Diceros bicornis
black rhinoceros

Formerly occurred in Africa from about 10 degrees North to the tip of South Africa. Current range is severly reduced to reserves in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and South Africa.

Black rhinos are ususally found in the transitional zone between forest and grassland and are restricted to areas with available water.

Both African rhino species both have two horns and, despite their common names, are similar in color. The black rhino is distinguished from the white rhino by its pointed upper lip with a small cornified tip; the white rhino has a squared lip. The black rhino head-body length is 300-375cm, tail length is 70cm, and shoulder height is 140-180cm.

Black rhinos frequently wallow in shallow water holes. The water may help cool the rhinos, and the rhinos coat themselves in mud, probably to gain a protective coating against biting flies. Black rhinos have sedentary, overlapping home ranges. Males are probably territorial, but they will tolerate the presence of subordinate males. Females with calves generally stay alone, but they sometimes allow attachment of an abandoned juvenile. Rhinos associate at group wallows and will form loose aggregations of up to 13 individuals. Black rhinos are unpredictable and can be dangerous. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and will often charge humans, vehicles and campsites if they detect human scent. Most of these charges are bluffs, but black rhinos can do serious damage with their horns.

Black rhinos have a prehensile upper lip which they use to gather leaf and woody plant browse. The white rhino, in contrast, has a square lip that is used in grazing. Rhinos need to drink fresh water and are dependent on waterholes for drinking and wallowing.

Black rhinos can be dangerous and will charge humans and vehicles.

The horn of the black rhino is in great demand as a traditional medicine in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore and as an ornamental dagger handle in North Africa and the Middle East. The demand for rhino horn is so great that rhinos have been hunted to near extinction.

CITES - Appendix I. U.S. ESA and IUCN -Endangered. Black rhinos were once widespread and abundant throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, black rhinos have been hunted to near extinction to obtain the horn which is used for ornamental dagger handles and as a traditional medicine in some Asian countries. It is estimated that 90% of adult rhino deaths are due to poaching to obtain the horn.