & Judge, 2000; Dulal, 2017; Estes, 1991; Groves, 1972; Nowak, 1999; Rachlow, 1997; Weigl & Jones, 2005)
