NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A recent report highlights a slight increase in the global rhino population, yet it also notes a troubling rise in rhino killings, particularly in South Africa due to relentless poaching fueled by high demand for rhino horns. Conservationists warn that this illegal activity remains a significant threat to these majestic creatures.
The report, released by the International Rhino Foundation in anticipation of World Rhino Day on Sunday, indicates that the white rhino population has grown from 15,942 in 2022 to 17,464 in 2023, while both the black rhino and greater one-horned rhino populations have remained stable. However, the northern white rhino is now considered functionally extinct, with only two females surviving in a protected sanctuary called Ol Pejeta in Kenya.
In 2023, a staggering 586 rhinos were killed in Africa, with South Africa bearing the brunt of these losses, housing approximately 16,056 rhinos — the highest concentration in the world. This figure has risen from 551 rhinos reported killed in 2022, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature, highlighting the urgent need for effective conservation efforts.
Despite environmental challenges such as habitat loss from development and climate change, poaching driven by the false belief in the medicinal properties of rhino horns remains the foremost threat to their survival.
Philip Muruthi, vice president for species conservation at the Africa Wildlife Foundation, emphasized that protective measures have significantly contributed to the rhino population’s growth. According to him, Kenya’s rhino numbers surged from just 380 in 1986 to approximately 1,000 last year, largely due to efforts to relocate rhinos into sanctuaries where they receive dedicated protection.
Muruthi advocates for campaigns aimed at reducing the demand for rhino horn and promoting new technologies for tracking and monitoring these animals. He also stresses the importance of educating local communities about the ecological and economic benefits of rhinos, which are essential for maintaining biodiversity.
Rhinos, often referred to as mega herbivores, play a crucial role in their ecosystems by maintaining grasslands and facilitating the growth of forests through seed dispersal via their dung. These animals are vital for the overall health of their habitats.
The plight of the northern white rhino is particularly poignant; with only two remaining females, conservationists fear we may soon see the complete extinction of this subspecies. Muruthi lamented the dire situation, stating, “Don’t allow the numbers to dwindle to a point where recovery becomes financially prohibitive and uncertain.”
The last male northern white rhino, named Sudan, passed away in 2018. His preserved body is on display at the Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, serving as a solemn reminder of the species’ precarious state. Bernard Agwanda, a research scientist and curator of mammals at the museum, believes that preserving Sudan helps convey the species’ story and the critical importance of conservation, stating, “We hope that the northern white rhino will remain with us for one or two centuries, sharing its story for generations to come.”
Combining all subspecies, there are fewer than 28,000 rhinos left globally, a stark decline from the 500,000 that existed at the dawn of the 20th century.
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