How is black rhinoceros milk different from cow’s milk?

How is black rhino milk different from cow’s milk?

The main difference is fat. Black rhino milk contains very little. In a 1961 analysis of milk from a captive black rhino at Bristol Zoo (taken in mid to late lactation), the authors detected only a trace of fat and described it as much lower than cow’s milk. Lactose was 6.06 g per 100 g, higher than in cow’s milk.

What else is in black rhino milk?

The same 1961 sample contained 1.54 g of total protein, 0.34 g of ash and 1.11 g of casein per 100 g.

A 2025 study from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo Milk Repository compared black, white and Indian rhino milk. It describes rhino milk in general as low in dry matter, low in protein, very low in fat and moderate to high in sugar. For black rhino milk, about 60% of the gross energy comes from sugar, and protein, although low as a percentage of the milk, supplies about 25% of the gross energy.

Is rhino milk higher in fat than cow’s milk?

No. Both studies point the other way. Some web pages claim rhino milk has several times the fat of cow’s milk; the sources above do not support that.

How reliable are these numbers?

Very limited. The 1961 figures come from one animal. The 2025 black rhino results rest on 10 samples, with a median of 68.5 days after birth, and the authors say it is unclear whether the differences between species matter biologically. Nobody sells rhino milk, and we found no official source on drinking it.