The black rhinoceros is an endangered species native to parts of Africa. Their population has declined dramatically due to poaching for their horns, which are used in Chinese medicine and for carvings. Black rhinos now number only around 2,300 total. They are solitary animals that eat woody plants and drink water at dusk and dawn. While they have no natural predators, they are vulnerable to poachers who ambush them at water holes. Conservation efforts are working to protect the remaining black rhino populations from extinction.

1. ENDANGER
ED SPECIES
By Edward Pownall

2.  Black rhinos live in the south and on the
eastern sides of Africa
 Black rhinos are threatened by poachers
hunting them for their ivory horns
 The horns are used in Chinese medicine and
are used by artists in carvings
 The black rhinos scientific name is Diceros
bicornis
 Their population is 2 300

3.  Black rhinos have two horns
 The black rhino has three toes
 Black rhinos have a thick hairless grey hide
 It also has a pointed upper lip
 Black rhinos weigh 800 to 1400 kg
 Black rhinos are 1.4 m to 1.8 m tall

4.  Black rhino’s eats woody twigs ,legumes and a
wide variety of plant species
 The rhinos eat at dusk and dawn
 If water is available the rhino will drink it
 The black rhino has a funny lip used for eating
plants

5.  Black Rhinos have Black rhinos have various
habitats, but mainly areas with dense, woody
vegetation and water holes
Map of where
the black rhino
lives.

6.  Black rhinos are solitary animals
 Rhinos tend to be ill tempered when they are in
areas that are being disturbed
 Their vocabulary doesn't extend beyond
growls, grunts, squeaks, snorts and bellows
 When fighting they lower their head and
charge, reaching up to 30 km/h
 The rhinos closest relationships are between
the calf and a female; that usually lasts 2-4
years

7.  Rhinos have a small bird called oxpecker that
follows the rhino around; the bird eats ticks it
finds on the rhino and noisily warns of danger
 In the 70’s and 80’s the rhino population
declined because of poaching
 The rhino horn is in demand in Asia for
carving ornamental and a medicine

8.  The black rhino has no natural predators
 And despite its size it relatively easy for a man
to kill
 Rhinos have to go to a water hole every day, so
poachers ambush them there
 There is a dramatic decline in numbers; luckily
conservation efforts are helping to stop them
becoming extinct

9.  Black rhino
wwf.panda.org/what_we.../rhinoceros/...rhinos/black
_rhinoceros/ 4/6/12
 Black rhino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhinoceros
4/8/12
 Black rhino www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/rhino
7/8/12
 Black rhino www.awf.org 7/8/12
 Map www.defenders.org 17/9/12