Swahili Name: Faru

The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis; also colloquially, Black Rhino) is a mammal in the order Perissodactyla, native to the eastern and central areas of Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Like all species of rhinoceros, it is on the endangered species list due to excessive poaching for their horns, which are mostly used in dagger handles as a symbol of wealth in many countries, and as a febrifuge in Chinese traditional medicine. Contrary to popular opinion, only small amounts of the horns are consumed as an aphrodisiac.

An adult Black Rhinoceros stands 1.4 to 1.7m high at the shoulder and is anywhere from 3 to 3.65 m in length. An adult weighs from 800 to 1400 kg, with the females being smaller than the males. Two horns on the skull are made of keratin with the larger front horn typically 50 cm long, exceptionally up to 140 cm. Occasionally, a third smaller horn may develop. Skin colour depends more on local soil conditions and their wallowing behaviour than anything else, so many black rhinos are typically not truly black in colour.

The Black Rhinoceros is slightly smaller than the White Rhinoceros, and has a pointed, prehensile upper lip, which they use to grasp leaves and twigs when feeding. White Rhinoceros have square lips used for grazing grass. The Black Rhinoceros can also be recognized from the White Rhinoceros by its smaller skull and ears and its more pronounced forehead. Black Rhinoceros also do not have a distinguishing shoulder hump like the White Rhinoceros.

The adults are solitary in nature, coming together only for mating. Mating does not have a seasonal pattern but births tend to be towards the end of the rainy season in drier environments. The gestation period is 15 to 16 months; the single calf weighs about 35 to 50 kg at birth, and can follow its mother around after just three days. The mother and calf stay together for 2 to 3 years until the next calf is born; female calves may stay longer, forming small groups. The young are occasionally taken by hyenas and lions. Sexual maturity is reached from 5 years old for females, from 7 years for males, and the life expectancy in natural conditions (without poaching pressure) is from 35 to 50 years.