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Two rhino species are found in Africa: the black rhino (Diceros
bicornis)
and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). The black rhino is
found in southwestern, southcentral and eastern Africa and a few remain
north of the rainforest belt in Cameroon. The black rhino is listed as
Endangered by the IUCN.
The position of the northern subspecies is far more precarious than that of
its northern relatives: only 31 rhinos remain, all found in Zaïre's Garamba
National Park and are listed as Endangered. Ten years ago, there were
even less: between 1215 were estimated to remain.
Actually grey in colour, the black rhino is considerably smaller than the
white rhino, weighing about 1,400 kilos. There are less than 2,500
black rhino left in Africa - mainly in Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa,
Kenya and Tanzania.
Theblack African rhino species prefers the open savannahs and
are generally not found in forest zones. In contrast to the white rhino, a more
social and rather placid animal, the black rhino is generally solitary
and hostile when disturbed. Poaching continues to push this species
towards extinction.
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