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© Sedgwick County Zoo, credit: John Streeter

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

Physical Characteristics

  • The third largest land mammal (after elephant and white rhinoceros), black rhinos are grey, with a large head, short neck, broad chest, thick skin, thick legs, and strong muscles. The two horns are made of dense fibers (like our hair and fingernails) and may grow to 5 feet in length.They have a good sense of smell, but are extremely near-sighted. Their pointed upper lip is prehensile.
  • Size of average adult and newborn
    • height: adult = over 5 feet, newborn = 2 feet
    • weight: adult = 3000 pounds, newborn = 75 - 100 pounds
  • Approximate life span is 40 years in captivity.

Diet

  • Wild: leaves twigs, bushes and sometimes grass

Behavior

  • Aggressive
  • Sleep during the hottest hours of the day, otherwise browsing for food
  • Usually solitary, sometimes small group of females led by a male
  • Run on their toes at speeds of up to 35 mph
  • Reproduction
    • sexual maturity: male = 7 - 9 years, female = 4 - 6 years
    • breeding season: throughout the year with peaks in the spring and fall
    • single births
    • gestation: 16-19 months
    • newborn weaned at 2 years

Environmental/Global

  • Habitat: brush and scattered open woodlands with mud wallows
  • Distribution: in limited areas of eastern and southern Africa
  • Numbers estimated 2500 in the wild (65,000 just 20 years ago), 100 in SSP (1993)
  • Status: Endangered, CITES Appendix I
    • poaching: horn, for dagger handles and medicinal purposes
    • habitat destruction

Conservation Efforts

  • Capture and relocation of animals
  • Protected preserves
  • Law enforcement and strict penalties for poaching (death in some countries)
  • Rhino Walk U.S.A., Michael Werikhe
  • Bowling for Rhinos

Research and Investigation Programs

  • Development of instruments for embryo transfers
  • Nutritional and disease studies
  • At SCZ: reproductive research-hormone assays, blood work

Suggested Readings

  • Rhinos: Endangered Species, Malcom Penny

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