Hunted to extinction for their horns, these two-horned Rhinos had very poor eyesight and have been known to use birds (oxpeckers) as an early warning system of approaching threats!
- Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake House
- Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake Mix
- Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake Good
Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake House
Amazing Facts About the Western Black Rhinoceros
- The rarest of the black rhino subspecies, the Western Black Rhino was officially declared extinct in 2011. Their extinction was caused mainly by poachers killing them for their horns, which are highly prized on the black market and used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Western black rhinos had very poor eyesight, unable to clearly see anything more than 30 meters away. They did, however have excellent senses of smell and hearing. Sadly, this was not enough to protect them from poachers.
WWF’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) has been working with passion, commitment, and determination for a brighter future for the critically endangered black rhino for more than a decade. BRREP works to grow black rhino numbers by creating new populations and provides equipment and training to rangers to monitor, manage, and protect rhinos. There are three living subspecies of black rhino currently recognised. These are: the south-western, eastern and south-central black rhinoceros. Another sub-species, the western black rhino became extinct in 2011 – according to the IUCN. Black rhinos are mainly found in reserves in countries including: South Africa, Tanzania. Esmond Bradley Martin via WWF.org. While the money being shelled out for expensive rhino-horn-laced products has not been proven to actually benefit anyone’s health, the boom in demand means very real consequences for the victims of poaching. In 2013, the Western black rhino (pictured below) was declared extinct.The last recorded spotting occurred in 2006, and the species was thereafter.
- Despite being big and bulky, Western Black Rhinos could move quickly and had been recorded at speeds as high as 55 km/h. They could change direction surprisingly quickly and run straight through scrub and bushes.
- There is actually no color difference between White and Black Rhinos. They are both of a dark grey color but this varies depending on local soil conditions.
Picture Credit: Yoky (Wiki Commons User)
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Quick Facts
Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake Mix
Western Black Rhino Is Extinctjosh's Pancake Good
- Type: Mammal
- Diet: Herbivore
- Lifespan: 30-35 years
- Size: 10-12' (3–3.75m) long, 4.5-5.9' (1.4–1.8m) tall
- Weight: 1760-3080lb (800-1400kg)
- Scientific name: Diceros bicornis longipes
- Habitat: semi-desert savannah, woodlands, forests and wetlands