African Watering Hole
Interpretive Guide
Exhibit Theme: Past, present and future
Common Threats: Poaching, hunting and habitat loss
Poaching and hunting: Poaching is a major threat to all rhino species. Current ostrich
populations are not threatened, although the Middle Eastern population was hunted to
extinction in the past. Zebras are also valued for their pelts.
Habitat loss: These animals are also threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due
to human development and agriculture.
Exhibit Conservation Message:
In the past, the Middle Eastern ostrich population was hunted to extinction before
commercial ostrich farming was implemented. Rhinos are presently affected by
poaching; their horns are of high value in the black market. Zebra populations are not
currently threatened, though they are valued for their beautiful pelts; proper
management could help zebra populations in the future.
Conservation Ask: Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy; buying
something imported illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand.
Relevant Conservation Partner: International Rhino Foundation
The IRF is dedicated to the survival of the world’s rhino species through conservation
and research.
Recommended Biofacts: Ostrich egg, rhino horn
3/31/2016
AWH Interpretive Guide
The Maryland Zoo
Ostrich Egg
Recommended Biofact
Photo credit: www.arkive.org
Possible Hooks: Do you know what this is? What animal do you think this came from? What do
you think an ostrich egg feels like?
Description:



Size: 6 in (15.24 cm) tall, 5 in (12.7 cm) wide
Weight: 3 lbs
Physical Description: Eggs are shiny and off-white in color, covered with small
indentations.
Clutch and Incubation:



Dominant females lay up to 11 eggs in the center of the nest, while submissive females
lay 2 to 6 eggs around the dominant female’s eggs.
o Eggs are laid in 2 day intervals
o Any eggs that fall out of the nest or are not incubated will fail to hatch.
Eggs take approximately 40 days to hatch.
Caring for the eggs is divided up between males and females.
o Males watch over them during the night, and the various females of the mating
group take turns during the day.
“Fun Facts”:



The ostrich egg is the largest egg and the largest single cell found on our planet today.
One ostrich egg is equivalent to the weight of about 24 chicken eggs.
This Biofact came from one of our own ostriches. They lay unfertilized eggs; just like
chickens.
References:
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ostrich
3/31/2016
Ostrich Egg
The Maryland Zoo
Rhino Horn
Recommended Biofact
Possible Hooks: Would you like to touch a rhino horn? What do you think it’s made of? Do you
believe the horn is one of the biggest threats to a rhino’s survival (appropriate for adults)?
Description: Two large horns project from the top of the southern white rhino’s snout
 Grow up to 3 inches a year
 Made of solid keratin
o Lack nerve endings; no sensation in horn
o Clipped or broken horns will grow back
 Typically used in self-defense, territorial displays and to defend their young
Poaching: Rhinos are poached for their horns, which are sold on the black market.
 Some Asian and African cultures believe that the rhino horn has great medicinal value.
o There is no evidence that the rhino horn has any health benefits.
o Researchers have tried removing the horns of live rhinos to discourage poachers;
this rarely works, as poachers will kill the animal anyway in order to avoid
tracking them again.
 Horns are also valued in North Africa and the Middle East as ornamental dagger handles
“Fun Facts”:
 Horns have been known to grow as long as 5 feet.
 Horns are very similar to human fingernails and hair, which are also made out of keratin.
 Rhino horns differ from true horns as they are made solely of keratin and lack a boney
core or sheath.
 This Biofact came from our rhino, Daisy.
References: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/white-rhinoceros/
3/31/2016
Rhino Horn
The Maryland Zoo
Southern White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum simum
Description
 Size
o Length: 12-14.5 ft (300-380 cm)
o Height at the shoulder: 5-6 ft (150-185 cm)
 Weight
o Males: up to 6,000 lbs, or 3 tons (2,721 kg)
o Females: up to 4,500 lbs, or 2.25 tons (2,041)
 Physical Description:
o Large, stocky mammal with sparse hair, mainly located on the tail, ears, and
scattered across the body
o Has three hooves on each foot and two horns on the rostrum (snout)
o Covered in very thick gray skin that appears to fold heavily near the joints
 Sexual dimorphisms
o Males are larger than females
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
 Range:
o Currently, southern white rhinos live exclusively in game preserves and national
parks, mostly in the country of South Africa
 Former range is much larger and included much of the south-eastern part
of Africa
o Related subspecies Ceratotherium simum cottoni (northern white rhino) is very
rare and located exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo
o Rhinos spend most of their lives in an established home range
 Habitat: Prefer grassland or savannah habitat
Diet

