White rhinos are grazers, feeding entirely on grasses that they crop with their wide front lip. Their short legs, long head reaching almost to the ground, and wide mouth, combined with a side-to-side head movement, allow them to eat massive quantities of grass.
Here are two herbivore rhinos at the North Carolina Zoo eating grass.
Grass for Rhino
While this rhino at the North Carolina Zoo is taking small steps, rhinos can run at a top speed ranging from 25 to 34 mph.
Rhino Taking Steps
Images of one, two, and a trio of rhinos at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
A Single Rhino
Dual Rhinos
Trio of Rhinos
White rhinos are the second-largest land mammal, behind only elephants. Their name comes from the Afrikaans, a West Germanic language, word “weit,” which means wide and refers to the animal’s mouth. Most (98.8%) of the southern white rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
The Watani Grassland Habitat at the North Carolina Zoo has a spacious area of grass where large rhinos are free to graze on the plants that cover the 40-acre habitat. Rhino horn is made of compressed, fibrous hair made of keratin – the same protein human hair and fingernails are made of. Rhinos reach speeds of 30 mph for short bursts.
Southern White Rhinoceros
Southern White Rhinoceros Closeup
Southern White Rhino
The duck in water seems to be leading the elephant at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, while the other two don’t care.
Duck Leading an African Elephant
Elephants don’t just drink water; they use it for evaporative cooling, they play in it, wallow in it, bond in it, and swim across it in cases of rivers to get to greener pastures.
Here is one striding by the water at the North Carolina Zoo.
African Elephant Striding by the Water
African Elephant by the Water
African elephants are the largest animals on Earth. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa. They are easily recognized by their trunk, which is used for communication and handling objects. Their large ears allow them to radiate excess heat.
Here is one at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro.
African Elephant
An elephant at the North Carolina Zoo is reaching for water while standing behind a large rock
Elephant Reaching for Water
The North Carolina Zoo houses six elephants: four females and two males. Here is an elephant trying to hide from visitors behind a large rock.
Directing for Elephant Views
Elephant Hiding Behind a Rock
At 25 years old at the North Carolina Zoo, Anana is considered “geriatric” for a polar bear, with wild polar bears typically living 15-18 years. Zookeepers noted that Anana loved roaming around her expansive habitat.
Anana Yawning
Anana Looking at You
Anana, a female polar bear, is a resident of the North Carolina Zoo. She arrived in 2014 from Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and was known by her keepers as a “princess.” As of February 2025, Anana was the only polar bear at the North Carolina Zoo, and she is still thriving.
Polar Bear Anana
Cypress swamps are found in the humid southeastern United States. Alligators live in this habitat at the North Carolina Zoo, and this one is hiding under water.
American Alligator Underwater
The North Carolina Zoo, formerly the North Carolina Zoological Park, is a zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina. It houses 1,700 animals of more than 250 species, primarily from Africa and North America. The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, covering over 2,800 acres.
We visited the zoo in March 2025 and will post photos here.
The welcome sign has metal statues of elephants. The regular jeep for safaris is out of commission, but merely for display.
North Carolina Zoo Sign
Statues of Elephants
Not Ready for Safari
A horse and donkeys in the backyard of the home in Lexington countryside
Horse in the Backyard
Framed View of the Backyard
Horse eyes are among the largest of all land mammals. Only whales, seals, and ostriches have larger eyes. Horses’ large eyes, with large corneas, allow a significant amount of light to enter. Their pupils can dilate to an area three times larger than a cat or dog and six times that of a human.
Horses have a nearly panoramic field of vision due to their eyes being on each side of their head, estimated to be around 350 degrees with only a small blind spot immediately behind them. This means they can see almost all the way around them without moving their heads.
Here is the eye of War Front at Claiborne Farm.
Eye of War Front
Visitors were feeding peppermints to thoroughbred horses at Claiborne Farm. Not only does it taste delicious to horses, but it also has many health benefits associated with it. Peppermint oil has been known to soothe colic symptoms, help digestive issues, and relieve sore muscles and joints.
Here is a horse waiting for a peppermint.
Looking for Peppermint
At Claiborne Farms, War Front is by the legendary stallion DANZIG, who sired 198 black-type winners and 10 champions. A true heir to the throne, War Front is carrying on this legacy of excellence with eight champions internationally and 12 millionaires.
Side View of War Front
Portrait of War Front
War Front Nameplate
A horse in the stable photographed somewhat as a silhouette through the grill at Clairborne Farm
A Horse in the Stall
Most track ponies at Churchill Downs are thoroughbreds, ex-racehorses. It’s their second chance at life, horses that didn’t run fast enough or got hurt. But they must be level-headed thoroughbreds because they have the same stride as a racehorse.
Track Pony Leading a Race Horse
Two Riding Together
The slick Thoroughbreds in their colorful saddle cloths at Churchill Downs catch everyone’s eye. That is, until a large, lead pony steps onto the track!
As a track “pony,” such ponies must be calm, confident, and strong to safely lead Thoroughbreds to the starting gate.
Companion Ponies Waiting for Race Horses
Riding Together