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Rhino Resource Center: Rhino Forums > Rhino Species > White Rhino > Interspecific interactions

Posted by: Kifaru Jun 9 2007, 08:16 PM

I'm compiling a lengthy research report on white rhinos. They are beautiful and fascinating animals. There does not seem to be much data on their interactions with other animals. There is a reference entitled Rhino Bull Kills Hippo Bull in the base, however no details are provided. I've read that there has been a documented account of a territorial white rhino bull killing a hippo at a feeding site and also a report of a white rhino killing a black rhino. The interactions between rhino and elephant have been well documented but if there are any other reports or documentation concerning their interactions with other species or their antipredator behaviour, it would be much appreciated.

Posted by: Willem Jun 10 2007, 12:43 AM

Kifaru, Thanks for your interest in the RRC. It may be a little hard to find, but the RRC has an great number of records on this topic. A query of this kind fits within the subject: 'Ecology'->'Interspecific Relations'. Or just follow this link: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=refs&CODE=sub_notes&&subject1=9&subject2=34 I hope you find what you need here. Kind regards, Willem van Strien PS. Please also, leave any ideas on how to make this site better and easier to navigate.

Posted by: Kees Jun 10 2007, 06:43 AM

Dear Kifaru The interactions between rhinos and other animals is an interesting topic. Maybe users can share their own experiences from the field or from zoos. The information is often hidden in longer papers about social behaviour of rhinos. I have uploaded the PDF of the observations made by Londolozi Rangers on interaction between rhino and hippo. Look at the newest PDFs in the reference base.

Posted by: Kifaru Jun 12 2007, 11:40 PM

Thank you Willem and Dr. Rookmaaker for your help, it was greatly appreciated. The observations by the Londolozi Rangers regarding the rhino/hippo interaction was fascinating. It is interesting that the hippo bull was over a kilometer from a water source, no doubt grazing at night. Mutual avoidance would seem the normal outcome in this encounter, it would be interesting to know what triggered the fight. It is also of note to see how devastating the rhino attack was with the hippo receiving just two puncture wounds and dying 50 meters from the fight sight. Thank you again, any other encounters would be very much appreciated. Here is some data from the Mala Mala Game Reserve from a research paper and ranger sightings: A long-term (13-year -1988-2000) data set, based on > 4000 kills, was used to test whether a sympatric group of large predators adheres to the theoretical predictions that (1) mean prey body size and (2) prey diversity increase as functions of predator body size. All kills observed by safari guides are documented routinely in Mala Mala Private Game Reserve, South Africa. Female lions utilized the largest range of body masses (1539 kg), although this was because of one incident when they managed to kill a sick white rhino bull. In 13 years in the Mala Mala Private Game Reserve, 3 white rhinos were killed by lions. One subadult, one juvenile, and one sick bull. SIGHTINGS Mala Mala Private Game Reserve June 2005 Late in the month, a rhino cow was killed on the eastern bank of the Sand River on northern Charleston. Nobody saw this animal being killed, but its distress calls were heard from a camp on Charleston late one night, and they went on for a couple of hours. The next day, a few lionesses were found at the carcass, and they had started feeding. It was only later that the six males of the Eyrefield Pride were seen at the kill, along with four lionesses of the same pride. These ten lions remained at the carcass for a week, eating at leisure, and passing rather large quantities of very dark, very liquid, very pungent dung! Nobody knows for certain which lions had killed the rhino, but one would certainly think that the six males would have been more likely to succeed in bringing down such a large beast, than a group of lionesses. Whatever the case, the males of the Eyrefield Pride certainly became pretty possessive of the carcass and the area around it, and there was evidence to suggest that other lions had dared approach the area, and had been chased away by the roaring Eyrefield Males. May 2006 The young male seen in poor condition near the New Airstrip last month eventually succumbed to the predators and was eaten by the Styx Pride and Split Rock Males. (Same account as above) Then midway through the month the whole pride was found on a sub adult rhino carcass close to Rattray’s Camp on the Western Bank of the Sand River . How the rhino died is still a mystery, but there is a strong feeling that the lions had in fact killed the young rhino, which had been seen limping and alone in the area for a few days prior to this.

