Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

Historical perspective of managed care

• First record of rhinoceros being exhibited
  • Third century BC, first written records
  • Displayed by the Romans
  • Sporadic exhibitions continued through the 3rd century AD
• First  through 14th century AD
  • 6th (N. Africa) and 16th-17th centuries (Near East)
    • Sporadic records of managed care.
  • Rhinos often given as gifts in China

Modern historical notes

• First black rhino in a zoological facility
  • 1868; black rhino in managed care in a European zoo
• First birth in managed care
  • 1941; Chicago Brookfield Zoo

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

• Historical notes
  • San Diego Zoo
    • 1952, first black rhino housed at the San Diego Zoo
    • 1992, first black rhino birth
  • San Diego Zoo Safari Park
    • 1976, first black rhino birth

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has a successful breeding program for the Critically Endangered black rhino.

© San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Black Rhinoceros at the Chester Zoo.

 Image credit: © NIgel Swales from Flickr. Some rights reserved.

McKeever (2000)
Ramirez (1993)
Rookmaaker (1998)
ZIMS (2015)