Herbivorous:
o Large rhinos require up to 120 pounds of grass per day
o Rhinos do not ruminate
Adaptations
 Broad lips, combined with wide sweeping motions, allow rhinos to eat copious amounts of
grass
 Two large horns projecting from the top of the snout (rostrum) typically used to defend
selves or young from perceived threats
o Rarely used against other members of the species
o Males may rub horns in territorial displays
 Horns are made of solid keratin—very similar to human fingernails and hair
3/31/2016
Southern White Rhino
The Maryland Zoo
Southern White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum simum



o Horns lack nerve endings; no sensation in horn
o Clipped or broken horns will grow back
Large, independently-moving ears and keen sense of smell compensate for poor, motionbased eyesight
Bathes in mud to regulate temperature and to remove external parasites
Lifestyle is fairly sedentary, but rhinos can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour (40
km/h) when charging
Social Structure
 A group of rhinoceroses, called a “crash,” is small and fairly loose, and consists mainly of
females and their young
 Males are highly territorial and will mark their home range through urination and
defecation
o May also mark territory by scraping their horns and toes in the ground and
damaging large vegetation with their horns
 Dominant males are typically solitary and aggressive towards any mature invading male,
but are tolerant of females and juveniles within their home range.
o Dominant males will allow submissive males to overlap their home range;
submissive males will not defend their range if attacked and are rarely permitted
to mate.
o Fairly tolerant of other species
 Confrontations between males rarely result in injury. They typically consist of false
charges and horn rubbing.
Lifespan/Life Cycle
 Wild: 35 years
 Captivity: 40 years
Ecosystem relationships
 Predators
o Adults have no natural predators besides humans
o Juveniles can be the targets of lion attacks, but will have their mother’s
protection
 Competes with zebra, warthogs, wildebeest, and buffalo for food
 Mutualism: Various species of birds, such as oxpeckers, feed on parasites that reside on
the rhino’s skin. The rhino gets cleared of parasites, and the bird gets a meal.
Reproduction
 Breeding season: Breeding occurs year-round and peaks in the summer
 Behavior:
o Dominant males will make their presence known to a receptive female with
3/31/2016
Southern White Rhino
The Maryland Zoo
Southern White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum simum



behaviors such as chasing, vocalizing and horn clashing.
 If a female leaves the dominant male’s territory during this courtship, he
will not follow her, which decreases competition among males over
females
o Upon successful mating, the female will leave the males territory to begin
gestation
o Females are extremely defensive of their young
Gestation: 16 months
Number of offspring: 1 calf
Maturation:
o Calves can walk in about 3 days
o The calf weans after 1-2 years, and stays with its mother’s crash for another
year.
o The mother forces the calf out of the crash at 3 years of age and mates again
o Individuals reach sexual maturity around 6 years of age
Activity:
 Diurnal: Active during daylight hours
o Typically rest during the hottest parts of the day
o They spend about half of the day eating, one third resting, and the remainder
doing other things such as wallowing in the mud
“Fun Facts”:
 Named “white” rhino due to mistranslation of the Afrikaans word wiet, meaning wide,
which refers to the broad, square upper lip that distinguish this species of rhinoceros
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List
 Threats: Habitat loss and poaching
o Habitat Loss: Human development has divided rhino's habitat; this prevents
individuals from getting together to breed.
o Poaching: Rhinos are poached for their horns, which are sold on the black market.
Some Asian and African cultures believe that the rhino horn has great medicinal
value. However, there is no evidence that the rhino horn has any health benefits
 Researchers have tried removing the horns of live rhinos to discourage
poachers; this rarely works, as poachers will kill the animal anyway in order
to avoid tracking them again.
 Conservation:
o Populations have been carefully managed over the last century
o Around the turn of the 19th century, there were less than 100 individuals left in the
wild in a single population in South Africa. After successful legislation and
conservation, populations were re-introduced into other parts of their native range
3/31/2016
Southern White Rhino
The Maryland Zoo
Southern White Rhinoceros
Ceratotherium simum simum
in 1961
o Today, the number is estimated around 20,000, and still growing, making the
southern white rhino the most populous rhino species in the world
 Some sources say a related subspecies Ceratotherium simum cottoni
(northern white rhino) has as few as 3 remaining individuals.
At the Zoo

