By James Arthur Mwangi
Rhinos are the second largest land mammals behind elephants. There are two sub-species of the rhino: the White and the Black Rhino. The Black Rhino is found in Africa and derives its name from the dark-colored soil that often covers its skin after wallowing in mud. It has a hooked upper lip and is adapted for grazing. The hooked lip enables it to grasp and hold branches of shrubs. It can live for 30 to 35 years in the wild and over 40 when in captivity. This is the endangered of the two sub-species.
Black Rhinos are a native of the Eastern and Central areas of Africa found in: Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Cameroon. An adult weighs between 1.8 and 3 tonnes and the females are slightly smaller. Black Rhinos are being pushed to extinction due to habitat loss caused by human encroachment.
As man clears more bush to satisfy food production the more he is pushing them to extinction. Available markets in Asian countries and organized poaching gangs have really endangered their existence. According to the International Rhino Foundation report from 2003, their population has slightly recovered to over 3,600 comparing their population back in 1993 when their population was in rapid decline.
Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine by herbalists. They claim it cures fevers, revives comatose patients and boosts male sexual stamina and fertility. No reported evidence for any of the above has been confirmed by medical science.
The White rhino is the less endangered species. It's up to everybody to stop buying or receiving anything purported to be made of ivory. Save rhinos, save the future.
Arthur is a researcher and writer on wildlife, tours and travels. For more of his work, please visit his site at http://www.getinfoathome.com/?p=21
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