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Go to www.protecttherhiosavetherhino.com or donate at savetherhio.org Music - "Watto's Deal / Kids at Play" by John Williams

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http://kids.sandiegozoo.org Meet an armored tank on four legs!

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Learn about Rhino horns and size including the black, white, sumatran, indian, javan rhinoceros.

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Explore our wide variety of animal facts and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom.

Fun Rhino Facts for Kids

Check out our range of fun rhinoceros facts for kids. Learn about the different species of rhinoceros, their thick skin, horns, weight and much more.

Read on and enjoy a variety of interesting information about rhinoceros.

The name rhinoceros means 'nose horn' and is often shortened to rhino.

There are five different species of rhinoceros, three native to southern Asia and two native to Africa. They are the Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros and Sumatran Rhinoceros.

All five species of rhinoceros can grow to weigh over 1000 kg (2200 lb).

White rhino can weigh over 3500 kg (7700 lb).

White rhinoceros are generally considered the second largest land mammal (after the elephant).

Three of the five rhinoceros species are listed as being critically endangered.

Rhinoceros have thick, protective skin.

Relative to their large body size, rhinoceros have small brains.

Rhinoceros horns are made from a protein called keratin, the same substance that fingernails and hair are made of.

Rhinoceros are often hunted by humans for their horns.

Rhinoceros are herbivores (plant eaters).

A group of rhinoceros is called a 'herd' or a 'crash'.

Despite their name, White Rhinoceros are actually gray.

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Fun Rhinoceros Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Rhino

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Explore our wide variety of animal facts and learn some fun trivia about our friends in the animal kingdom. Fun Rhino Facts for Kids Check out our range of fun rhinoceros facts for kids. Learn about the different species of rhinoceros, their thick skin, horns, weight and much more.

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Rhinos are ancient animals that have been on earth for thousands of years. Today, only five types of rhinos remain. The white and black rhinos live in Africa; Sumatran and Javan rhinos live in Indonesia, while one-horned rhinos live in India.

Rhinos sometimes attack if they're frightened. Because of this, people think they're mean or vicious. They are dangerous, but not because they're mean. Rhinos have poor eyesight so they're easily scared. An angry or scared rhino can run up to 40 miles per hour, destroying anything in its path.

Fun Facts about Rhinos for Kids

Rhinos are endangered. Poachers kill them for their horns, which some people believe can be used to make medicine.

White and black rhinos have two horns. Other rhinos have only one horn. The horns are made from keratin. Your fingernails and hair are made from keratin too. The horns are not magical and cannot be used for medicine. Rhinos use their horns to defend themselves.

Rhinos eat plants and leaves.

Rhinos have sensitive skin. It gets sunburned and insects hurt it. Rhinos roll in the mud to protect their skin.

Rhino Vocabulary

Learn More All About Rhinos

Check out this interesting rhino documentary:

A video to help understand how rhinos can be saved from extinction.

Rhino Q&A

Question: What are scientists doing to save rhinos from poachers?

Answer: Scientists are removing the rhinos' horns so poachers won't want them. Removing the horns doesn't hurt the rhinos.

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Question: Why do birds ride on rhinos?

Answer: Tick birds ride on rhinos, eating the bugs off a rhino's body. The ticks also squawk if danger approaches.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Rhinos info? Take the FREE & fun all about Rhinos quiz and download FREE Rhinos worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Rhinos are ancient animals that have been on earth for thousands of years. Today, only five types of rhinos remain. The white and black rhinos live in Africa; Sumatran and Javan rhinos live in Indonesia, while one-horned rhinos live in India. Rhinos sometimes attack if they're frightened.

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The horn of the rhino is not made of bone but is actually made from the same type of substance that hair and fingernails are made of: keratin. The horn is made of a mass of compacted hairs and is not attached to the skull. It will continue to grow all through the rhino's life.

