Black rhinoceros at Paignton Zoo, Devon
Class: Mammals
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
At Paignton Zoo there are two black rhinos – female Sita and male Manyara.
The beautiful black rhino is native to the scrublands and grasslands of Eastern and Southern Africa. 98% of the total population is found in just 4 countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
In the wild they eat leafy plants, branches, shoots and fruit. Our rhinos are fed a mix of lucerne, fresh browse and browser pellets.
Conservation
There are five species of rhino, all of which are endangered, and only intensive management programmes in zoos and national parks will save them from extinction. The total number of black rhinos in the wild today is thought to be around only 5,000 individuals.
Our rhinos are part of the EAZA ex-situ breeding programme (EEP) for this Critically Endangered species.