Black Rhino Conservation
Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
Despite its name, the Black Rhinoceros is actually more grey in appearance, the depth of its colour largely depending on soil conditions and its wallowing habits. They bathe in shallow muddy water holes to help their body temperature cool down during the day and if there is a drought or no mud in a locality, they will roll around in dust bowls. This behaviour also helps rid their thick skins of parasites.
The Black Rhino has two tough fibrous horns made of keratin, used for defence and to forage for food. The front horn averages up to 60cm in length, but can be longer. A third smaller horn will occasionally develop.
This species is smaller than the White rhino and they do not have the distinctive shoulder hump of their larger cousins. They also have a prehensile lip and more pointed mouth than the white rhino which has a square shaped mouth. Large flexible ears give them an acute sense of hearing which compensates for their extremely poor eyesight. They also have a keen sense of smell.
Males are larger than the females.
Chester Zoo's Black Rhino Conservation Programme
The Black Rhino Conservation Programme focuses on the Eastern Black Rhinoceros which is found predominantly in Kenya and Tanzania. In 1999 Chester Zoo supported the translocation of 20 Black Rhino to Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Today, working in partnership with several organisations, Chester Zoo supports a range of projects dedicated to ensuring the future survival of the Black Rhino in the wild.
For more information about the programme visit www.chesterzoo.org