The Zoo has 2 southern white rhinos on exhibit in the African Watering Hole
o Daisy Mae, female, born around 1968
o Stubby, male, born in 1993
What We Can Do



Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand.
Support international anti-poaching initiatives and legislation.
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
o The International Rhino Foundation www.rhinos.org
 Operates the North American Save the Rhino Campaign
 Dedicated to the survival of the world’s rhino species through
conservation and research.
References:
 Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Ceratotherium_simum/
 ARKive: http://www.arkive.org/white-rhinoceros/ceratotherium-simum/
 The International Rhino Foundation: www.rhinos.org
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/39317/0
 The Maryland Zoo website: http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/mammals/southern-white-rhino/

http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/white_rhino/white_rhino.htm
3/31/2016
Southern White Rhino
The Maryland Zoo
Plains Zebra
Equus burchellii
Description
 Size
o Length
 Up to 8 ft (2.5 m) long
o Height
 Up to 5 ft (1.5 m) at the shoulder
 Weight
o 500-800 lbs (227-363 kg)
 Physical Description:
o A medium-large equine with a thick neck, spiky mane, and short tail with a tuft
of stiff hair at the end.
o Covered in distinct black and white stripes
 Sexually dimorphic
o Males are slightly larger
o Males tend to have slightly thicker necks
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
 Range: Plains zebras inhabit a wide range in southeastern Africa, with populations
stretching from the west to the east coast
 Habitat: Prefer savannah and open woodland and scrubland, but can live in slightly
dense forests, taller grassland, and even slightly mountainous areas
o Occasionally inhabit taller grasslands, heavier woodland areas, and even hilly
country and mountainous regions
o Avoid deserts, dense jungle, and wetland areas
Diet

Herbivorous:
o Plains zebra will mainly graze on short, tough grasses found in plains
o Will also browse on herbs, leaves, and twigs
o Because their food has so little nutritional value, they consume vast quantities
and use hindgut fermentation to fully process tough material
 Hindgut fermentation refers to the presence of symbiotic bacteria in the
intestines that assists in breaking down fibrous substances, such as
cellulose
Adaptations
 Have developed thick upper lips that they use in conjunction with sharp incisors to clip large
quantities of grass
 Strong leg muscles are capable of running long distances
3/31/2016
Plains Zebra
The Maryland Zoo
Plains Zebra
Equus burchellii