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The horn of the rhino is not made of bone but is actually made from the same type of substance that hair and fingernails are made of: keratin. The horn is made of a mass of compacted hairs and is not attached to the skull. It will continue to grow all through the rhino's life.

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Learn all about one of our planet's coolest creatures with our ten top rhino facts!

Phylum: Chordata
Family name: Rhinocerotidae
Classification: Mammal
IUCN status: Black, Javan and Sumatran rhino: Critically endangered. White rhino: Near threatened. Indian rhino: Vulnerable.
Lifespan (in wild):
Weight: 500kg -2,500kg
Body length: 2.5m-4m long
Top speed:55km/hour
Diet: Herbivore Habitat: grassy plains, rainforests and swamps.

1) Our planet is home to five species of rhinoceros - the black rhino and the white rhino, which live in Africa, and the Sumatran, Javan and Indian (or greater one-horned) rhino, which inhabit the tropical forests and swamps of Asia.

2) These brilliant beasts are known for their awesome, giant horns that grow from their snouts - hence the name "rhinoceros', meaning "nose horn". Javan and Indian rhinos have one horn, where as the white, black and Sumatran rhinos have two.

3) These incredible creatures are some of the biggest animals in world! The largest of the five species is the white rhino, which can grow to 1.8m tall and and weigh a massive 2,500kg - that's the weight of 30 men!

4) Despite their huge size and strength, these bulky beasts don't prey on other animals for food. They're herbivores, and instead like to munch on lots of grass and plants at night, dawn and dusk.

5) During the heat of the day, these magnificent mammals can be found sleeping in the shade or wallowing in muddy pools to cool off. They love to get mucky, in fact! Mud protects their skin from the strong sun (like a natural sunblock) and wards off biting bugs, too.

6) For the most part, rhinoceroses are solitary animals and like to avoid each other. But some species, particularly the white rhino, may live in a group, known as a ' crash '. These crashes are usually made up of a female and her calves, although sometimes adult females (called cows) can be seen together, too.

7) Males (called ' bulls'), on the other hand, like to be left alone, unless in search of a female to breed with. They're very territorial, too, and mark out their area of land with, believe it or not, poop! In fact, rhinos often use pongy piles to communicate with each other, since each individual's dung smells unique.

8) They may rarely hang out with each other, but they spend a lot of time with their feathered friends! Rhinos are often seen with Oxpeckers (or 'tick birds') perched on their back, which live off the pesky parasitic insects living in the rhino's thick skin. The birds' loud cries also help alert their big buddies of potential danger, too!

9) Because of their huge bodies, strong horns and thick, armour-like skin, rhinos have no natural predators. Nevertheless, these brilliant beasts get frightened easily! When they feel threatened, they're instinct is to charge directly at whatever has spooked them - whether it be another animal or a harmless object!

10) Sadly, it's estimated that there are only around 29,000 rhinos left in the wild, compared to 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. The main threat to these beautiful animals is illegal hunting, largely because their horns are used in traditional folk medicine, particularly in Asia. To find out what's being done to protect the rhino - and how you can help, too! - charge over to worldwildlife.org.

Credits - Black rhino on green grass: Stu Porter, Dreamstime. Black rhino calf with mum: Altaoosthuizen, Dreamstime. Black rhino on yellow grass: Andreanita, Dreamtime. Indian rhino standing: Getty Images UK. Rhino mum and calf with zebras: Getty Images UK

What did you think of our rhino facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment, below!

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Fascinating rhino facts for kids | National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about one of our planet's coolest creatures with our ten top rhino facts! Phylum: Chordata Family name: Rhinocerotidae Classification: Mammal IUCN status: Black, Javan and Sumatran rhino: Critically endangered. White rhino: Near threatened. Indian rhino: Vulnerable. Lifespan (in wild): Weight: 500kg -2,500kg Body length: 2.5m-4m long Top speed:55km/hour Diet: Herbivore Habitat: grassy plains, rainforests and swamps.

