Black Rhino | Endangered Species | Covered Hats

11/18/2019

Black Rhino

Black rhinos are one of two African rhino species: white rhinos being the other. They are smaller than white rhinos, but they are still an impressive specimen. Male black rhinos weigh up to 1,350 kg (2,976 lbs) and females weigh up to 900 kg (1,984 lbs). They even weigh between 35 and 45 kg at birth – now that is a big baby! Black rhinos stand approximately 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) tall at their shoulder.

In appearance, both black and white rhinos are actually grey, though, it can be hard to tell because they like to cover themselves in dust and mud. The primary difference between the two species is that black rhinos have a hooked upper lip that they use for eating.

Black rhinos have two horns with a third horn occasionally appearing. Their horns are made of thousands of compressed hair-like strands of keratin that push together to form a strong horn. Keratin is the same thing that makes human hair and nails! This means black rhino horns continue growing throughout their lives just like human hair and nails. In fact, their horns grow as much as three inches a year, and some black rhino horns have grown up to five feet long.

Rhinos grind their horns to keep them from getting too long. This helps keep their horns strong because even their solid, compressed horns can split or break during a fight. Black rhinos use their horns to protect their young and to fight off attackers. Males also use them to fight other males who try to encroach on their territory.

As mammals, black rhinos have hair, although not very much. Their hair is typically found on their ears, tails and eyelashes. Their eyelashes help protect their eyes just like human eyelashes by blocking out dust and debris, but rhinos do not have good eyesight. They even struggle to identify things from as little as 30 meters away. Black rhinos instead rely on their strong sense of smell and hearing to navigate their world.

Black rhinos live between 30 and 35 years in the wild. Although they were originally thought to be solitary, research shows they often frequently live and congregate in social settings. When solitary, male bulls claim a territory that ranges from 3.9 to 4.7 km (2.4 – 2.9 miles) in size. And, they can run up to 55 km/h (34 mph) when patrolling that territory. Now that is fast for such a big animal, so don’t try to outrun one!

Photo Credit: Frans Van Heerden

Quick Facts

Endangered Status: Critically Endangered
Black Rhino Population Size: More than 5,500
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Scientific Name: Diceros bicornis
Height: 1.6 meters (5.2 ft) at shoulder
Weight: 900 - 1,350 kg (1,984 - 2,976 lbs)
Location: Southern and Eastern Africa
Habitat: Semi-Desert Savannah, Woodlands, Forests, Wetlands
Longevity: 30-35 years in the wild

Is the black rhino extinct?

There are currently between 5,042 and 5,455 black rhinos living in the wild today.

Black rhinos are not extinct, but they are critically endangered. It was feared the species would go extinct in the 1990s because black rhino populations dropped significantly due to illegal poaching over the previous 30 years. The number of black rhinos dropped by 98% between 1960 and 1995 due primarily to hunting but also other factors. There were fewer than 2,500 black rhinos living in the wild in 1995, which was down from more than 65,000 earlier in the century.

Black rhinos are currently protected, and their numbers are continuing to slowly increase. There are currently between 5,042 and 5,455 black rhinos living in the wild today. With enough help, black rhinos can once again thrive in their native Africa so they can be enjoyed by generations to come.

Why black rhinos are endangered

Poaching and other wildlife crimes are the largest threat to black rhino populations. Illegal hunting and black-market trafficking in rhino horn accounts for the largest number of black rhino deaths every year.

Poachers kills black rhinos so they can illegally sell their horns for medicinal purposes in Asian countries where many believe rhino horns have mystical properties. People in countries such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore use rhino horn for a broad variety of medicine. For example, rhino horn is believe by some to revive comatose patients, aid in exorcism, detoxify one’s body and soul, cure fevers, increase sexual stamina and fertility in males, increase libido, and to aid in helping the spirit enter heaven.

Traditionalist continue to kill black rhinos and use their horns in these medicines even though there is no scientific proof that the horns provide any medical benefits.

In addition to Eastern medical practices, black rhino horns are often used throughout the Middle East and North Africa as an ornamental dagger handle called a jambiya. In both circumstances, the black rhino is usually killed and left to rot after the horn has been removed.

Although commercial demand for black rhino horn is the primary reason the species in critically endangered, black rhinos also face other environmental challenges. Climate change has eroded parts or their habitat, leaving fewer plants and water resources. Wars and other civil disturbances throughout their habitat in countries such as Chad, Cameroon, Rwanda, Mozambique and Somalia have also decimated their food supply and habitat.

This habitat loss forces more black rhinos to occupy the same area, which increases competition for food, increases the likelihood of disease, and forces inbreeding that can lead to genetic defects.

Primary Threats

Poaching, so the rhino horn can be used for Eastern medicine and decorative knife handles
Climate change
Social and civil disturbances
Habitat loss
Disease
Inbreeding

Where do black rhinos live?

Black rhinos primarily live in southern and eastern Africa. Their habitat can be found in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Black rhinos need a habitat rich in food and water resources, so they live in places with naturally occurring plant-life, mineral licks and water sources. This allows black rhinos to live in a variety of climates and territories – from the semi-desert savannah to woodlands, forests and wetlands.

The more fertile and plentiful the territory, the more black rhinos the habitat can support. For example, there may only be one rhino per 100 km2 in the desert while an area with abundant vegetation can support more than one black rhino per square kilometer.

What do black rhinos eat?

Black rhinos are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Unlike white rhinos, black rhinos are browsers. They primarily eat leaves and twigs from bushes and trees. This is why black rhinos have hooked upper lips that help them feed. In contrast, white rhinos are grazers and primarily eat grasses.

Black rhinos’ hooked lips make it easy to tell where they have recently fed because the neatly bite off woody material. This creates a clean-angled edge that looks like the branches were clipped with pruning shears.

Black rhinos do most of the foraging and drinking at night when temperatures are cooler so they can conserve energy.

Why black rhinos matter

Photo Credit: Francesco Ungaro

Black rhinos are one of the oldest species of living mammals, which makes them incredibly important for scientific and cultural purposes. Scientists can study black rhinos and learn much about life thousands of years ago and how mammals have evolved to better suit their environments. Culturally, many people revere them for religious and spiritual purposes.

In addition, black rhinos provide an important source of income in their native habitats in Africa from ecotourism. Not only do tourists travel the world to visit and see black rhinos, their protections creates large areas of conserved land that help support other species and further increases ecotourism in the area. This benefits locals and other species such as elephants.

What you can do to help

The biggest thing you can do to help support black rhinos is to educate yourself and others about why they are important and what is threatening them. Commit to never purchasing products that use rhino horn! In addition, you can travel responsibly to visit black rhinos through approved ecotourism providers that support their conservation.

But, perhaps the easiest thing to do is simply to support nonprofit organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that are committed to saving these majestic creatures. Right now, you can click on the link below to buy a black rhino trucker cap, dad hat or beanie - 10% is donated to the World Wildlife Fun. Not all heroes wear capes… sometimes they just don a cap!