Scientists are not entirely certain of the purpose of stripes
o Most popular theory is that the stripes confuse predators and make it difficult to
discern an individual zebra from the rest of the herd
o Current research suggests that stripes may also assist in intra-species
communication and bonding behaviors, thermoregulation, and parasite resistance.
Social Structure
 Typical family group consists of 1 dominant male, 1-6 unrelated breeding females, and
any young sired by the male
o Harems have an established hierarchy, with the male at the top, followed by the
dominant female, who has typically been in the harem the longest, followed by
the other mares
o When moving, the dominant female leads the group in single file, trailed by the
other mares, while the male defensively brings up the rear
 The submissive mares also align themselves in a hierarchy—the newest,
lowest-ranking mare is the last in line before the male
 Foals always follow immediately behind their mother
o These family groups are tight-knit, and will respond collectively and aggressively
if a member is hurt
o Herds also perform allogrooming, in which they stand side by side, facing
opposite directions, and groom each other
 This happens most commonly between mares and stallions
 Bachelor groups consist of 2 or more males who do not have access to a harem
 Large herds sometimes form consisting of multiple family and bachelor groups, typically
when grazing, sleeping, or moving between areas
Lifespan/Life Cycle
 Wild: 15-20 years
 Captivity: 35-40 years
Ecosystem relationships
 Predators:
o Adults and young are both eaten by lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs,
and crocodiles
 Zebras are an important species in the African grazing community
o Mainly feed on tough, taller grasses and vegetation that other species, such as
gazelles and wildebeest, cannot digest
o By consuming these plants, they open up the savannah for softer and more
nutritious plants to emerge
o Zebras are typically the first to arrive in new grazing areas due to their ability to
eat plants no other local ungulates can
3/31/2016
Plains Zebra
The Maryland Zoo
Plains Zebra
Equus burchellii
Reproduction
 Breeding season: the plains zebra breeds throughout the year
o Most births occur from October-March
 Behavior:
o Zebras are polygynous; one male will mate with several females in a harem.
o Once a male reaches sexual maturity, he will either fight another male in an
attempt to take over an existing harem or try to mate with a female in her first
estrous.
 A new dominant male may commit infanticide if the foals are young
enough
 Displaced males typically will join a bachelor group
o A female in her first estrous will signal to males that she is ready to breed
through her posture.
 A male will attempt to remove her from her family group, which her
father (the dominant stallion) will try to prevent. The father is usually
unsuccessful.
o After a pair have mated, the male stays with the female
 Females care for the foal, while males provide defense against predators
and other males.
 Gestation: About one year
 Number of offspring: typically only have 1 foal at a time
 Maturation:
o Foals stand about 15 minutes after birth, and can walk or run within an hour
o Foals feed themselves after about a week, but are not weaned for 7-11 months
o Fillies (female) form close bonds with their mother, and stay by her side
constantly for about year, learning survival behaviors, including proper diets and
annual migratory routes
o Colts (male) form bonds with their mother and father, learning male dominance
behaviors in addition to survival behaviors
o Foals leave the herd at about 1-4 years of age, and reach sexual maturity after
about 1.5 years
Activity:
 Diurnal
o Typically active during the day
o One or more individuals in a herd will stand watch at night
“Fun Facts”:
 The stripe pattern of every zebra is unique. Like human fingerprints, the stripes can be
used to ID individuals.
3/31/2016
Plains Zebra
The Maryland Zoo
Plains Zebra
Equus burchellii
Conservation Status and Threats:
 IUCN listed as Least Concern
o Species has a very large range, populations remain stable, and no major threats to
the entire population exist
 Habitat loss seems to be a potential problem in the southern portions of the range
o Most habitat is lost to conversion to agricultural or pasture land usage
o This can be to the detriment of cattle farmers; zebras eat the grasses that livestock
cannot eat, which makes room for grasses favored by cattle to grow in their place.
 Poaching is a larger problem in the northern range
o Zebra pelts are still a valuable commodity due to their unique pattern
 Despite these threats, the overall population is resilient and easily rebounds given sufficient
habitat
 The quagga, a closely related species, went extinct in the late 1800’s due to overhunting
At the Zoo

The Zoo has 4 plains zebras on exhibit in the African Watering Hole
o Ayanna, female, born 1996
o Trixie, female, born 2000
o Phoenix, female, born 2011
o Stella, female, born 2011
What We Can Do




Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand
Buy local produce and other food items that have been sustainably harvested, with a
minimal impact on the environment.
Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution.
References:
 Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Equus_burchellii/
 ARKive: http://www.arkive.org/plains-zebra/equus-quagga/
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41013/0
 The Maryland Zoo website: http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/mammals/plains-zebra/
http://www.environment.ucla.edu/newsroom/how-the-zebra-changed-its-stripes-evolution-ofstripe-variation-in-the-plains-zebra/
3/31/2016
Plains Zebra
The Maryland Zoo
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Description
 Height:
o Males: 6.5-8 ft (2-2.5 m)
o Females: 5-6.5 ft (1.5-2 m)
 Weight:
o Males: 242-330 lb (110-150 kg)
o Females: 198-242 lb (90-110 kg)
 Physical Description:
o Currently the tallest and heaviest bird in the world; ostriches are tall birds with
long legs and necks, though their wings are very small comparatively.
o While their legs, neck, and head are bare, ostriches are covered in large feathers
with hooked quills.
 Sexually dimorphic
o Males are slightly larger than females.
o Females feathers are uniform gray-brown, but males have black plumage with
white primary feathers and tail feathers.
o Female skin is gray-brown, and males may have pink, gray, or blue skin.
In the Wild
Habitat and Range
 Range: Ostriches occupy wide areas across northern and southwestern Africa.
o A now-extinct population once lived in parts of the Middle East.
 Habitat: Ostriches prefer open savannah and semi- arid regions.
Diet

