The Black Rhinoceros: Bigger than a Truck?

Rhinos are well known and instanlty recognizable from their large, armor-like body and 2 large horns. There are four subspecies of Black Rhinos. The Western Black Rhino is believed to recently become extinct. Black Rhinos originate from eastern and central Africa including the countries of Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe. They are about 10-12 feet long and 5 feet tall on average. Females are smaller than males. Their horns are made of a tough, fiborous protein, keratin, typically found in nails, hair, hooves and claws of animals. Two horns are usually present, however a third smaller horn develops. The largest horn can be 20 inches long.

Black Rhinoceros at Halali Resort, Namibia
Photographic Print

A pointed mouth helps them with their herbivorous lifestyle, gnawing on leaves and twigs and clearing out dense woods, maintaining a grassy environment on the Africa plains. The ultra-thick outside layer of skin protects against thick, sharp grass and brush, and allows it to venture into areas other animals may not have the advantage of a tough skin. They also rely on their sense of smell and hearing much more than their poor eyesight.

The Black Rhino has long been poached for its horn, tail and other body parts, being commonly used for disproven medicinal benefits. Later, poaching dramatically increased in the 1970s. Why? Oil! The world's dependence on foreign oil allowed poverty-sticken Middle Eastern nations like Yemen to grow exponentially, and became much wealthier per capita. Rhino horn is a coveted prize used for knife handles in Middle Eastern countries. These horns were (and still are) sold for tens of thousand of dollars.

The growing demand for the horns decreased the Black Rhino population to an all-time low count of 2410 in 2004, down from an estimated several hundred thousand in 1900. Between 1970 and 1992, the Black Rhino population decreased 96%. Anti-poaching efforts and laws have been put in place to try and protect all rhinoceros, but it is a task difficult to maintain.

Black Rhinoceroses in the Grasslands of Ngorongoro Crater
Photographic Print

Black Rhinoceros, Wallowing and Rolling in Mud, Etosha National Park, Namibia
Framed Art Print