BLACK RHINOCEROS (Diceros bicornis)
Description: The black rhinoceros is a huge animal with gray skin, a hooked upper lip and a horn on the snout made of tough protein. This species lives in the savannas and grasslands of Africa, but are endangered due to loss of habitat and because their horns are highly coveted for use in traditional medicine. By the mid-1990s, the black rhinoceros population had been decimated. In recent years their numbers have slowly increased, mainly due to enforcement of international bans on trade in endangered species.
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IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
USFWS Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Habitat loss and poaching
Habitat: Savannas and grasslands
Location: Eastern and central Africa
Diet: Leaves, grasses and other vegetation