Rhinos
Black Rhinoceros
Habitat: tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and deserts
Location: East, Central and South Africa
Population: approximately 3,725 individuals
Background
When European settlers first began moving into east and southern Africa in the 19th century, the savannas had an abundance of wildlife. Even black rhinos, largely solitary animals, were so plentiful that it was not unusual to encounter dozens of them in a single day. However, due to relentless poaching by settlers, the numbers and distribution of black rhinos quickly declined in Central, West and East Africa. Poaching pressure escalated during the 1970s and 1980s as a result of the rising demand for rhino horn in Asia and the Middle East and between 1970 and 1992, the black rhino suffered a 96 percent decline in numbers.
The good news is that most black rhino populations are steadily increasing. However, total numbers are still only a fraction of what they were fifty years ago.
Threats
The black rhino remains under threat because its horn is in demand for use as a fever reducer in traditional Chinese medicine. Rhinos are easy targets for poachers and their horn is easily concealed and smuggled across borders. WWF has been actively supporting rhino conservation initiatives for forty years. Today, WWF works to stop illegal poaching by increasing law enforcement and anti-poaching efforts.
© WWF - Canon / Michel GUNTHER
Physical description
Black rhinos wade in mud and water holes to cool themselves.
The black rhinoceros has two horns and occasionally a third small posterior horn is present. The anterior horn is an average of 20 inches long and is longer than the posterior. The species is distinguished from the white rhino by a hook-like upper lip used to feed on twigs of woody plants and a variety of plants. Black rhinos weigh one to two tons and have skin that ranges from dark yellow brown to dark gray.
Interesting fact
All black rhinos scrape their feet on communal dung heaps so their scent is left along the path they travel.
