Wildlife Guide · Africa
Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
Africa's hook-lipped browser in crisis
Image: Photo: Jon Bodsworth / Wikimedia Commons (Copyrighted free use)
In brief
The black rhinoceros is a large African rhino with a hooked upper lip for browsing shrubs, weighing 800–1,400 kg (1,750–3,100 lb) despite its name referring to soil colour, not hide. Critically endangered from poaching for horn, fewer than 6,500 remain across scattered eastern and southern African reserves.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
The black rhinoceros is a large African rhino with a hooked upper lip for browsing shrubs, weighing 800–1,400 kg (1,750–3,100 lb) despite its name referring to soil colour, not hide. Critically endangered from poaching for horn, fewer than 6,500 remain across scattered eastern and southern African reserves.
3.5 m
Typical length
1100 kg
Typical weight
55 km/h
Top speed
45 yrs
Lifespan
Figures sourced from IUCN Red List — Black Rhinoceros, Wikipedia — Black Rhinoceros, Wikidata — Black Rhinoceros .
Black Rhinoceros: Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Diceros bicornis |
|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore — leaves, branches, and woody browse |
| Habitat | Savannas, scrub, and dry woodland of eastern and southern Africa |
| Lifespan | 35–50 years in the wild |
| Weight | 800–1,400 kg (1,750–3,100 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 55 km/h (34 mph) in charge |
| Conservation status | Critically Endangered (IUCN) |
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Perissodactyla |
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Genus | Diceros |
Conservation Status
- IUCN Status
- Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Population
- See the IUCN Red List assessment
- Trend
- Increasing
- Assessed
- 2020
- CITES
- See CITES appendices
Key documented threats: Poaching for horn; Illegal horn trade; Small, fragmented populations.
Key Facts: Black Rhinoceros
- The prehensile pointed upper lip lets black rhinos strip leaves from thorny acacia and succulents that grass-eating white rhinos cannot exploit.
- Black rhinos are more solitary and aggressive than white rhinos, with bulls maintaining territories and cows accompanying calves.
- Rhino horn — made of keratin like fingernails — is illegally traded for traditional medicine and status symbols, driving poaching despite international bans.
Hooked lip browser
The prehensile pointed upper lip lets black rhinos strip leaves from thorny acacia and succulents that grass-eating white rhinos cannot exploit. They have poor eyesight but acute hearing and smell, charging threats they detect downwind.
Solitary temperament
Black rhinos are more solitary and aggressive than white rhinos, with bulls maintaining territories and cows accompanying calves. Mothers are fiercely protective — most human injuries involve surprised animals on foot.
Poaching catastrophe
Rhino horn — made of keratin like fingernails — is illegally traded for traditional medicine and status symbols, driving poaching despite international bans. Black rhino numbers crashed 96% between 1970 and 1990; recovery is slow but ongoing in well-guarded reserves.
Recovery efforts
Intensive anti-poaching, dehorning programmes, and translocations support populations in Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Critically Endangered globally, the species illustrates both the devastation of illegal wildlife trade and the impact of committed conservation funding.
What WARN Does
WARN does not run a dedicated black rhinoceros programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The black rhinoceros faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the black rhinoceros supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.
Black Rhinoceros: Frequently Asked Questions
Black rhino vs white rhino?
How many black rhinos are left?
Why are rhinos poached?
Are black rhinos dangerous?
Where do black rhinos live?
What do black rhinos eat?
How long do black rhinos live?
How big is a black rhino?
Sources & References
Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.
Terms used on this page
Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.
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