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Learn about Rhino horns and size including the black, white, sumatran, indian, javan rhinoceros.

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Black rhino facts for kids, students and adults. Find out about this critically endangered African rhinoceros, including its habitat, diet, related animals and why it is threatened.

Be sure to watch the incredible video of a black rhino chasing a pack of African wild dogs away from a water hole!

Black Rhino Facts At A Glance

Black Rhino Facts: Introduction

The black rhinoceros is one of the two rhinoceros species found in Africa, the other being the white rhinoceros.

There are five species of rhinoceros in total. The three other species (the Indian, Javan and Sumatran rhinos) are found in Asia.

For much of the 20 th century, the black rhino was the most numerous rhino species. Today it is critically endangered, and fighting for its very survival. We'll take a look at the reasons behind this decline further down the page.

Meet the Black Rhino

Like all rhinos, the black rhino is a large, powerful animal. Weighing as much as a car, with tough, multi-layered skin that is over an inch thick in places, and armed with two formidable horns, it is no surprise that an adult black rhino has no natural predators.

The black rhino's massive body is held up by four relatively short legs. Each of its feet has three toes. (The black rhino is a member of Perissodactyla, a group of animals also known as odd-toed ungulates.)

Don't be deceived by the black rhino's bulky appearance; it is capable of charging at 34 mph (55 km/h).

The rhino's brain is relatively small in comparison to the size of its body.

Black Rhino Horns

The black rhino has two horns on its nose. In rare cases, a third, smaller, horn may be present.

The front horn is the longest. It grows to lengths of 60 cm (24 in), and may be even longer in some individuals.

The horns are made of a natural substance called keratin, the same substance from which our hair and nails are made.

Both male and female black rhinos have horns.

The black rhino uses its horns to defend itself and to attack rivals. The horns are also used for digging up roots and breaking off bits of foliage to eat.

How Big is the Black Rhino?

Both the white rhino (the largest rhino species) and the Indian rhino are larger than the black rhino.

However, the black rhino is still one of the largest land animals in the world! It stands 1.4 to 1.8 m (4.6 to 5.9 ft.) high at the shoulder. Its body is 3 to 3.75 m (9.8-12.3 ft.) in length.

The black rhino weighs from 800 to 1,400 kg (1,760 to 3,090 lb.); about the same as a car.

Black Rhino vs White Rhino

The black rhino is smaller than the white rhino, and has less of a hump above its front legs.

You might think that black and white rhinos could easily be told apart by their respective colors, but the names are misleading!

Despite its name, the black rhino is actually grey. The same color, in fact, as the white rhino. The species can't reliably be told apart by their color, which varies depending on the soil of the area they inhabit. (Their skin is also usually covered with dry mud, which doesn't help!)

The best way of telling the black rhino and the white rhino apart is by looking at their mouths. The black rhino has a hooked, beak-shaped upper lip whereas the white rhino has a wide, flat lip.

The difference between their lips reflects the difference in the species' feeding habits.

The black rhino is a browser, plucking food from plants above ground level.

The white rhino is a grazer, eating grass that grows close to the ground.

The black rhino's pointed upper lip is prehensile. This means that it is able to grab and manipulate objects. The black rhino uses its flexible lip to move plants closer to its mouth.

Confusing Names!

The black and white rhinos' confusing names stem from the difference between the shape of their lips. Early Dutch settlers used the Dutch word 'wijd', which means 'wide', to refer to the white rhino, because it has wider lips.

English speakers thought they were saying 'white' rather than 'wijd'. Therefore the only other rhino species in Africa became known as the 'black' rhino!

Relations

Rhinos are members of the order Perissodactyla, also known as the odd-toed ungulates. Other members of this group include horses and tapirs.

You can find out more about orders and other animal groups here: Animal Classification.

The black rhino is a member of the family Rhinocerotidae. This family contains all 5 extant (living) rhino species, together with numerous extinct species.

