Rhino House
Our black rhinos and other African animal species live in a two-hectare, naturally designed habitat. A unique feature of the zoo is the shared enclosure of the rhinos and the impressive northern ground hornbills in the rhino house. Zoo visitors can observe the rhinos up close in the small rhino enclosure. Right next door, Defassa waterbuck, blesbok, sable antelope, and rhinos share a naturalistic outdoor enclosure.
GENEALOGY OF EAST AFRICAN WINE HORNS
Malia was born on October 8, 2023. She is the ninth offspring to be raised in Magdeburg. Worldwide , zoos currently average only about five births of East African black rhinoceroses per year. In Europe, there were three births in 2023 (Magdeburg Zoo, Dvur Kralove Zoo/Czech Republic, and Zoo du Bassin d’Arcachon/France). Currently, only one birth of an East African black rhinoceros has been recorded in Europe, at Yorkshire Wildlife Park Branton/Great Britain. Magdeburg also plays a significant role here. The breeding bull Makibo was born in Magdeburg in 2015. He is the father of the black rhinoceros calf Rocco, born in January 2024.
East African black rhinoceroses ( Diceros bicornis michaeli ) have been part of the Magdeburg Zoo’s animal collection for 54 years . During the GDR era, Magdeburg Zoo was the only zoo to successfully breed black rhinoceroses (MABU 23.01.1979 and MANA 15.09.1981). East African black rhinoceroses are critically endangered – their numbers in their natural range were estimated at 583 (2020, IUCN). Since 2019, there have been only two births of these rhinoceroses in German zoos – both calves were born in Magdeburg (MALTE on 28.04.2019, MALIA on 8.10.2023)! For context: worldwide births of East African black rhinoceros 2020: 3 births , 2021: 2 births , 2022: 3 births .
DEGREE OF THREATENING: IUCN RED LIST
The black rhinoceros is listed as CR (critically endangered) on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List !
STAND 2022 (IUCN 2022)
Black rhinoceros: 6,195
White rhinoceros: 5,942
Indian rhinoceros: 4,014
Sumatran rhinoceros: < 80
Javan rhinoceros: 76
There are 87 East African black rhinoceroses living in European zoos.
Why are East African black rhinos threatened with extinction?
These majestic animals are endangered due to hunting for their horns and increasing habitat destruction. Although the rhinoceros horn consists “only” of keratin, and thus of nothing different from our hair or fingernails, it is believed to possess healing powers in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ground and stirred into tea, it is said to be effective against cancer or to increase potency. This superstition fuels a lucrative black market and fills the pockets of a wildlife mafia with high illegal profits.
DEGREE OF THREATENING: IUCN RED LIST
The black rhinoceros is listed as CR (critically endangered) on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List !
STAND 2022 (IUCN 2022)
Black rhinoceros: 6,195
White rhinoceros: 5,942
Indian rhinoceros: 4,014
Sumatran rhinoceros: < 80
Javan rhinoceros: 76
There are 87 East African black rhinoceroses living in European zoos.
Why are East African black rhinos threatened with extinction?
These majestic animals are endangered due to hunting for their horns and increasing habitat destruction. Although the rhinoceros horn consists “only” of keratin, and thus of nothing different from our hair or fingernails, it is believed to possess healing powers in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ground and stirred into tea, it is said to be effective against cancer or to increase potency. This superstition fuels a lucrative black market and fills the pockets of a wildlife mafia with high illegal profits.
Global conservation efforts for black rhinos
black rhinoceros birth
Baby rhino Mala
Im Zoo Magdeburg gelang 1979 die erste Spitzmaulnashorn-Nachzucht der DDR. Seitdem ist diese Zucht eine große Erfolgsgeschichte des Magdeburger Zoos.