Donayjiah Jackson - The Black Rhinoceros

 

• The scientific name for the Black Rhinoceros is "Diceros Bicornis"

• Its name " Rhinoceros " comes from two Greek words; Rhino meaning nose and Ceros meaning horn.

• One of the worlds endangered animals. 

• There are five species of rhino.

• There are less than 29,000 Black Rhino left in the world

 

                

•  There use to be more than 500,000 in the 20th century across Africa and Asia. 

• In 1970, the population decreased to 65,000 in 1970. 

• Poaching or illegal hunting and catching, made the Rhinoceros population decrease.

• Today, there's fewer than 4,860 left in the world and 2,300 living in the wild. 

• People hunt black rhino for their horns which can be used for trading, cultural purposes, medicine and weapons. This is a main cause of why there's a major decrease in the Black Rhino population.

 

•  Black Rhinos use their horns to protect themselves and their babies from humans and predators. male rhino battle for territory and female rhino.

• If the rhino loses its horn or it breaks off, it regenerates or grows back. 

• The Black Rhino has bad vision so in confusion they'll mistake a tree or rock for a predator and they'll charge towards it. They have a really sharp sense of smell. So, instead it uses its scent to guide it. 

• A fully grown rhino is extremely strong with its heavily armored body of very thick skin and lethal horns. 

• It can weigh up to 2000 pounds, stands about 140 to 160cm tall at the shoulders and can reach about 9-12 feet in length. 

• They can live up to 45 years in captivity. 

• The Black Rhino is actually grey and is only considered black because it may appear that color after its daily mud baths in black or brown marshy areas. 

• Black Rhinos can be found in transition zones but are present in habitat ranging from desert in western Africa to forests in Kenya. 

• They prefer wetlands, bushy plains, dense brush, open forests and grassy plains. They hide under shade during the day to avoid sunlight so, they feed at night too. The Black Rhino is only vegetation, no meat. So, they aren’t predators to any other animal. 

• Due to its size, a Black Rhino doesn't have many predators. A Nile crocodile, hyena or lion may try to feast on a calf or sub adult.

•  Black Rhinos have been listed on CITES Appendix I. To help reduce illegal trade and complement CITES international trade bans domestic anti-trade measures and legislation were implemented in the 1990’s by a number of consumer states. 

• Rhino are being moved away from unsafe areas where poachers are operating, and protection is being increased for rhino in existing conservation areas. 

•   People are being persuaded to stop using rhino horn for medicines and cultural purposes. Major effects are being made to save the Black Rhino.

  Sources: www.earthsendangered.com