White rhinoceroses are highly social ungulates that thrive in appropriate social groupings. Zoo management must provide adequate space and social complexity for these large animals.
White rhinoceros welfare in zoos requires managing their complex social needs while accommodating the territorial tendencies of adult males. Compatible social groupings provide companionship and behavioral stimulation unavailable to singly housed animals. Indoor and outdoor space provision must allow adequate movement for these large animals — chronic restriction of movement causes joint problems and behavioral abnormalities. Grazing or grazing behavior simulation through ad libitum grass hay provision supports natural time budgets and gastrointestinal health. Enrichment including dust bathing areas, wallowing opportunities, and varied substrates reflect natural behaviors that are important for skin condition and thermoregulation. Northern white rhinoceros IVF programs represent a remarkable conservation effort using zoo-held tissues from deceased animals to produce embryos for transfer to southern white surrogate females.