Eastern black rhinoceros

The eastern black rhinoceros, also known as the East African black rhinoceros or eastern hook-lipped rhinoceros, is a critically endangered subspecies of the black rhinoceros. Due to extensive poaching for their horns, their population has decreased by 90% over the last three generations. As of 2017, these rhinos are primarily found in Kenya, Rwanda, and northern Tanzania, with a small population also residing in South Africa, though outside their natural range. Notably, the eastern black rhinoceros is the only black rhino subspecies kept in zoos.

You can identify this subspecies by its longer, leaner, and more curved horn, as well as its grooved skin. They tend to be more aggressive than other black rhino subspecies. Eastern black rhinos are browsers, meaning they feed on leaves, shoots, and branches, and they typically inhabit highland forests and savannas.

The greatest threats to their survival are illegal poaching for their horns, leading to a significant population decline. Issues such as imbalanced sex ratios, emigration, and continued poaching have adversely impacted their ability to reproduce and grow in numbers. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these magnificent animals and ensure they continue to exist in the wild.