Rhinos

Black rhinos are found in bushy plains, rugged hills, and scrublands in isolated areas of Central and South Africa. Black rhinos also are known as the prehensile or hook-lip rhinos. This lip is a special tool used for browsing on leaves and twigs.

You’ll see two different species of rhinos at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay and learn how to spot their unique characteristics. Spot the rhinos on a Serengeti Safari®, Endangered Species Safari or the Serengeti Railway train.

Due to poaching, less than 2,000 black rhinos remain. Black rhinos have suffered the most spectacular rate of decline of all rhino species with a 96 percent reduction in population in the last 25 years. The rhinos at Busch Gardens^® Tampa participate in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) to ensure genetic diversification among threatened and endangered animals in zoological facilities.

Q: What is a rhino’s horn made of?

BG: A rhino's horn is not a true horn that is attached to the skull. It grows from the skin and is made up of keratin fibers, the same material found in hair and nails.

Q: How much do black rhinos weigh?

BG: Black rhinos weigh 1,000 to 3,000 pounds.

Q: What do rhinos eat?

BG: Black rhinos use their prehensile lips to feed on grasses and plants.