Rhino numbers bounce back in global conservation win
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Although poaching continues to be a worry, there has been a reduction in the number of rhinos killed in Africa during 2022 (551) compared to the previous year, marking an improvement.
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In this Thursday, March 9, 2017 photo, a dehorned rhino bull lies on the ground at a rhino breeding farm near Klerksdorp, South Africa. (AP)
New data reveals a global rhinoceros resurgence, with their numbers reaching 27,000, despite poaching and habitat loss. Some species are rebounding for the first time in a decade.
In the 20th century, rhino populations, once around 500,000 in Africa and Asia, suffered severe declines. However, recent figures from the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group reveal a positive shift.
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Southern white rhino numbers increased for the first time since 2012, from 15,942 to 16,803 by the end of 2022. Black rhino populations, despite poaching threats, rose by nearly 5% from 6,195 to 6,487 in the same period, partly due to conservation efforts.
While this is encouraging, Javan and Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered and dwindling. Officially, around 80 Sumatran rhinos remain, but experts fear as few as 34. The outlook is grim for these species.
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While poaching remains a concern, the number of rhinos killed in Africa in 2022 (551) is an improvement from previous years, though still worrisome. Collaborative conservation efforts have contributed to these positive trends.
Greater one-horned rhino populations in India and Nepal are stable at about 4,000, but ongoing efforts are needed to combat poaching and habitat loss.
Javan rhinos, numbering approximately 76, face an uncertain future, with all of them being in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park, where illegal activities have been observed.
