Social and spatial relationships in captive southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Although critical to the conservation of white rhinoceros, captive breeding has proven challenging because of the poor and irregular reproductive health of many captive rhinos, and social interactions may play a significant role. This research investigated the social and spatial relationships of two captive groups of southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) by examining the frequency of companion changes, the number of space maintenance vocalizations made per hour by each reproductively mature female, and dominant/subordinate interactions. The observed captive rhinos did not change their companionships during the study. They exhibited space maintenance vocalizations and display greater than once per hour, particularly when feeding. Females housed with four calves on 0.033 km 2 exhibited space maintenance vocalizations more frequently (X +/- SE = 6.19 +/- 0.199/hr) than females housed with one calf and more space 2 (0.06km(2), X +/- SE = 0.55 +/- 0.182/hr) and females housed without calves and more space (0.65 km(2), X +/- SE = 1.90 +/- 0.086/hr). Wider separation of food piles and of females with young calves is suggested to reduce the interpreted spatial stress. The presence of a large number of rhinos in restricted captive space resulted in the formation of herds with dominance hierarchies that were enforced during competition for food and shade. The most subordinate rhino in each of the herds exhibited unusual behaviors such as dung-kicking and nonestrus urine squirting, and neither has ever reproduced. Suppression of subordinate rhinos might lead to social stress that could negatively impact reproductive success. Zoo Biol 26:487-502, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.