The black rhino has a number of subspecies, several of which are now extinct. Surviving subspecies include the eastern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli), south-central black rhinoceros ( D. b. minor) and south-western black rhinoceros ( D. b. occidentalis).

Black Rhino Facts: Where do Black Rhinos Live?

Black rhinos live in a number of warm habitats, including savannas, grasslands, woodlands and forests. They are reliant on an adequate supply of shrubs and trees, and a water supply.

Black rhinos are found in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroon, Malawi and Swaziland.

Diet: What do Black Rhinos Eat?

The black rhino's diet consists of leaves, branches, shoots, fruit and other plant material taken from trees and shrubs. Other animals benefit from their diet, as the lack of woody plants allows for grass to grow.

Oxpeckers

The black rhino is often seen with birds called oxpeckers sitting on its back. There are two species of oxpecker: the red and the yellow-billed oxpecker. To them, the black rhino is a walking restaurant, with ticks, insects and insect larvae all being found on its thick skin.

Scientists are unsure whether or not the rhino benefits from the oxpeckers' attention. If the relationship benefitted both species, it would be an example of ' mutualism '.

However, some believe that the birds are parasites, opening up wounds in their quest for food, or even feeding on the rhino's blood!

Black Rhino Behavior in the Wild

The black rhino doesn't have particularly good eyesight. It does, however, have good hearing, with large ears that are able to rotate towards the source of a sound. It also has an excellent sense of smell.

The black rhino is known as being the most aggressive rhino species. It has been known to charge at trees, rocks and termite mounds that, due to its weak eyesight, were perceived to be a threat. The black rhino is best approached with care: it will also charge at humans and vehicles.

Watch the video below to see what a black rhino thinks of the wild dogs it finds at its water hole!

Not a Social Animal

The black rhino is usually solitary and territorial. The species' habitat tends to influence its social behavior, and black rhinos have been observed drinking together at water holes. Young black rhinos will also live with mature individuals.

Fighting To the Death

Fights often break out between black rhinos. These can often prove fatal, and are responsible for a high number of deaths. A staggering 50% of male and 30% of female black rhinos die from injuries sustained during fights.

Most at risk are young and old males who inadvertently stray into the territory of a dominant male. These conflicts usually result in the younger or weaker rhino being killed or injured.

Social Interaction

The black rhino relies on its excellent sense of smell to find out what its neighbors are up to. Males mark their territory both with urine and with dung piles known as 'middens'. A female's urine and dung tells males whether or not she's interested in mating.

Black rhinos can tell another black rhino's age, sex and physical condition just by sniffing its dung. Don't try this at home!

The black rhino also scent marks trees by rubbing its head or horns against the trunk.

The black rhino is active during both at day and at night. Around midday, however, it will usually be found resting in the shade of a tree or large rock.

Black Rhino Facts: Family Life

Black rhinos usually only come together in order to mate.

Scent marks left by a female will alert the male that she is in season (ready to mate). He will then seek her out, even scraping her dung to prevent other males from locating her. Males will fight one another for access to a female.

Breeding couples can stay together for periods of a few days to up to 30 days.

The gestation period (how long a female is pregnant) of a black rhino is 15 months. When ready to give birth, a female will make her way to a secure, secluded spot. She will give birth to a single calf.

The calf feeds on its mother's milk for around 2 months. The mother will aggressively defend her calf against predators, which include hyenas and lions.

The calf stays with its mother until she is ready to mate again. At this point the mother will begin to reject the calf, although female calves will occasionally stay and form small groups with their mother and siblings.

Female black rhinos have calves every two to three years.

Black Rhino Lifespan

The lifespan of a black rhino in the wild is between 25 and 40 years. In captivity this increases to around 45 years.

Black Rhino Predators

Black rhinos have no natural predators, although calves and young rhinos occasionally fall prey to lions. Even adult black rhinos can be taken by crocodiles, but this is a rare occurrence.

