Black Rhino

The black rhinoceros is one of five species of rhinoceros and one of two species native to Africa, the other being the larger White Rhinoceros. A male black rhinoceros can reach 180cm (71in) at the shoulder and weigh up to 1400kg (3090lb). The longest of the two horns on its snout can reach up to 140cm, although they tend to be shorter. Despite its name, the black rhinoceros is typically grey in color. Its large ears and nostrils indicate a strong sense of hearing and smell respectively, although their sense of sight is more acute than often believed despite having small eyes.

The black rhinoceros is a browser, using its hooked upper lip to pluck leaves and branches from trees of the thick shrublands they typically live. It is generally a solitary animal and has a reputation for being extremely aggressive, charging at anything it may perceive as a threat. The black rhinoceros was once found across Africa, but due to heavy hunting for its horns, less than 6000 individuals are found in isolated regions of southern Africa and as such it is currently considered critically endangered.

Africa