The rhino is a huge, ungainly and not so pretty animal that is clearly out of prehistoric times. It however sits pretty, amongst the big five game- the others being leopard, buffalo, lion and elephant - and is indeed one of Africa's most celebrated fauna.
Properly known as rhinoceros, it is the second largest land mammal, and is exceeded in build only by the elephant. The African rhino has in recent years made a spectacular comeback from near extinction, and has as a result been widely adopted as a symbol of wildlife conservation efforts.
The rhino has a long and complex history. Scientists believe that it came into existence about 50 million years ago. Looking at its current fortunes, it is hard to imagine that this beast was once an abundant species that roamed the earth with no care in the world. Its varied habitats included Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and even the arctic. Today it is confined to Africa, and a few locations in Asia.
The rhino's primogenitors came in various shapes and size. This includes the paraceratherium - that resembled the giraffe, and believed to be the largest mammal to ever exist on earth; telecoeras -a one horned water rhino that looked like a crossbreed between a rhino and a hippo; and, the coelodonta antiquitatis -commonly known as the woolly rhino. The woolly rhino is the most popular of the prehistoric rhinos, and its fossils have been discovered all around Europe and Asia preserved in ancient ice.
Today only 5 species of rhino remain, and which in 2005 numbered 17,700 animals in the wild. The Javan Rhino (60) and Sumatran Rhino (300) species of the Asian Rhino live in tropical forests in Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia, while the Indian Rhino (2,400) inhabits the open plains of two of India's most important national parks.
The African Rhinos' are categorized into two species: the White Rhino (11,330) and the Black Rhino (3,600). Except for the White Rhino, all other species of rhino are considered as critically endangered. Rhinos in captivity are estimated to number 1,200.
The rhino is a gauche looking herbivore, housed in a cask shaped body. It has stump-like legs, each having three huge toes. It has a tough skin, - a blend of normal mammalian skin and cartilage, which gives it an archaic armour-plated appearance. The rhinos most distinct feature is its horn, and in all species either one or two projects from its snout. The horn is primarily a defensive weapon, and is fundamental to the survival of each individual.
Horn size varies with species - ranging from mere snout bumps to poling heights. The horn continues to grow throughout an animal's life. Unlike other horned animals, the rhino's horn lacks in bonny matter. It is composed of numerous keratin fibres -the same stuff that makes up hair. Contrary to what you may expect, the horn is not rooted in the skull, but is permanently ingrained into the skin. For this reason, its removal poses a serious threat to the life of a rhino.
The rhino's horn is its glory and curse - the reason that has set the animal on the verge of annihilation. Between the 1970's and early 1990's, the animal was poached to near extinction and is today classified among the world's most endangered species.
Rhinos are largely solitary and territorial, but marked home ranges sometimes overlap, allowing sharing of water holes and feeding spots. They usually demarcate territory by spraying urine with the tail, certain that another rhino will easily pickup the scent and have the good sense to move on. Males will ferociously fight off trespassing males, while they will mate with any oestrous females crossing into their territory. The females usually share their territories with their young ones for as long as it takes, or until the next calf is born.
Rhinos have a sharp sense of smell and an acute hearing ability, perhaps to make up for very poor eyesight. The rhino's communication skills cover grunts, snorts, and growls.
The rhino is notorious for its short-fused temper and will charge without warning when it feels threatened or clustered. Due to its poor eyesight, it will readily charge at any sudden or suspicious movements. An angry rhino charges with its head lowered and horn pointed towards the enemy. This massive animal can dash at amazing speeds of up to 50 km/h, giving a very hard time to those caught in its path.
The rhino has an all-weather friend in the ox-pecker; the bird you will find constantly perched on its back. This bird rids the rhino of pesky blood-sucking ticks, while at the same time is ever ready to issue a noisy warning to it benefactor in times of danger.
The African white and black rhinos are not actually of either colour- they are both of varying shades of grey. Both species have two horns; the front one nearer the nose, while the rear one sits right above the eyes. The anterior horn is usually longer and thicker than the hind one, and at best towers to an impressive 5.2 ft.
The white rhino acquired its name from the Afrikaans word 'weit', which means 'wide' -on account of its broad square muzzle adapted for grazing. To some European settlers to southern Africa, 'weit' sounded more like 'white', and the name 'white rhino' gradually stuck.
The white rhino is actually a light shade of grey. It is the largest and most numerous of all surviving rhino species. It can grow up to 13 ft long -from snout to posterior-, and can reach to a shoulder height of 6 ft, and weighs on average 2,500 kg.
The white rhino prefers to live in grasslands and savannah woodlands. Here, it may under favourable conditions fruitfully live to an age of 50 years. It mainly lives a solitary existence, except for mothers and their calves, which live together for the calf's first 2-5 years. Females mature and are ready to breed at the age of 6-7 years. They endure a gestation period of 16 months, and calve in intervals of 2-3 years. Males are useful for reproduction only after reaching the age of 10-12 years.
