White rhinos, especially calves, are preyed on by lions and spotted hyaenas, but humans are the rhino’s biggest predators.
White rhinos don’t have many natural predators.
Some rhinos have missing parts of ear or parts of tail, due to the rare fights with spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). Furthermore, there have been a few cases where white rhinoceros calves were killed by lions (Panthera leo).
To avoid these potential predators, white rhinos may roam in groups consisting of females and calves. These groups are common in habitats where these large carnivores reside.
The main predator of white rhinos are humans (Homo sapiens), who illegally poach them for their horns.
• Image | © Fyre Mael, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY 2.0)
• Sources | (Dulal, 2017; Estes, 1991; Ferreira, et al., 2015; Groves, 1972; Nowak, 1999; Skinner & Chimimba, 2006)
