Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis).
Image: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Mammals
- Population trend
- Increasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2020 global assessment of Diceros bicornis says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The black rhinoceros is a browsing African rhino with a hooked upper lip for feeding on shrubs. It is assessed as Critically Endangered, though intensive protection has helped some populations recover.
It is generally solitary and, despite the name, is grey rather than black.
Range & habitat
Found in fragmented populations across eastern and southern Africa, including Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Poaching for horn
- Habitat loss and fragmentation
- Small, isolated populations
Why it matters
As a large browser, the black rhino shapes the vegetation of African savannas, and it is a flagship for anti-poaching and protected-area efforts.
Gallery
Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Etosha, Namibia.
Image: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Black Rhinoceros
- IUCN Red List — look up Black Rhinoceros (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web