Meet The Black Rhino
STATUS: Critically Endangered
POPULATION: ~5400
There are two African rhino species, one of which are the Black rhinos. Their very distinct, hooked upper lip is the main differentiator from its white rhino cousins. Generally rhinos are one of the oldest living mammals, or living fossils as they are referred to by some. Black rhinos are also referred to as browsers (rather than grazers) who feed on leaves, bushes, twigs and hanging fruits from trees since their hooked lip makes it much easier to do so. They have two horns and sometimes a third, smaller posterior horn.
Black Rhinos can live up to 30–35 years in the wild and mature female rhinos give birth to exactly one calf every two to three years. The gestation period lasts between 15–26 months and when preparing for birth the rhino looks for a solitary, sheltered place away from large feline predators. The baby rhino stands up impressively within the first few hours after birth!
Did you know black rhinos have extremely poor eyesight? Scent-making is a crucial skill as they follow trails of scents that other black rhinos leave behind on the landscape.
Photo by Lucas Alexander via Wikimedia Commons
What’s the danger?
Black rhinos are a critically endangered species with an estimated population between 5000–5400. Although their number seems to be slowly increasing due to conservation efforts, this is still far below the healthy number that these creatures need in order to have a sustainable population size. To put these numbers into better perspective, between 1960 and 1995 their population dropped by a shocking 98% leaving less than 2500 in existence at that time.
Wildlife crimes are the main danger for these creatures as they are poached for their horns to be sold on the black market. A wave of poaching has passed through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other African countries. Poverty exacerbates this situation since for some, the illegal trading of rhino horns are the only source of income.
China and Vietnam maintain the biggest demand for illegal rhino horns for use in their traditional medical remedies. Recently, China lifted a ban that protected farmed tiger bones and rhino horns from being a part of any legal trade. With this ban lifted, it opened up the opportunity for legalized trade that could set back conservation efforts by 25 years, while subsequently having an unforeseen impact on both tiger and rhino species. Poaching in South Africa, remains unsustainably high for the species’ survival.
ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONS
Rhinos have been around for millions of years and by consuming large amounts of vegetation, they help maintain the ecosystem of their African territories. Other animals benefit as well as the human population, when Rhinos are left to their natural habitat. As natural resources are sustained and cultivated, local villages benefit from food, fuel and healthy sources of income such as ecotourism. The black rhino conservation efforts are necessary for the people and the wildlife, ensuring natural resources are available for future generations.
Even if we collected all the remaining black rhinos in one place, they wouldn’t fill 1/4th of the SMALLEST football stadium to host an NFL team.
Photo by Yoky via Wikimedia Commons
How can we help?
The World Wildlife Fund is taking action in three rhino range countries — Namibia, Kenya and South Africa — where they work with government agencies to support law enforcement, develop and build new and innovative technological solutions, and equip and train rangers to stop poachers.
An interesting new way to help save rhinos from poachers was developed by IBM Watson using IoT (internet-of-things) technology and put into use where poaching remains a big challenge. Sensors are placed on animals to detect poacher activity. When poachers enter an area, they are much more likely to come in contact with surrounding communities of animals, like impalas, before they find black rhinos. The surrounding animals’ movement and behavior will change, and this data gets analyzed in real-time. When a change or abnormality is detected, it notifies the rangers so they can better estimate poachers’ whereabouts.
Make a Pledge For THOSE IN NEED
When you purchase limited edition Everybeing shirts, 100% of net proceeds go directly to organizations working on conservation efforts that are helping stop the sixth and support endangered species in need. You are also contributing to the health of our environment as each of our shirts uses yarn made from eight recycled plastic bottles. Please help us support animals in need and the artists who are bringing it all to life.