Are Black Rhinos Endangered?

The black rhino was once the most numerous of all rhinos, with a population of around 850,000 in the wild. Today its population is a fraction of this, and the species is now rated critically endangered by the IUCN.

Why Is The Black Rhino Critically Endangered?

Historically, the black rhino was heavily hunted, reducing its numbers in the wild. During the 20 th century, much of the species' natural habitat was cleared to make way for farms and towns, leading to a drastic decline in its population.

By 1960, there were only 100,000 black rhinos left. Heavy poaching between 1960 and 1995 reduced the already dwindling population by around 98%. At its lowest, the black rhino population numbered just 2,410 individuals.

The black rhino is targeted by poachers for its horns. The horns are used in Middle Eastern nations to make handles for a certain type of ceremonial dagger. In China and other Asian countries, the horns are ground up and used as a medicine.

As a conservation measure, the black rhino's horns are sometimes removed in order to prevent its being targeted by poachers. However, this solution is far from ideal as the rhino is unable to live as effectively without its main weapons and tools.

Illegal hunting continues to be the biggest threat to the black rhino today.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to strict protection and monitoring of the species, the black rhino's population is increasing.

A 2010 report found that there were 4,880 black rhinos alive in the wild, and an additional 240 in captivity throughout the world.

Black Rhino Facts: Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed learning about the black rhinoceros. Although its numbers have begun to increase in recent years, there is still a long way to go before it is out of danger. Why not look into ways you can help?

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Black Rhino Facts For Kids: Rhinoceros Pictures, Information & Video

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Black rhino facts for kids, students and adults. Find out about this critically endangered African rhinoceros, including its habitat, diet, related animals and why it is threatened. Be sure to watch the incredible video of a black rhino chasing a pack of African wild dogs away from a water hole!

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The ultimate goal of the relocation project, called Rhinos Without Borders, is to move a hundred rhinos by next year-and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert have been helping out with the massive project.

On the day of the big move, the Jouberts and their team secured the rhinos in crates and loaded them onto a cargo plane, which flew the animals to Botswana's Maun International Airport.

After landing, the crates containing the rhinos were placed on trucks. Then the animals were escorted by dozens of soldiers to northern Botswana's Okavango Delta. Along the way, the group had to cross several rivers, and at one point a wheel fell off one of the trucks. To continue on, the rhinos onboard the disabled vehicle had to be moved by a crane to another truck.

Less than 24 hours from the start of their trip, the rhinos were finally released into their new home. The team has plans to relocate more rhinos soon-and with such a difficult journey to make, it's a good thing these animals have a tough skin!
Text from "First Rhinos in Massive African Airlift Released in Botswana" by Brian Clark Howard, NGS Staff Adapted by Rose Davidson, NGS Staff

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The ultimate goal of the relocation project, called Rhinos Without Borders, is to move a hundred rhinos by next year-and National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert have been helping out with the massive project.

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Black rhino facts for kids, students and adults. Find out about this critically endangered African rhinoceros, including its habitat, diet, related animals and why it is threatened.

Be sure to watch the incredible video of a black rhino chasing a pack of African wild dogs away from a water hole!

Black Rhino Facts At A Glance

Black Rhino Facts: Introduction

The black rhinoceros is one of the two rhinoceros species found in Africa, the other being the white rhinoceros.

There are five species of rhinoceros in total. The three other species (the Indian, Javan and Sumatran rhinos) are found in Asia.

For much of the 20 th century, the black rhino was the most numerous rhino species. Today it is critically endangered, and fighting for its very survival. We'll take a look at the reasons behind this decline further down the page.

Meet the Black Rhino

Like all rhinos, the black rhino is a large, powerful animal. Weighing as much as a car, with tough, multi-layered skin that is over an inch thick in places, and armed with two formidable horns, it is no surprise that an adult black rhino has no natural predators.