Typically herbivorous- Mostly eat green grass and seeds, but they may eat insects and
carrion if the opportunity presents itself.
o Swallows gizzard stones to aid in digestion.
Adaptations
 Long legs allow ostriches to reach speeds of 43 miles per hour (70 km/h) for short bursts, or
31 miles per hour (50 km/h) for 30 minutes or longer.
o Their powerful legs are also an excellent defense against predators—a powerful kick,
combined with the ostrich’s 4 inch (10 cm) claw can kill predators.
 The coloration of males and females act as camouflage for different times of day
o Female’s brown camouflage helps them blend into the grass and dirt.
o Male’s black camouflage is more effective at night.
o May lie flat on the ground, resembling a mound of dirt if a threat is far away.
 They will graze alongside other prey species, such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and
gazelles, in order to keep better watch for predators.
3/31/2016
Ostrich
The Maryland Zoo
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
Social Structure
 May live in large flocks up to 100 individuals
o During the breeding season, groups of 15 or less far more common
o Outside the breeding season, typically form small flocks of 2-5 individuals
 When food and water are abundant, social groups consist of a single, dominant male, a
dominant female, and several submissive females.
 When food and water are scarce, flocks typically consist of a single bonded pair.
Lifespan/Life Cycle
 Wild: 20-30 years
 Captivity: up to 40 years
Ecosystem relationships
 Predators:
o Adults may be eaten by lions, leopards, hyenas, and wild dogs.
o Juveniles are more likely to be targeted by predators than the more powerful
adults, and may be attacked by smaller predators such as jackals.
Reproduction
 Breeding season: Varies with location
 Behavior:
o At the start of breeding season, a territorial male creates a nest by scraping a
small hole in the ground.
o Males attempt to attract females with an elaborate courtship display that
involves shaking the tail, moving up and down, flapping the wings, and swaying
the neck side to side.
 If successful, the male mates with all females in the group.
o Several broods may congregate to form a large, more easily defended flock
 Clutch Size: 10-40 eggs, eggs laid in 2 day intervals
o Dominant females will lay up to 11 eggs in the center of the nest, while
submissive females lay 2 to 6 eggs each around the dominant female’s eggs.
 Eggs that fall out of the nest or are not incubated will fail to hatch.
 Incubation:
o After laying eggs, submissive females may remain with the nest and young, but
typically move on to another dominant male’s territory.
o The dominant female incubates the eggs during the day, while the male
incubates at night.
o 20 chicks typically hatch from a brood. The dominant male and female care for
the young.
 Maturation:
3/31/2016
Ostrich
The Maryland Zoo
Ostrich
Struthio camelus
o Adult ostriches teach their young what to eat and defend them from potential
predators.
o Juvenile ostriches attain fledge at 4 to 5 months and become fully grown at 18
months
o Sexual maturity is reached at 3 or 4 years of age.
Activity:
 Diurnal
o Active during the day, typically resting at night.
“Fun Facts”
 Ostriches are the only birds to have two toes on each foot.
 Ostriches have the largest eyes of any terrestrial animal.
Conservation Status and Threats:
 IUCN listed as Least Concern
o Currently have a very large range, large population size, and slight rate of population
decline.
 Listed on Appendix I of CITES
o International trade in the ostrich is strictly controlled
 Major threat is currently habitat loss, mainly due to overgrazing.
 Hunted to extinction in the Middle East, and were once threatened throughout Africa due
to the combination of hunting for feathers in the 19 th Century and hunting for meat and skin
in the 20th Century.
o Feathers remain popular decorations, their meat continues to be consumed for food
and their skin is a popular material for leather.
 Commercial ostrich farming has been well established in South Africa, and has since spread
to many other countries. It is safer, easier, and more profitable than hunting wild ostrich.
At the Zoo

The Zoo houses 2 ostriches in the African Watering Hole
o Lavern, female, born 1998
o Matilda, female, born 2005
What We Can Do


Make sure you know the origin of the products you buy – buying something imported
illegally supports the black market by sustaining demand.
Buy local produce and other food items that have been sustainably harvested, with a
minimal impact on the environment.
3/31/2016
Ostrich
The Maryland Zoo
Ostrich
Struthio camelus


Support the conservation efforts of local organizations like The Maryland Zoo as well as
organizations working in the field to protect wildlife and conserve habitat. Learn more
about them, spread the word, and consider donating or getting involved.
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution.
References:
 Animal Diversity Web:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Struthio_camelus/
 ARKive: http://www.arkive.org/ostrich/struthio-camelus/
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22678068/0
 The Maryland Zoo website: http://www.marylandzoo.org/animalsconservation/birds/ostrich/
 The San Diego Zoo website: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ostrich
 Christopher, P. (2003). The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds. Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press.
3/31/2016
Ostrich
The Maryland Zoo