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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Tanzania |
| Subject: |
Behaviour - Social Behaviour |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Most of the rhinos were solitary and in roughly the same area. The maximum number seen together and identified was five: three adult cows, a calf and one adult bull on one occasion, two adult cows, a calf and two adult bulls on another. Both groups broke up after a few days. Groups of four rhinos were seen repeatedly but they also usually disbanded after a short time. In a few instances individuals other than cow and calf stayed together for a considerable time; a bull, a cow with calf and a subadult bull were recorded together for four months. Two adult cows, possibly mother and daughter, were seen together for 13 months; one of them is the animal whose history is given below (1). A cow with a half-grown bull calf was recorded in July and August 1963, and then disappeared. Eight months later the cow reappeared with a newly born calf. The elder bulb calf was seen again 18 months after having disappeared, almost fully grown. He then associated with another cow and calf: see (2) below. From the limited data it can only be suggested that subadults separate from their mothers at the time when a new calf is born. Three examples from the whole group demonstrate the variety of associations of individual animals:
1. Adult cow. She was recorded as being solitary from June to October 1963. In November we found her associating with another cow, possibly her daughter, with whom she stayed for over a year till January 1965, thereafter she was by herself till May 1965. However, during the time the two were together they were once joined by a cow and the bull whose history is given below (3), and later by another cow with calf and a bull. This bull stayed on for at least 15 days, whereas the cow !and calf went their own ways after about four days.
2. Adult cow. Also solitary or together with an adult bull from July 1963 to September 1964, when the two were joined by a cow with calf and another adult bull. In December 1964 she had a calf and the two separated from the bull. Shortly afterwards they were joined by the subadult bull mentioned above and a little later by another adult bull. They all stayed together, with intervals, for at least four months.
3. Adult bull. Solitary from July to November 1963, then with three cows. A month later he was by himself, then joined up with two other cows, then with another cow with calf and finally was solitary again from March to May 1965.
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The rhinoceroses of Ngorongoro Crater
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