Rhinoceroses are very unique creatures. “The name rhinoceros comes from two Greek words meaning “nose horn.” This seems very appropriate considering the fact that many people know these animals by the huge horn on top of their faces. They also belong to a “scientific order called Perissodactyla, a name that comes from the Greek words meaning “odd figured” (Arnold and Hewett, pg. 41).
Black rhinos are really interesting animals. Unfortunately, these interesting animals are rapidly becoming extinct. Even though these animals look like heavy tanks they are endangered by the ivory hunters who kill the rhinos for their horns. The rhinos' ivory is used for many things and it is also very valuable. Sadly, those that hunt these poor creatures only care about the wealth that they are going to gain and not the fact that they are destroying one of nature's most precious mammals and therefore, their thirty to forty year life span is usually cut short by these rhino hunters.
Although black rhinos are not actually black they get their name from rolling in black dirt where they live. The black rhino lives and are mostly found in East Africa near the world's driest place, the Sahara Desert. However, some of these animals can be found in West and Central Africa as well. They prefer areas covered in bushes and shrubs but some can be spotted in an open area. They also tend to live alone and do not like to be bothered.
Because black rhinos are big creatures, they also have big appetites. They can eat about fifty pounds of food a day. Their diets mostly comprise of plants and shrubs. They sometimes eat fruits as well. Rhinos that live in captivity at the zoo have the advantage of eating food that is not just plants. They also get to eat “a variety of fresh vegetables, hay, and vitamin pellets” (Arnold and Hewett, pg. 37). After eating, they need something to wash down their food. Rhinos rely heavily on water, not only to help them take down food but just like humans, they need to keep hydrated. Also, because black rhinos live near the Sahara Desert, it is very dry and hot and therefore need to be filled on water or else they can die from the heat.
Black rhinos are very big creatures. They average about two thousand, five hundred pounds and are about five feet tall. However, the white rhino, which is another species of rhinos, is actually bigger than the black rhino. So, they are not the biggest of these mammals. Also, another way to distinguish a black rhino from other rhinos is by their horns. They have two horns and although other rhinos also have two horns, this is just one of the many other ways to distinguish them. In addition, black rhinos also have “small horny knobs in addition to their horns.” “The black rhino is sometimes called the hoop-lipped rhino because of its upper pointed lip, which can be used to grasp food (Arnold and Hewett, pg. 15).
Female and male rhinos have different names. A female rhino is called a cow, while a male rhino is called a bull. Baby rhinos are called a calf. Black rhino babies usually weigh about forty-four pounds. The baby rhino has to live off the mother's milk up until it can survive on its own, just like any other living creature. They usually eat plants when they are first born but mostly rely on their mother's milk. Baby rhinos are not completely full grown before they are five years old. This is very odd because rhinos tend to begin mating between the ages of four and five, although some male rhinos begin to mate between the ages of six and eight. Once baby rhinos are able to care for themselves, they usually leave their mother's side and go off on their own.
