Gary J Sibio
20 Sep 2004
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois
Pentax Optio 555
The Eastern Black Rhinoceros is also known as the East African Black Rhinoceros.
Order PerissodactylaFamily RhinocerotidaeDiceros bicornis michaeli
The species, considered endangered, once ranged through Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya, however, as of 2017, they were no longer found in Ethiopia. There are not many in the rest of its range. There were only 594 individuals in Kenya and an additional 80 in Rwanda and northern Tanzania. In addition there are 60 animals in the Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa. Despite the low numbers, the population was even lower prior to 2010.
The Eastern Black Rhino is longer than the southern subspecies. It can reach a length of 12 feet and is 5 feet tall at the shoulders. It weighs about 3,000 pounds. Its bigger horn – there are two – is longer (up to 28 inches) and more curved and its skin is more deeply grooved. It is also the most aggressive of the four Black Rhino subspecies. (Males are territorial, females are not.)
Like other rhinos the Eastern Black Rhino lives on a diet of plants including leafy plants, branches and even thorny bushes. It also eats fruit.
Their skin is home to a wide variety of parasites and they have a symbiotic relationship with Tickbirds and Egrets who eat them off their skin. The horns, which are composed of compressed hair, are for defensive and display purposes.
The female carries their young for 15 or 16 months. At birth the babies weigh about 85 pounds.
Editing was done using ACDSee Ultimate 2020. I adjusted the lighting and increased the contrast, clarity and vibrance. Then I adjusted the levels.© 2004 Gary J. Sibio. All rights reserved.
#zoos #animals #nature #endangered #African #mammals #rhinos #rhinoceros #ACDSee
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Do you think zoos play an important role in protecting endangered species?
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Yes
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No
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You’re very welcome. I’m glad you found it interesting.
It’s sad to know there are so many endangered animals. I am not sure if zoo is responsible, but I see some zoos don’t really take good care of animals.
Thank you for sharing this. Now I learned a little bit more about this Eastern Black Rhinoceros. Nice photo!
Most zones are very good about caring for their animals. Without the animals, no one is going to come.
This photo was taken at Lincoln Park Zoo which has an excellent reputation.
That’s good. Yes, I think it’s worth to visit these good zoos. 🙂
Amazing animals and such a shame some humans find game in doing what they do to these animals. Beautiful photo.
Thanks, Carol. They are amazing to look at.
It is appalling what is happening to rhinos in the wild, all down to human greed and the insanity of believing – in some societies – that rhino horn can cure diseases.
If species can thrive in captivity, and then return to the wild when it is safe for them to do so, that surely has to be a good result.
Agreed. I don’t know if any rhinos have been released as yet. Poaching is still a huge problem although, based on what I’ve been hearing, some African governments are starting to do something about it. This is due, at least in part, to the realization that these animals are a great tourist attraction and that means money.
Thanks for sharing, but I think, instead of a Zoo, a game reserve should be provide and the animals should be allow to roam from
I think both options have benefits. One of the benefits of a zoo is that it makes it easier for the public to to see them. This may not seem important but it makes people care about the fate of these animals. People don’t care about what they are not familiar with.
Thanks for the information about this amazing beast. If I remember it right, a specie (or subspecies) of the black rhino has gone instinct a few years ago.
Sadly the western subspecies went extinct in 2013.
Thanks for sharing interesting information about Rhinoceros.
You’re very welcome. I’m glad you found it interesting.