These animals were much more abundant and diverse in the past, but today they are fighting for their very existence in the wild. Poached for their horn that is used in folk medicines and believed to be an aphrodesiac, the black rhinoceros' population has been reduced drastically in its native Africa. Unlike the horns of cattle or antelopes, a rhino's horn has no bony core, but is composed of a hair-like protein. Strong and fast, one attribute a rhino does not possess is good eyesight. With poor vision, these two-ton heavy weights will charge almost anything, including their own shadows. Dangerous and unpredictable, rhinos are basically solitary except for a mother and her young offspring.

Lincoln Park Zoo's participation in the black rhino SSP reflects the zoo's long-standing commitment to preserving this highly endangered species.