Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornisAlso known as Black Rhino, Hook-lipped Rhinoceros, Hook-lipped Rhino
Black rhinoceroses are solitary, browser specialists that use their prehensile, hooked upper lips to strip leaves and twigs from thorny acacia bushes. They navigate dense scrub with surprising agility, relying on acute hearing and an excellent sense of smell to compensate for their notoriously poor eyesight. These formidable herbivores play a vital role in shaping their habitat by keeping woody vegetation in check, which allows grasses to grow for other savanna grazers.
- diet
- Browser of woody plants, shrubs, and shoots
- family
- Rhinocerotidae
- threats
- Poaching for horns and habitat fragmentation
- life Span
- 35 to 50 years
CR
Highly territorial and prone to charging; maintain a safe distance and remain inside a vehicle.
Capable of charging at speeds up to 55 kilometers per hour when threatened, using its horns to inflict fatal wounds.
Never approach on foot; stay inside a safari vehicle and back away quietly if a rhino shows signs of agitation.Severely threatened by illegal poaching for its horn, which is highly valued in traditional medicine and ornamental carvings.
Avoid sharing real-time GPS coordinates of sightings online to protect individuals from poachers.- Keep Distance: Maintain a distance of at least 100 meters when observing from a vehicle.
- Watch the Ears: Pay attention to ear movements; pinned-back ears indicate irritation or an impending charge.
- Stay Quiet: Keep voices low and avoid sudden movements, as loud noises can easily startle them.