5 INCREDIBLE PLACES TO SEE LEOPARDS IN THE WILD
15 September 20255 INCREDIBLE PLACES TO SEE LEOPARDS IN THE WILD
15 September 2025
LEARN ALL ABOUT THE BLACK RHINO
SPECIES FOCUS
When we talk about endangered species, one of the most iconic animals that comes to mind is the Black Rhino. With its prehistoric appearance, powerful build, and (mostly) solitary behaviour, this animal has captured the fascination of conservationists, wildlife photographers and wildlife enthusiasts around the world. Being one of just two sub-species of rhino found in Africa, the Black Rhino is well known for its aggression and elusiveness. But how much do we really know about this majestic animal? I though it best to write a blog about this people so we can all learn more about the Black Rhino. In this blog we will cover the Black Rhino in depth from its habitat to its behaviour, let's dive straight in.
QUICK FACTS
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Black Rhinos are generally considered to be mostly solitary animals, with a social structure that is quite unique and different to that of herd animals like elephants or zebra. Most adult Black Rhinos prefer to live alone, actively maintaining and defending territories. However, their social structure is a lot more complicated than what it might seem.
Adult males are highly territorial. They participate in active patrolling of their territories while scent marking by urinating or dung piles, and they will violently defend these territories against trespassing males.
These male territories will overlap with the ranges of females, and the dominant male will always welcome females into his territory. Females tend to be less aggressive towards other females but would still prefer to be by themselves, so these interactions would normally be short lived.
The strongest social bond between Black Rhinos would be that between a mother and calf. After a gestation period of 16 months the calf would stay with the mother for between 2-3 years, until it is weened and independent.
COMMUNICATION
Although Black Rhinos are mostly solitary, they have a rich system of communication to interact with each other, even when they don't even see each other or are in close proximity.
Black Rhinos rely heavily on smell to communicate, probably more so than most other animals. The most fascinating for me would be how they communicate through dung piles referred to as middens.
The male will use these middens as border posts of their territory. They will revisit each midden every few days, and what will happen is they would walk up to it and smell all around it to see who visited his midden while he was away and if he is happy that there were no trespasser males he will defecate on the pile and then kick it all open with his hind legs, covering the whole midden with fresh dung and also get the smell on his hind legs, then as he continues to patrols his territory he will take his scent with him.
Females will also make use of these "toilets" but the difference is that they will only defecate and leave without kicking it open. What I find most amazing is that the male will be able to, by just smelling, tell what the sexual state of the female is as well as how fresh it is, what individual it is and more.
CONSERVATION STATUS
The Black Rhino is currently listed as critically endangered IUCN Red List, meaning it faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
We have also noted a massive decline in Black Rhino numbers over the last century. In the early 1900's, there were an estimated 100 000 Black Rhinos across Africa. By the early 1990's, due to intensive poaching, that number had plummeted to fewer than 2500 individuals.
This was mostly due to the following reasons:
- Poaching- the biggest threat to these iconic animals would be the illegal poaching for their horns, driven by demand in some parts of Asia where rhino horn is falsely believed to have medical value or used as a status symbol
- Habitat loss- Expanding human populations, agri-culture and infrastructure development have led to habitat loss, reducing the space for black rhinos to survive and breed.
- Low Reproduction Rate- These rhinos have a very slow breeding cycle- females give birth only every 2.5-3 years.
Although over the last few years we have been seeing an increase in the Black Rhino population because people are spending a lot of money on protecting them, people are also more aware of rhino poaching so more vigilant and multiple reserves have Black Rhino breeding and relocation programs which are successful for the most parts.
THE BEST PLACES TO SEE BLACK RHINO
Although sharing locations of Black Rhino sighting has become for most parts a hush hush situation as you never know when the wrong people might overhear you and indirectly you contribute to poaching.
But your best chances would be Etosha National Park, Namibia or Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.
These animals are rare and elusive and because of the poaching situation still being unstable and vulnerable, every time you are on safari and see a Black Rhino, cherish it and take all of it in as you never know if these animals will still be here when you come back. Well this is my approach when ever I see one. They deserve better and it is up to us to do as much as we can to conserve them.
Until next time,
I find purpose in educating people about wildlife and the most iconic wildlife destinations, as this contributes to conservation. Creating memories, chasing sunsets and building lasting relationships with like minded people is what fulfils me.