Despite the fact that now scientists are trying to do everything to save endangered species of animals, the most unusual representatives of unique creatures still disappear every year.
Thus, humanity has lost a unique giant, and today - in 2013 - we can safely say that the black rhinoceros is extinct. For several decades, they tried to save this species, but poachers and other criminals turned out to be more agile, and the unusual animal disappeared forever from the face of the Earth. The history of rhinos goes back hundreds of years, during which they peacefully existed in the savannas and on green continents.
The black rhinoceros originated in Africa, and originally there were two types of this animal: white and black. It is noteworthy that the skin color of both is gray. The differences in their names depended on the places where the giants lived, more precisely, on the color and composition of the earth. As you know, rhinos love to wallow in the mud, and, accordingly, the soil, which was more clay, gave the animal's skin a white tint.
Description
The black rhinoceros is a large animal whose weightreached two tons, and its length was more than 3 meters (with a height of 1.5 meters). Despite the fact that we are used to the fact that the wayward giant has only one horn on its head, in fact, African individuals usually had 2, and sometimes 5.
The front horn was the largest, and its length sometimes reached half a meter. In history, there were individuals in which the main tusk reached a length of more than a meter. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, black rhinos numbered in huge numbers, and they were the most common inhabitants of the savannah. These amazing animals lived in central, eastern and southern Africa.
Lifestyle and behavior of rhinos
Rhinoceros fed on young shoots of shrubs, tolerated heat well. The animals went very far to the watering place, sometimes overcoming distances of 8-10 km. In its way of life, the black rhinoceros was rather a loner.
The female's pregnancy lasted about 15-16 months, and only one baby was born, who fed on mother's milk for several years.
Black rhinos spent the night where it was convenient for them, because their huge size allowed them not to be afraid of anyone. The giants slept on their sides or with their legs bent under them. Previously, it was believed that animals mark their territory, leaving huge piles of manure. In fact, it happened spontaneously, without any reason. Black rhinos grazed day and night - at any convenient time.
The only danger to the rhinoceros was the lions,who sometimes attacked small cubs. But most often the predators themselves suffered, because in a fight, even with one rhinoceros, there was little chance of winning. Rhinos, however, are very short sighted and slow. This played against them when the poachers attacked. Even being at a small distance from a person or a tree, the animals could not recognize him. But the hearing of rhinos is excellent. Some hunters noted the ability of clumsy fat men to smell danger from a kilometer away and successfully hide.
The distinguishing feature of the giants, of course, was their quick temper. Being in a seemingly calm state, in a second the rhinoceros could go berserk and begin to rush at the workers of the zoo or reserve. There were frequent cases when, during their travels, safari tourists encountered an aggressive animal that literally turned their car over. Despite its slowness and clumsiness, the rhinoceros can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour or more.
So in a fair fight he always wins. It is known that sometimes rhinos collide with elephants, and usually these "fights" end fatally for one of the rivals. Most often, the reason for the dispute is the reluctance of one of the giants to give way to another. And, despite the fact that the elephant is much larger, his opponent always had a rather impressive weapon with him. As you know, the length of the black rhinoceros horn was at least 0.5 meters, so it could cause serious damage to a larger animal.injury.
There were four subspecies of this individual.
South Central Black Rhino
The habitat of this animal is from the central part of North Africa to the eastern part of South Africa. The largest number of individuals could be found in the southern region. In fact, this subspecies still exists, but is already listed in the Red Book, and its condition is currently assessed as critical.
Southwestern Black Rhino
This subspecies of rhinoceros is most adapted to living in dry places. Animals lived in Namibia and Angola, Southeast, Southwest and South Africa. At the moment, the subspecies is also on the verge of extinction.
East African Rhino
Historically, this subspecies was located on the territory of South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. Some East African rhinoceros can now be found in Kenya, but numbers are declining each year and are now critically endangered.
West African Black Rhino
Recall that the African black rhinoceros has now completely disappeared and is officially declared extinct. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the number of this species was only a few individuals, and scientists tried to preserve them to the last. After research in 2006, experts failed to find a single representative of the West African black rhinoceros. Therefore, in 2011, this subspecies was officially declared extinct.
What caused the disappearancerhinos?
First of all, this is all due to the vigorous activity of poachers in Africa, who sell not only the meat and skin of these amazing animals, but also actively hunt for their unique horns, the cost of which on the black market is a very impressive amount.
According to the comments of scientists, the main reason for the complete extinction of the black rhinoceros and the potential extinction of the white one is the negligent attitude on the part of the state to protect the giants in their habitats. Every year, more and more criminal gangs appear in Africa, which continue to exterminate the already few populations of rhinos and other endangered species.
According to the latest research by biologists, white rhinos, also living in northern Africa, are now on the verge of extinction. If no measures are taken in the near future to preserve the population of these giants, then very soon these amazing animals will simply not remain in the world. The black rhinoceros (photos are presented in the article) is truly an unprecedented creation of nature, and it is unfortunate that now it can only be seen in the pictures.
Conclusion
Sadly, but today on our planet about 40 species of animals are in critical condition or on the verge of extinction. If humanity continues to mercilessly exterminate the amazing representatives of nature, then soon there will simply be none left. Despite the fact that an active fight against poachers is now underway, groups of huntersconstantly destroying unique animals. Criminals are acquiring more and more new equipment and weapons to catch even the largest individuals. At the moment, the black rhinoceros has been declared extinct, but there are still many representatives of subspecies of this giant on Earth, which you can still try to save.
