Black+Rhinoceros

The black rhinoceros, or the hook-lipped rhinoceros, is a mammal that is indigenous to south eastern portions of Africa. The animal is a species of the rhinoceros and is one of two African species, with the other being the white rhinoceros. The coloring of a black rhinoceros is not black but rather varies in shades of brown and grey. Its horns are the most distinguishable feature of the species, with an individual usually having two horns on its face, the first of which is much longer than the other. These horns have multiple uses, such as self-defense or intimidation. The black rhino is notably smaller than the white rhino, with an adult black rhino potentially weighing anywhere between two and three thousand pounds.

The black rhino is considered to be a reclusive or anti-social species, only ever having a significant connection with another in the case of a mother and her child. Even during mating, a male and female tend to stay away from having any further connection than just reproduction. The species is also not known for being territorial, wondering about in order to find steady supplies of resources until seasonal changes arise. It’s interesting to note, though, that an individual rhino may find a small area of abundant food, water, and or shelter and frequently return to the spot. The species is a herbivorous one, only eating plants, fruits, and scrubs, preferably the later. However, they are very specific in what plants they will consume.

The black rhinoceros has been known for decades to be a species on the brink of extinction. The species was declared critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, or the IUCN, in 2011, and in the same year, a subspecies of the black rhino, the western black rhinoceros, was declared completely extinct. Many threats faces the species today, most notably and dangerous the action of illegal poaching for their horns. However, this is the only threat caused by humanity, as other natural factors such as competing species put the black rhino in danger. Conservation efforts has been in place for years and have even saved one subspecies from extinction since. The species is being bred in areas across the world, spanning from Zimbabwe to Florida.