The black rhino's massive body is held up by four relatively short legs. Each of its feet has three toes. (The black rhino is a member of Perissodactyla, a group of animals also known as odd-toed ungulates.)

Don't be deceived by the black rhino's bulky appearance; it is capable of charging at 34 mph (55 km/h).

The rhino's brain is relatively small in comparison to the size of its body.

Black Rhino Horns

The black rhino has two horns on its nose. In rare cases, a third, smaller, horn may be present.

The front horn is the longest. It grows to lengths of 60 cm (24 in), and may be even longer in some individuals.

The horns are made of a natural substance called keratin, the same substance from which our hair and nails are made.

Both male and female black rhinos have horns.

The black rhino uses its horns to defend itself and to attack rivals. The horns are also used for digging up roots and breaking off bits of foliage to eat.

How Big is the Black Rhino?

Both the white rhino (the largest rhino species) and the Indian rhino are larger than the black rhino.

However, the black rhino is still one of the largest land animals in the world! It stands 1.4 to 1.8 m (4.6 to 5.9 ft.) high at the shoulder. Its body is 3 to 3.75 m (9.8-12.3 ft.) in length.

The black rhino weighs from 800 to 1,400 kg (1,760 to 3,090 lb.); about the same as a car.

Black Rhino vs White Rhino

The black rhino is smaller than the white rhino, and has less of a hump above its front legs.

You might think that black and white rhinos could easily be told apart by their respective colors, but the names are misleading!

Despite its name, the black rhino is actually grey. The same color, in fact, as the white rhino. The species can't reliably be told apart by their color, which varies depending on the soil of the area they inhabit. (Their skin is also usually covered with dry mud, which doesn't help!)

The best way of telling the black rhino and the white rhino apart is by looking at their mouths. The black rhino has a hooked, beak-shaped upper lip whereas the white rhino has a wide, flat lip.

The difference between their lips reflects the difference in the species' feeding habits.

The black rhino is a browser, plucking food from plants above ground level.

The white rhino is a grazer, eating grass that grows close to the ground.

The black rhino's pointed upper lip is prehensile. This means that it is able to grab and manipulate objects. The black rhino uses its flexible lip to move plants closer to its mouth.

Confusing Names!

The black and white rhinos' confusing names stem from the difference between the shape of their lips. Early Dutch settlers used the Dutch word 'wijd', which means 'wide', to refer to the white rhino, because it has wider lips.

English speakers thought they were saying 'white' rather than 'wijd'. Therefore the only other rhino species in Africa became known as the 'black' rhino!

Relations

Rhinos are members of the order Perissodactyla, also known as the odd-toed ungulates. Other members of this group include horses and tapirs.

You can find out more about orders and other animal groups here: Animal Classification.

The black rhino is a member of the family Rhinocerotidae. This family contains all 5 extant (living) rhino species, together with numerous extinct species.

The black rhino has a number of subspecies, several of which are now extinct. Surviving subspecies include the eastern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli), south-central black rhinoceros ( D. b. minor) and south-western black rhinoceros ( D. b. occidentalis).

Black Rhino Facts: Where do Black Rhinos Live?

Black rhinos live in a number of warm habitats, including savannas, grasslands, woodlands and forests. They are reliant on an adequate supply of shrubs and trees, and a water supply.

Black rhinos are found in Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroon, Malawi and Swaziland.

Diet: What do Black Rhinos Eat?

The black rhino's diet consists of leaves, branches, shoots, fruit and other plant material taken from trees and shrubs. Other animals benefit from their diet, as the lack of woody plants allows for grass to grow.

Oxpeckers

The black rhino is often seen with birds called oxpeckers sitting on its back. There are two species of oxpecker: the red and the yellow-billed oxpecker. To them, the black rhino is a walking restaurant, with ticks, insects and insect larvae all being found on its thick skin.