Posted by: Tom Jul 10 2007, 08:44 PM

Hi everyone, Although I'm not a biologist, ranger, scientist or anything, while I was visiting Etosha Park in Namibia for several nights in a row I witnessed what seemed to be a 'pecking order' at the floodlit watering hole near our campsite. Every night rhinos frequented the watering hole (1 solitary white and 5 or six black rhinos with 2 calves). Just after dark the watering hole teemed with all kinds of animals (zebra, springbok, impala, giraffe,...) but all of a sudden all the animals would become very anxious. Out of the bushes several rhinos came and gathered around the water. All the other animals would be out of sight within a manner of minutes! They all looked really weary about these thick-skinned mammals and didn't dare to go anywhere near them. When the elephants came to drink and play in the water however (a large herd) the rhinos would keep their distance and wait in the bushes until they were gone. Some larger elephants would stand between the rhinos and the baby elephants on the lookout as if they were saying 'don't come any closer'. The rhinos didn't come near the elephants. I saw this same scene three nights in a row. The blacks and the single white rhino didn't seem to pay a lot of attention to each other. And the other animals were more anxious when the black rhinos came on the scene and were seemingly less scared of the white one. Although I think this is because there were more of them. Greetings, Tom

Posted by: Kifaru Jul 15 2007, 08:23 PM

Hello Everyone Thank you Tom for your observations from Namibia. It seems there is a definite 'pecking order' among animals familiar with one another. I've read that large sable bulls can also clear out a waterhole. The animals at the water hole that you observed seemed to be very aware of the differing temperments between black and white rhinos. This is one of my favorite quotes concerning white rhinos, it is taken from the publication Rhino Road by Martin Booth: "Whenever one sees a white rhino in the wild, one cannot escape the impression of size, of incredible benign strength and of a strange inner passiveness. The creature looks peaceful, amiable and secure. They have about themselves a distinct aura of calm and I have to admit to finding them quite pacifically beautiful." It's interesting that while black and white rhinos get along quite amicably for the most part, whites do dominate blacks should confrontations become necessary despite the blacks more high strung, volatile temperment. Have you had the privilege of any white rhino/carnivore interaction sightings?

Posted by: Jimbo Jul 15 2007, 11:07 PM

Hi there, Not that this is about White Rhinos, but I saw this movie on YouTube a while back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjnCZxskf8 (This thread just reminded me of it, and I went back discovering it were black rhinos) Anyway, I think this is some pretty amazing footage. I can't figure out if the rhinos are just playing with the elephant (and with each other) or if this is seriuos fighting. Any ideas? Sorry for going a bit off-topic. Bye, Jimbo

Posted by: Jimbo Jul 15 2007, 11:12 PM

Oh, and this one is even more amazing! And it's a White Rhino: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joYBxe8b2aQ (Don't know if this YouTube video data can be seen as scientific, though it would make an interesting reference list.)

Posted by: Tom Jul 16 2007, 04:14 PM

Jimbo! Just think what their babies would look like... Tom

Posted by: Kifaru Aug 22 2007, 02:52 PM

Some more interactions. Sabi Sand Game Reserve The coalition of male lions at Exeter have finally killed again, this after numerous failures earlier in the week. Amazingly, four of the six males killed a sub-adult White Rhino last night. This is not their first attempt at Rhino, although previous attempts had been unsuccessful. This extends their impressive list of prey animals that includes buffalo, giraffe, hippo and other lions. The carcass was full of scratches around the rump area and had been opened up from the stomach. It didn’t seem as though they had suffocated the animal so we assume that it was overpowered and then disemboweled. The rhino also had a broken front leg (Whether this occurred during the struggle or not is still debatable). We look forward to the interaction over the next few days, particularly when the two other males find the carcass. After hearing Lions roaring most of the night we went looking for them as soon as we had finished with our morning coffee, we found 4 male Lions close to Riverlodge on the northern side of the river, as we approached the lions they stood up and walked into the bush, we drove in after them and only then did we see that they had surrounded a Adult female White Rhino and her calf of approximately 3 to 4 years of age, these same lions had killed a White Rhino about a week earlier, the Lions carefully watched the Rhino and one of the males got to within 3 meters of the Rhinos but the Rhinos didn’t move away and neither did the Lion advance any closer, the Lions and Rhino stood watching each other for about 5 minutes after which 3 of the Lions lay down but were still monitoring all the Rhinos movements, after another few minutes one of the Lions lost interest and walked away roaring, the remaining 3 Lions also started roaring but the Rhinos seemed unimpressed and stood still watching the Lions, eventually the remaining Lions stood up and left the Rhino, they went and lay down about 100 meters further on and went to sleep. The Lions were not very hungry as we could see that they had half full bellies, if they were hungrier possibly they would have tried to catch the Rhino calf, it certainly was a tense and exciting moment for all of us. Thank you to Hilton Kotze (guest on the vehicle) for donating the picture. While following the 5 male Lions at Exeter this evening they came across a White Rhino cow and her calf of about 8 to 12 months, the Lions lay down in a half circle around the Rhinos about 15 metres away from them, the Rhino saw them but did not move off, one of the Lions stalked closer and the female Rhino immediately turned on him and walked towards the Lions, the Lions stood up and got out of the Rhinos way, it was clear from the Lions posture that they were interested in the Rhino calf but were not hungry enough to test the mother Rhinos defences, after a brief standoff the Lions moved off.