Black Rhinoceros - A Critically Endangered Species

One of the most critically endangered animals and best known for their mortal combat are the Black Rhinoceros. According to a recent study earlier this year (2013), there is an estimated population of just 4,880 individual black rhinos.

Two black rhinos (mother and calf) in Lewa, central Kenya

Source: By Harald Zimmer (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0

Where do these Black rhinos live? They live in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas,  deserts and are native to Central and Eastern Africa.

Range or distribution of black rhino

Source: rhinoresourcecenter.com

The black rhinos have a dark grey or brown skin and can weigh from 800 to 1,400 kg. They have two horns that they use for defense and to dig roots and break branches while eating.

Rhino species size comparison Indian Rhinoceros, over 1.8m White Rhinoceros, 1.8m Black Rhinoceros, over 1.5m Javan Rhinoceros, 1.5m Sumatran Rhinoceros, 1.4m

Source: By WikipedianProlific [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0

Did you know? These black rhinos are also called the hook lipped rhinos because of their pointed upper lip.

Black rhino, you can see the pointed upper lip

Source: arkive.org

Their eyesight is poor and can hence attack tree trunks and termite mounds thinking that they are threats. However they identify food, other rhinos and predators with their sense of smell and hearing, both of which are great.

They go to regular areas for resting and wallow in the mud during the day to cool off their body and to ward off insects and parasites.

Black rhino wallowing in the mud

Source: arkive.org

These solitary black rhinos come together only for breeding and sometimes conflicts occur between males over a female, resulting in the death of a male!!!

The female rhinos give birth to one calf and look after the calf for 2 to 3 years. These rhinos live for around 30 to 35 years in the wild and around 45 to 50 years in captivity.
 

Black rhino and its calf at St Louis zoo,

Source: zooborns.com

To read more about the Black Rhinos, their characteristics, behaviour, food, habitat, reproduction, threats they face, actions taken to protect them and other facts in detail, please follow the link below.

Black Rhinoceros - A Critically Endangered Species

Threats faced by the Black Rhinoceros:

• Killed for food and fun in the early 20th centuries
• Change in habitat
• Illegal wildlife trade, especially for their horns
• Poaching
• Traditional medicines

Poached black rhino

Source: panda.org

Conservation efforts taken to protect the Black Rhinos:

WWF and other conservation programs are working towards,

• Stopping poaching and illegal trade
• Trans-location programs like Flying Rhinos
• Anti poaching patrols
• Transmitters to track rhinos
• Reintroduction programs

Flight of the rhino, flying rhino

Source: savetherhino.org

How can you help?

You can help by:

• Adopting a black rhino
• Donating to the WWF
• Spreading the word about the plight of the rhinos
• NOT buying any rhino products
• Buying only FSC certified forest products

Black Rhinoceros - A Critically Endangered Species

Did you know? More than fifty percent of male rhinos and more than thirty percent of female rhinos die from injuries related to combat!!!

Livingsta

Thank you for stopping by. I hope that you found the information presented here useful.

Have a great week!

Peace...

Livingsta :-)