Reproduction
Gestation period: around 15 to 16 months.
Birth intervals per calf: 2.5 to 4 years.
Female sexual maturity: at 4 to 7 years
Male sexual maturity: at 7 to 10 years
Newborn weaned: at 2 years
Caring for the Young
The female rhino is pregnant for about 16 months , after which only one calf is born. At birth, this calf will weigh between 25 and 45 kilograms . It is born fairly weak but is able to stand up and begin walking within minutes of the birth and within the first few hours of its life, it will begin to suckle milk from the mother, both being innate beahviours. The rhino will continue to do until about 18 months of age . The mother will allow her calf to drink milk exclusive for the first week or two. After that, she will take it to areas with soft grass and teach it to eat the vegetation of the area which will become a learned behaviour.
Since the calf is born without a horn its only protection comes from its mother, who seems . This is notable because rhinos are generally solitary animals, preferring to be alone than to move and live in a herd. Male rhinos leave the as soon as mating has occurred. They do not play any role in the raising of the young.
The calf stays with its mother for about 2-3 years. Once they leave, they go and find a territory of their own. Since rhinos do not share their territory with others, the young rhino needs to be able to look after itself as it searches for territory, and be able defend itself against other rhinos that want to compete for space.
The mother of a calf is not likely to mate with a male until her calf has left her and this sometimes results in aggression on the part of the male, who wants to rid her of her calf so that he can mate with her. Many calves have been killed by aggressive males because if this. However, the mother rhino is incredibly protective, and will fight for the safety of her offspring.
Birth intervals per calf: 2.5 to 4 years.
Female sexual maturity: at 4 to 7 years
Male sexual maturity: at 7 to 10 years
Newborn weaned: at 2 years
Caring for the Young
The female rhino is pregnant for about 16 months , after which only one calf is born. At birth, this calf will weigh between 25 and 45 kilograms . It is born fairly weak but is able to stand up and begin walking within minutes of the birth and within the first few hours of its life, it will begin to suckle milk from the mother, both being innate beahviours. The rhino will continue to do until about 18 months of age . The mother will allow her calf to drink milk exclusive for the first week or two. After that, she will take it to areas with soft grass and teach it to eat the vegetation of the area which will become a learned behaviour.
Since the calf is born without a horn its only protection comes from its mother, who seems . This is notable because rhinos are generally solitary animals, preferring to be alone than to move and live in a herd. Male rhinos leave the as soon as mating has occurred. They do not play any role in the raising of the young.
The calf stays with its mother for about 2-3 years. Once they leave, they go and find a territory of their own. Since rhinos do not share their territory with others, the young rhino needs to be able to look after itself as it searches for territory, and be able defend itself against other rhinos that want to compete for space.
The mother of a calf is not likely to mate with a male until her calf has left her and this sometimes results in aggression on the part of the male, who wants to rid her of her calf so that he can mate with her. Many calves have been killed by aggressive males because if this. However, the mother rhino is incredibly protective, and will fight for the safety of her offspring.