Southern White Rhinos
Ceratotherium simum simum
The Gulf Breeze Zoo is home to Southern White Rhinoceroses, the largest species of rhino and the second-largest land mammal on Earth. Native to Africa, these powerful grazers are known for their broad mouths and calm social nature. Several calves have been born here over the years as part of the Zoo’s successful breeding program, including the most recent addition in 2025, a female named Kipenzi.
See Our Rhinos on the Preserve
Guests can often spot our rhinos while riding the Safari Line Train, which travels through the Zoo’s 30-acre preserve. Along the way, your narrator will point out these massive animals as they roam the grasslands. Rhinos may also be visible from the Zoo’s elevated boardwalk.
Learn What Rhinos Eat
White rhinos feed almost entirely on grasses. Their wide, flat upper lip—different from other rhino species—helps them graze on short grasses close to the ground. Rhinos typically drink water several times a day but can go a few days without it if necessary.
QUICK FACTS
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Lifespan: 40-50 years
Weight: 5,100 pounds
Height: 5.6-6.1 feet
IN THE WILD
The white rhino is the second largest land mammal. The vast majority of southern white rhinos live in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, and they often form groups of up to 14 rhinos, many of which are females with calves, or baby rhinos. Adult males mark one-square-mile territories with piles of dung, and the competition for females can be fierce. There are currently about 20,000 white rhinos in protected areas and private game reserves in Africa.
CONSERVATION
White rhinos are endangered in the wild, primarily due to erroneous beliefs that their horns yield medicinal benefits. We support the International Rhino Foundation an ongoing basis and collaborate with the Zoological Association of America’s Southern White Rhino Animal Management Program.