The national animal of Lesotho is the black rhino. This animal is one of the most important symbols in Lesotho and one of the most important parts of its wildlife. They embody many important national values to the people of Lesotho as well as being more literally important to the country’s natural landscape.
Black rhinos are among the most impressive of all wildlife in Africa, not just in Lesotho.
It is no surprise that they should be considered sacred to the people of Lesotho, and so they have been officially enshrined as the country’s national animal, with all that that entails.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Lesotho?
The national animal of Lesotho is the black rhino.
This animal is a mighty and important national symbol to the people of Lesotho and has been for a very long time.
They go by a few different names including the hook-lipped rhinoceros, and are native to eastern and southern Africa.
They are called the black rhino but their colors vary from brown to grey.
They can be found today in many African nations including Lesotho, Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and many more.
They were first described by naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758, and their original scientific name, Rhinoceros bicornis, meant “doubled-horned” denoting the two horns on their heads.
However, it’s not entirely clear what species Linnaeus was documenting here as it seems the skull he examined to name the species was actually the skull of an Indian elephant with a second horn artificially added.
Adult black rhinos stand around 55 to 70 inches tall at the shoulder, and are around 10 to 12 feet long.
They usually weigh anywhere from 1,700 to 3000 pounds when fully grown.
Some unusually large specimens, though, have been reported as large as 6,000 pounds.
Females are typically smaller than the bulls.
They have two horns on their heads which are made of keratin, the same material that makes up our own hair and nails.
The longest known black rhino horn was just under five feet long, though they are usually around 20 to 50 inches in length.
They can even develop a third, smaller horn in same cases.
They will use these horns for a wide range of purposes, like defense and intimidation but also for digging up roots and breaking branches.
They also have a prehensile upper lipe whichcan be used to grasp leaves and twigs.
Why is the black rhino the national animal of Lesotho?
The black rhino is the national animal of Lesotho for a variety of reasons.
On the one hand, they are seen as important symbols of strength, power, courage and boldness, yet at the same time also of gentle, peaceful and calm serenity.
Rhinos are not as aggressive as one might expect to look at such a naturally well-armed animal, and so naturally they are a great image of both power and serenity.
This makes them very important images to the people of Lesotho and thus they were made the national animal, officially.
On the other hand, though, there is the simple fact that they are seen to embody the more literal beauty of the Lesotho natural landscape.
Few beasts are as impressive and imposing to look at, and they are naturally among the most beautiful and awe-inspiring creatures in Lesotho.
This, too, is very important in their choice as national animal.
Finally, though, there is the question of their conservation.
They are considered a critically endangered species, and they are under great threat from permanent extinction.
By making them the national animal, the government of Lesotho hopes to bring attention to their plight.
How many black rhinos are left?
Recent surveys indicate there are just over 6,000 black rhinos left in the wild today.
Though this may sound like a lot, it represents a monumental decline from their original numbers and they are thus considered a critically endangered species.
They have been hunted for a variety of reasons as both trophies and for bush meat, and the extensive destruction of their habitat have meant that they have a much smaller range they can now occupy.
Without serious, concerted, international efforts, then, the numbers of black rhinos may continue to decline in the future until there is very little left of them.
Are black rhinos peaceful?
The simple answer is that it depends.
Generally speaking, they have a calm demeanour when they are left to their own devices and are not a species given to much internal conflict.
They are mostly solitary, and males will only rarely get into conflict over mates or territory.
They usually keep to themselves, and certainly will not seek out conflict with others.
That said, they can certainly get aggressive under the right circumstances.
Their natural response to many threats would be to attack rather than to flee, and thus they can be a serious danger since they are so large and equipped with a large horn.
This is yet another species, then, that sadly teeters on the brink of extinction.
This is one of many reasons why they have been chosen as the national animal of Lesotho.
To look at a black rhino, it should come as no surprise that they have been considered an important symbol to the people of Lesotho both today and in the past.
But only with major efforts will they continue to survive in the wild today.