Fossil Rim participates in the Species Survival
Plan for the Southern Black Rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis minor) which is a coordinated effort to establish and maintain a viable population in captivity. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center’s work with black rhinos is part of an international effort to save this species. In addition to breeding, we are participating in research that we hope will help increase the worlds dwindling population. While strict laws prohibiting hunting protect black rhinos, poaching continues to be a problem. Even in national parks and reserves enforcement of those laws is difficult given the availability of automatic weapons in the region and ever-higher prices for rhino horn. The rhino horn is not true horn but is made of dense fibers similar to material in fingernails and may grow to 4 or 5 feet in length. They are not attached to the skull, they grow from the skin. Rhinos are poached for their horns, which in powdered form is a popular ingredient in traditional oriental medicines and as an aphrodisiac. Both applications have been proven useless, but the poaching continues.
A dehorning program was attempted in the hopes of making the rhino worthless to poachers. Unfortunately, the poachers continued killing rhinos in the hopes of increasing the value of the horns they already had in possession.
The word “rhinoceros” is derived from the Greek rhino (nose) and ceros (horn). Like the white rhino, the black rhinoceros is actually gray and has two horns. However, the black rhino has a pointed, prehensile upper lip, which distinguishes it from the white rhino. They are extremely agile for their size and can reach speeds of 30 mph when charging. Although they have poor eyesight, their hearing is acute. They have long tube shaped ears that act as funnels for sound. They can swivel their ears in all directions, picking up noises from great distances. Their sense of smell is superb and is their primary method of detecting danger. Rhino calves weigh between 55 and 90 pounds at birth and stay with their mothers for up to 3 years.
Extremely territorial, their home territory always includes at least one water hole and a mud wallow. The boundaries are defined by urine sprayed on bushes and middens (dung heaps) left by the male at regular intervals. The males scatter the dung with their horns and hind feet to form middens about 6' across. The probable reason for this is to warn other males they are trespassing and also to advertise their own presence to single females who may thus be encouraged to enter their territory.
The black rhino is not as solitary as commonly thought to be. Males may tolerate other males as long as they remain submissive and females sometimes allow an unrelated juvenile to accompany her and a calf.
There are presently fewer than 4000 black rhino’s left in the world.
The black rhino at Fossil Rim can be viewed on the Behind the Scenes Tours |
