Resource 4: Black rhino

 Example of pupils' work

Common name – Black rhino

Scientific name – Diceros bicornis

Location – Eastern, central, western and Southern Africa

Population – approximately 3,725

Size – The black rhino's weight ranges from 800 to 1,400 kg

Colour – Dark yellow brown colour to dark brown or dark grey

Habitat – Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands; deserts and xeric shrublands

The black rhino can be found in mud or water wallows, where it cools itself. Sleeping usually occurs at midday, and it feeds mostly during the early morning and in the evening.

The East African black rhino, which had a historic distribution from south Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia down through Kenya into north-central Tanzania, maintains its current stronghold in Kenya.

Rhinos are easy targets for poachers and their horn is easily concealed and smuggled across borders. Protecting rhinos effectively is very expensive.

Interesting facts

All animals of this species use communal dung heaps, sometimes scraping their feet in them and leaving a scent as they travel about.

Adapted from original source: http://www.panda.org/ about_wwf/ what_we_do/ species/ about_species/ species_factsheets/ rhinoceros/ black_rhinoceros/ index.cfm [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] (Accessed 2008)