West African black rhinoceros

The western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes) or West African black rhinoceros is an
extinct subspecies of the black rhinoceros. They were believed to have been genetically different from
other rhino subspecies.

Description
The western black rhinoceros measured 33.8 m (9.812 ft.) long, had a height of 1.41.7 m (4.6
5.6 ft.), and weighed 8001,300 kg (1,8002,900 lb.) It had two horns, the first measuring 0.51.3 m
(1.64.3 ft.) and the second 255 cm (0.7922 in). Like all Black Rhinos, they were browsers, and
their common diet would include leafy plants and shoots around their habitat. During the morning or
evening, they would browse for food, and during the hottest parts of the day would instead either
sleep or wallow. They used to inhabit much of sub-Saharan Africa. Their horns are believed by many
to hold medicinal value, leading to heavy poaching. However, this belief has no grounding in scientific
fact. Like most black rhinos, they were believed to have been nearsighted, and would often rely on
local birds, such as the red-billed oxpecker, to help them detect incoming threats.
Habitat finding

The black rhino, of which the western black rhinoceros is a subspecies, was most commonly located
in several countries towards the southeast region of the continent of Africa. The native countries of
the black rhino included: Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, United Republic of
Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Chad, Rwanda, Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland, and
Zambia. There are several subspecies found in the western and southern countries of Tanzania
through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, to the northern and north-western and north-eastern
parts of South Africa. The Black Rhino's most abundant population was found in South Africa and
Zimbabwe, with a smaller population found in southern Tanzania. The Western subspecies of the
Black Rhino was last recorded in Cameroon but is now considered to be extinct, however some of
the other subspecies have been introduced again into Botswana, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia.

Population & 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.
No animals are known to be held in captivity, however it was believed in 1988 that around 2030
were being kept for breeding purposes. Poaching continued and by 2000 only an estimated 10
survived. In 2001, this number dwindled to only five. While it was believed that around thirty still
existed in 2004, this was later found to be based upon falsified data.

It is believed that widespread poaching was responsible for bringing to the species close to extinction.
Punishments for poaching and efforts behind preventing it were lacking. Individuals caught poaching
were never sentenced. The Western black rhinoceros was last seen in Cameroon 2006. It was
declared officially extinct in 2011

Bibliografa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_black_rhinoceros