Rhinoceroses: Rhinocerotidae

Rhinos are solitary (lone) animals, but are primarily found in the mother-offspring pair. Their poor eyesight prohibits them from clearly seeing anything farther away than 100 feet (30 meters). Their sense of smell alerts them to danger. Rhinos are normally gentle creatures and they will only charge an intruder if they feel threatened.

Courtship behavior (mating rituals) of the rhino is so aggressive that it sometimes ends in injury to one or both parties. Rhino males are territorial and will fight with other males to defend territory or to mate with females. Rhinos do not form bonds and the sexes do not associate with each other outside of mating.

Pregnancy lasts fifteen to sixteen months and results in a single birth. Rhino calves remain with their mothers for two to four years, at which time they live independently. Baby rhinos nurse (drink mother's milk) for one year, but begin supplementing with vegetation at one to two months. Rhinos are ready to mate between the ages of four to five years, but males often wait until the age of ten due to competition from other males. Babies are born every two to five years. Rhinos can live to be forty years old and have no natural predators.