Western Black Rhinoceros

Western Black Rhinoceros
Holotype specimen, a female shot in 1911
Conservation status
Extinct (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Diceros
Species:	D. bicornis
Subspecies:	D. b. longipes
Trinomial name
Diceros bicornis longipes Zukowsky, 1949

The Western Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes) or West African Black Rhinoceros is an extinct subspecies of the Black Rhino. Recent surveys have failed to locate any individuals and in 2011 it was declared extinct by the IUCN.^[1][2] It was once widespread in the savanna of central-west Africa but its numbers declined due to poaching. The Western Black Rhinoceros resided primarily in Tanzania, but was declared extinct in November 2011.

Description

The Western Black Rhinoceros measured 3–3.8 m (9.8–12.5 ft) long, had a height of 1.4–1.7 m (4.6–5.6 ft), and weighed 800–1,300 kg (1,800–2,900 lb). It had two horns, the first measuring 0.5–1.3 m (1.6–4.3 ft) and the second 2–55 cm (0.79–22 in). Like all Black Rhinos, they were browsers, and could be found on the savanna.^{[citation needed]}

Population and decline

The Western Black Rhinoceros was heavily hunted in the beginning of the 20th century, but the population rose in the 1930s after preservation actions were taken. As protection efforts declined over the years so did the number of Western Black rhinos. By 1980 the population was in the hundreds. Poaching continued and by 2000 only an estimated 10 survived. In early 2006 an intensive survey of northern Cameroon (the last remaining habitat of the species) found none, but efforts to locate any surviving individuals continued.^[3] The illegal poaching, limited anti-poaching efforts, failure of courts to hand down sentences to punish poachers and more all contributed to the species' eventual demise. No animals are known to be held in captivity. In November 2011, the subspecies was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} R. Emslie (2011). "Diceros bicornis ssp. longipes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/39319. Retrieved November 10, 2011. 
2. ^ Boettcher, Daniel. "BBC News - Western black rhino declared extinct". Bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15663982. Retrieved 2011-11-10. 
3. ^ Times Online (2006). West African black rhino 'is extinct'. Retrieved 13 May, 2010.

External links

• Data related to Diceros bicornis longipes at Wikispecies