Diceros bicornis

The Black Rhinoceros has two horns, which it uses for attack and defence. It is very protective of its territory, which it marks by spraying urine and stamping in its faeces, depositing the scent with each footstep. Its poor vision, however, means that a motionless person can stand upwind as close as 30m undetected.

Western Plains Zoo has a group of six female and five male Black Rhinoceros. Ten calves have been born since breeding began in 1995, with all three adult males having sired offspring. In 2001, one calf was sent to Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre in Texas as part of the global breeding program for this species. In 2007 two young males were relocated to Monarto Zoo in South Australia to establish the first regional bachelor group.