Ever since he joined the herd at Kilimanjaro Safaris last February, Ranger the White Rhino has been growing and becoming part of the group. He’s the youngest White Rhino at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and is known to be quite rambunctious. But even the liveliest rhinos can struggle with the hot humidity this time of year. That’s why this species has time-tested ways to cool off in summer.
Related – How cute is this Mom & Baby Rhino Cupcake from the Animal Kingdom
Ranger is not much of a baby anymore. At almost 900 pounds, he’s grown a lot since being introduced to the herd. However, male white rhinos can weigh over 5,000 pounds, so he still has some growing to do! He is only eight months old, so he has plenty of time to mature. After all, he was in the womb for twice that long!
Related – Baby Rhino ‘Ranger’ is Loving His Time on the Savannah on Kilimanjaro Safaris
Young Ranger was recently spotted wallowing in the mud to cool off from the summer heat. Rhinos rest in the shade or find a mud wallow during hotter days. The mud cools them and helps protect their skin against parasites and the sun. They tend to move around more at night when temperatures are lower.
Related – First Look at 4-month-old white rhino calf making his Kilimanjaro Safaris debut
The White Rhinoceros is a near-threatened species. Northern White Rhinos are on the brink of extinction with only two females surviving who are past the age of reproducing. The last male died in 2018. Southern White Rhinos like Ranger are thankfully experiencing a population increase after years of battling endangerment due to poaching.
We love watching Ranger grow and thrive in his environment. One of the happiest moments on Kilimanjaro Safari is getting a look at this young bull and his undeniable zest for life. Have you spotted Ranger on any of your recent safaris?
Photos courtesy of Disney
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