I know what you meant, but I have to point out that Northern White Rhinos are definitely NOT the most common zoo rhino.
Actually, I'm surprised that Northern's were the first White's out of Africa, considering how long the southern countries in Africa were occupied by European countries.
As I think you realise, I meant White Rhinos as a whole were the most common zoo rhinos Clearly they're almost exclusively Southerns. I'm somewhat privileged to have seen the entire zoo population of Northern Whites between San Diego (when they were there) and Dvur Kralove so am well aware of the rarity there.
The Zoological Society of San Diego once had 4 of the 5 species of rhinos as well. With a total of 6 subspecies. The Zoo had southern blacks and Sumatrans, and the Park had southern and northern whites, as well as East African blacks, and Indians.
According to my research, the Northern Whites were the more numerous subspecies for most of the 1st half of the 20th century. It was only after Idi Amin's extermination that their numbers dropped to nil. At the turn of the last century Southern Whites were by far the most endangered of all the rhinos, even thought to have gone extinct until a small population was rediscovered. From the numbers I've read they were down to between 10-50 individuals left around 1900. Numbers have doubled every decade since then though.
According to my research, the Northern Whites were the more numerous subspecies for most of the 1st half of the 20th century. It was only after Idi Amin's extermination that their numbers dropped to nil. At the turn of the last century Southern Whites were by far the most endangered of all the rhinos, even thought to have gone extinct until a small population was rediscovered. From the numbers I've read they were down to between 10-50 individuals left around 1900. Numbers have doubled every decade since then though.