This white rhino classifies into two subspecies: the Northern White Rhino and the Southern White Rhino. The northern subspecies is critically endangered and is on the brink of fading into oblivion. At last count, there were less than surviving 10 individuals of this subspecies at the Garamba National Park in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In contrast, the Southern White Rhino is doing pretty well, and in 2005 were estimated at 11,330. Starting with only 20 animals in 1895 in South Africa's Umfolozi area, the subspecies has managed to recover strongly and is now classified as a low risk species. Overall, about 90% of the white rhino population is found in South Africa, with smaller numbers in Kenya, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The Black Rhino has only escaped total decimation by a whisker. It is estimated that in the period, 1970-1992, numbers declined by 96%- from 65,000 to 2,300. From the mid 1990's, the enemies of the black rhino were held back and in 2005 the population had risen to 3,600. Conservationists in Africa, and abroad have sustained a good fight, to keep the species propagating.
The black rhino is classified as Critically Endangered and features in the IUCN 1996 Red List of Threatened Animals. But the resurgence of the White Rhino in South Africa, gives hope that the black rhino will yet thrive again.
The black rhino was so named simply to differentiate it from the white rhino. It is a darker shade of grey and in the rhino family is the second largest in size. It sometimes looks darker as a result of wallowing in mud; something it must do to cool off, as rhinos do not sweat.
The black rhino is hook-lipped, which enables it to browse through trees and shrubs, thus feeding on a more diverse and healthier diet. It is smaller than the white rhino; it grows up to a length of 12.5 ft, 5.5 ft to shoulder height and on average weighs 1,350 kg.
The black rhino's life span is curtailed at about 40 years. Relative to the white rhino, it matures at a much younger age of 4-7 years for females and 7-10 years for males. Females may successfully calf at intervals of 2 ½ to 4 years, with a 15-16 month gestation period.
Their semi-social life is not as pronounced as that of the white rhino; they mostly live in pairs or small groups of mothers and calves. But males are mostly solitary. The black rhino species falls into four subspecies: the western, southern-western, eastern and south-central subspecies.
The Western Black Rhino may be on its last legs, as only a measly population of less than seven separated individuals roam the savannah woodlands of northern Cameroon. Their separation has raised serious practical concerns over the possibility of propagating. This kind is rated as Critically Endangered, but conservationists have not given up, and the International Rhino Foundation (www.rhinos-irf.org) together with others have in great urgency stepped in to try and save the situation.
The Eastern Black Rhinos survival prospects are better than those of the western subspecies. The subspecies is notorious for its aggressive nature. It differs slightly in appearance from the other black rhinos, as it is slightly leaner and longer and has a more curved and elongated horn. This breed has found a favourable refuge in Kenya's Lake Nakuru and Tsavo National Parks. There are also small populations living in Tanzania and Rwanda and a single one in South Africa. Only about 520 eastern black rhino's exist in the wild, while another 175 are in captivity.
The South-Western Black Rhino is more adaptive to the arid and semi-arid areas and has found home in the arid savannahs of southern Africa. This subspecies has an upright horn and even tougher skin than other rhinos' to suit the climatic conditions. About 1,300 south-westerns roam the wild, and none is held in captivity.
Though still in unacceptably low numbers, the southern-central subspecies is the most prolific of the black rhinos; about 1,800 exist in the wild. It is mainly found in South Africa, and smaller populations in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. This subspecies has shown tremendous improvement in well being over time, though it can hardly be said to be safely out of the woods.
Overall, the popu lation of black rhino was estimated at 3,600 in 2005, mainly in Namibia (34%), South Africa (36%), Zimbabwe (15%) and Kenya (12%).
In southern Africa, the best way to catch up with both white and black rhinos is by taking a South Africa safari. Here, a good location will be Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in central Zululand. In eastern Africa, on a Kenya safari you are bound to come across fine specimens of black rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park. At other locations in Kenya, rhinos are not numerous enough to guarantee a sighting.
The rhino is a huge beast and few animals in the wild can match it strength and ferocity. Man is its only mortal enemy and poaching continues to be the greatest menace facing the African rhino. For so long, the rhino has been hunted for its horn, which is believed by some- particularly in greater Asia to be of untold medicinal value. In the Middle East, the horn is converted into prized dagger handles whose black market price exceeds that of gold.
There are many reasons rhino poaching continues in Africa, with poverty, war, civil strife and corruption being leading causes. And with high prices on offer, poachers do not hesitate to seize any chance to make a living. It is possible that sustained progress will only be made once governments in the African countries hosting the rhino develop increased capacity to keep law and order, and reduce poverty so as to arbitrate between the interests of man and beast.
Resources are also needed to effect occasional translocations - which can be quite pricey. This measure can boost the genetic diversity of rhino populations. In the long run, this will raise the rhino's fertility and reduce mortality rates- sometimes issues of serious concern. Today the biggest number of Africa' rhinos live under the authorities careful watch in protected areas. It calls for constant vigilance to keep away the blood-soaked hands of the rhino's enemies.
The progress made in recent years in saving the rhino has resulted from closer collaboration particularly between governments, conservation organisations and managers of private and public sanctuaries.
Some of the initiatives have involved trying to get local communities in the territories where rhinos live to side with the rhino, while fostering regional cooperation and deepening the capacities of wildlife conservation agencies to protect the rhino.
The development of safe techniques of rhino translocation has helped conservation by easing the introduction of populations in new areas. The most radical conservation approach involves attempts to start dialogue with governments and traders, with the aim of setting up a regime of limited legal rhino horn trade.
In the last 100 years, so much of the African rhino's blood has been spilled. Yet victory is still far off and the future of this momentous beast still hangs in the balance.
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped thousands
of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on Kenya safari and tours at the website. http://www.africapoint.com/tours1/kentour.htm