Scientists are unsure whether or not the rhino benefits from the oxpeckers' attention. If the relationship benefitted both species, it would be an example of ' mutualism '.

However, some believe that the birds are parasites, opening up wounds in their quest for food, or even feeding on the rhino's blood!

Black Rhino Behavior in the Wild

The black rhino doesn't have particularly good eyesight. It does, however, have good hearing, with large ears that are able to rotate towards the source of a sound. It also has an excellent sense of smell.

The black rhino is known as being the most aggressive rhino species. It has been known to charge at trees, rocks and termite mounds that, due to its weak eyesight, were perceived to be a threat. The black rhino is best approached with care: it will also charge at humans and vehicles.

Watch the video below to see what a black rhino thinks of the wild dogs it finds at its water hole!

Not a Social Animal

The black rhino is usually solitary and territorial. The species' habitat tends to influence its social behavior, and black rhinos have been observed drinking together at water holes. Young black rhinos will also live with mature individuals.

Fighting To the Death

Fights often break out between black rhinos. These can often prove fatal, and are responsible for a high number of deaths. A staggering 50% of male and 30% of female black rhinos die from injuries sustained during fights.

Most at risk are young and old males who inadvertently stray into the territory of a dominant male. These conflicts usually result in the younger or weaker rhino being killed or injured.

Social Interaction

The black rhino relies on its excellent sense of smell to find out what its neighbors are up to. Males mark their territory both with urine and with dung piles known as 'middens'. A female's urine and dung tells males whether or not she's interested in mating.

Black rhinos can tell another black rhino's age, sex and physical condition just by sniffing its dung. Don't try this at home!

The black rhino also scent marks trees by rubbing its head or horns against the trunk.

The black rhino is active during both at day and at night. Around midday, however, it will usually be found resting in the shade of a tree or large rock.

Black Rhino Facts: Family Life

Black rhinos usually only come together in order to mate.

Scent marks left by a female will alert the male that she is in season (ready to mate). He will then seek her out, even scraping her dung to prevent other males from locating her. Males will fight one another for access to a female.

Breeding couples can stay together for periods of a few days to up to 30 days.

The gestation period (how long a female is pregnant) of a black rhino is 15 months. When ready to give birth, a female will make her way to a secure, secluded spot. She will give birth to a single calf.

The calf feeds on its mother's milk for around 2 months. The mother will aggressively defend her calf against predators, which include hyenas and lions.

The calf stays with its mother until she is ready to mate again. At this point the mother will begin to reject the calf, although female calves will occasionally stay and form small groups with their mother and siblings.

Female black rhinos have calves every two to three years.

Black Rhino Lifespan

The lifespan of a black rhino in the wild is between 25 and 40 years. In captivity this increases to around 45 years.

Black Rhino Predators

Black rhinos have no natural predators, although calves and young rhinos occasionally fall prey to lions. Even adult black rhinos can be taken by crocodiles, but this is a rare occurrence.

Are Black Rhinos Endangered?

The black rhino was once the most numerous of all rhinos, with a population of around 850,000 in the wild. Today its population is a fraction of this, and the species is now rated critically endangered by the IUCN.

Why Is The Black Rhino Critically Endangered?

Historically, the black rhino was heavily hunted, reducing its numbers in the wild. During the 20 th century, much of the species' natural habitat was cleared to make way for farms and towns, leading to a drastic decline in its population.

By 1960, there were only 100,000 black rhinos left. Heavy poaching between 1960 and 1995 reduced the already dwindling population by around 98%. At its lowest, the black rhino population numbered just 2,410 individuals.

The black rhino is targeted by poachers for its horns. The horns are used in Middle Eastern nations to make handles for a certain type of ceremonial dagger. In China and other Asian countries, the horns are ground up and used as a medicine.

As a conservation measure, the black rhino's horns are sometimes removed in order to prevent its being targeted by poachers. However, this solution is far from ideal as the rhino is unable to live as effectively without its main weapons and tools.

