However, this species of rhinoceros is still in danger of extinction. Once the number of black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) in Africa reached tens of thousands, but today only about 6,500 of them remain in the wild. Several subspecies have already become extinct, and many of the remaining subspecies are highly endangered due to poaching and habitat loss.
Eastern black rhinoceros subspecies (Diceros bicornis michaeli) or the Zori subspecies and its cubs have been removed from the threshold of extinction thanks to protection measures. “Unfortunately, this subspecies has been hunted for its horns for more than a century and sold in illegal zoo markets,” says Ivisen.
The birth of a precious baby is another positive step to protect the life of this species. Propagation of endangered species in protected zoos in Europe is one of the main goals for endangered species conservation.
Experts at Chester Zoo have been breeding black rhinos for years in a joint effort with other European zoos to maintain a genetically healthy population of black rhinos in Africa. One of Chester Zoo’s successful tricks is to closely monitor the reproductive hormones in rhinoceros feces. In this way, zookeepers know which male and female rhinos should mate, when and how.
