11/18/2023 0 Comments Western black rhinoceros nichePoaching, illegal trade, and habitat loss are all urgent threats facing black rhinos today. There are three species of rhinoceros that live in Asia. Black rhinos are largely solitary animals and can have as much as 100 square kilometres of space to themselves.īlack rhinos are one of two species of rhinoceros that live in Africa. Population density within these habitats varies depending on the amount of food available. To be suitable for black rhinos, the area needs to have a large amount of woody vegetation to eat, plentiful water sources, and mineral licks. They have also been reintroduced to Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zambia.īlack rhinos can live in a range of habitats, including semi-desert savannahs, woodlands, forests, and wetlands. Where do black rhinos live?īlack rhinos live in small pockets of Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Continued conservation efforts are needed to keep bolstering their numbers and improve their conservation status. The most urgent threats that black rhinos face are illegal poaching for their horns, habitat loss due to human intrusion, and climate change. Although their population trend is currently listed as increasing, the devastating reduction in their numbers during the 20th century still impacts the species today. Are black rhinos endangered?īlack rhinos have been listed as critically endangered by the IUCN since 1996. There are three subspecies of black rhino in Africa: the eastern black rhino, known as Diceros bicornis michaeli, the southern central black rhino, known as Diceros bicornis minor, and the south-western black rhino, known as Diceros bicornis bicornis (which amusingly translates as “two horn two horn two horn”). The scientific name of the black rhino is Diceros bicornis, which translates as “ two horn two horn.” Black rhinos are also one of the most popular animals to see on safari tours, so they support the local economy through ecotourism. This helps shape the African landscape by reducing competition and keeping different species of plants in balance. As large vegetarians, rhinos eat up to 30 kilograms of plant matter per day. They indulge in an activity called “wallowing,” rolling around and lounging in shallow pools of mud to keep themselves cool and protect their skin from the sun and insects.īlack rhinoceros play a vital role in their ecosystems, not only helping other animals, but local humans too. By 1995, though, their numbers had declined by as much as 96% and their range had shrunk to just a few countries on the east and west coasts of southern Africa.īecause the temperatures in their habitats can get quite high, rhinos limit their movement to stay comfortable. Historically, black rhinos could be found across the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa, with more than one million individuals roaming the land at the beginning of the 20th century. It is said that Dutch settlers referred to the white rhinoceros as having a wijde (wide) lip, but the English misheard this as “white.” Believing that square-lipped rhinos were known as white rhinos, they called the other species black rhinos. Their names don’t come from the colour of their skin, but instead, a supposed misunderstanding. Their distinguishing feature is not their skin, but rather the shape of their lips: black rhinos have pointed lips, while white rhinos have square ones. Despite their names, black rhinos aren’t black and white rhinos aren’t white-both species are actually grey.
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