Illegal hunting continues to be the biggest threat to the black rhino today.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to strict protection and monitoring of the species, the black rhino's population is increasing.

A 2010 report found that there were 4,880 black rhinos alive in the wild, and an additional 240 in captivity throughout the world.

Black Rhino Facts: Conclusion

We hope that you have enjoyed learning about the black rhinoceros. Although its numbers have begun to increase in recent years, there is still a long way to go before it is out of danger. Why not look into ways you can help?

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Black Rhino Facts For Kids: Rhinoceros Pictures, Information & Video

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Black rhino facts for kids, students and adults. Find out about this critically endangered African rhinoceros, including its habitat, diet, related animals and why it is threatened. Be sure to watch the incredible video of a black rhino chasing a pack of African wild dogs away from a water hole!

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Rhinos are ancient animals that have been on earth for thousands of years. Today, only five types of rhinos remain. The white and black rhinos live in Africa; Sumatran and Javan rhinos live in Indonesia, while one-horned rhinos live in India.

Rhinos sometimes attack if they're frightened. Because of this, people think they're mean or vicious. They are dangerous, but not because they're mean. Rhinos have poor eyesight so they're easily scared. An angry or scared rhino can run up to 40 miles per hour, destroying anything in its path.

Fun Facts about Rhinos for Kids

Rhinos are endangered. Poachers kill them for their horns, which some people believe can be used to make medicine.

White and black rhinos have two horns. Other rhinos have only one horn. The horns are made from keratin. Your fingernails and hair are made from keratin too. The horns are not magical and cannot be used for medicine. Rhinos use their horns to defend themselves.

Rhinos eat plants and leaves.

Rhinos have sensitive skin. It gets sunburned and insects hurt it. Rhinos roll in the mud to protect their skin.

Rhino Vocabulary

Learn More All About Rhinos

Check out this interesting rhino documentary:

A video to help understand how rhinos can be saved from extinction.

Rhino Q&A

Question: What are scientists doing to save rhinos from poachers?

Answer: Scientists are removing the rhinos' horns so poachers won't want them. Removing the horns doesn't hurt the rhinos.

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Question: Why do birds ride on rhinos?

Answer: Tick birds ride on rhinos, eating the bugs off a rhino's body. The ticks also squawk if danger approaches.

Enjoyed the Easy Science for Kids Website all about Rhinos info? Take the FREE & fun all about Rhinos quiz and download FREE Rhinos worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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Rhinos are ancient animals that have been on earth for thousands of years. Today, only five types of rhinos remain. The white and black rhinos live in Africa; Sumatran and Javan rhinos live in Indonesia, while one-horned rhinos live in India. Rhinos sometimes attack if they're frightened.

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how many different kinds of rhinos are there

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Click here for more animal facts Rhinoceros are an endagered species Rhinos can grow to be 6ft tall and 11ft long They can weigh over 7,700 lbs Rhinos are herbivores, plant eaters Rhinos liv...

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Factsheets and activities about the five rhino species

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Fun Facts about Rhinoceros. They have a keratin outgrowth right upon their nose and you know what it's called? A horn. That's what their name means too... Most animals have them on top of their heads and rhinos have them on their nose.

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The Rhino Song,  Fun Evidenced Based Learning

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http://www.earth-touch.com Check out this brilliant animated infographic about one of the world's worst wildlife crimes: rhino poaching. Wildlife conservationists say rhinos could become extinct in the next few decades as poachers continue to kill these endangered animals for their horns.

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Saving Rhinos raises public awareness about the illegal trade in rhino horn, rhino poaching, and rhino conservation. Help share this urgent message: Rhino horn is NOT medicine. Educational & public awareness materials available at savingrhinos.org & rhinoconservation.org.

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RHINO: Animals for children. Kids videos. Kindergarten | Preschool learning

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RHINO | Animal videos especially made for children. Made in the UK. Quality & educational videos.