Rhino populations have drastically declined over the past century from 500,000 to just 29,000 today due to poaching and habitat loss. The Javan and Sumatran rhino species in Asia are critically endangered with fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos remaining in the wild. While the Southern white rhino population has increased to over 20,000, only five Northern white rhinos remain. Black rhinos are also critically endangered with just over 5,000 in the wild. Poaching for rhino horn, which is valued in Asian medicine, is the most pressing threat along with habitat loss and political conflicts. Conservation efforts are ongoing but rhino populations remain in danger.

1. Endangered Rhino
Jovana Kolasinac IV-4

2. Rhino Population
At the beginning of the 20th century there were 500,000 rhinos across Africa
and Asia. This fell to 70,000 by 1970 and further to just 29,000 in the wild
today. Despite this bleak picture, and the continuing threat of poaching for their
valuable horns, global rhino population figures have been increasing in recent
years.
In Asia the populations of Sumatran and Javan rhinos are extremely low and
both species are listed as critically endangered. There are fewer than 100
Sumatran rhinos left in the wild, and efforts are now being invested in captive
breeding in an attempt to boost the population.

3. Species of Rhino
The white rhino
The Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) was rescued from the
brink of extinction and now numbers over 20,400 individuals, however sadly
there are only five remaining Northern white rhinos(Ceratotherium simum
cottoni) in the entire world.

4. Black Rhino
The smaller of the two African species, the black rhino is
now critically endangered, with just 5,055 remaining in the
wild. They are 'browsers' (eating trees, bushes and shrubs)
with a specially-adapted upper lip that helps them to forage.
Rhino fact:
Black rhino are most active during the night-time when most of their
foraging and drinking is done.
Rhino fun fact:
Black rhinos tend to be solitary in the wild. They are also known for
being the shyer and more aggressive of the two African species.

5. Greater one horned rhino
Rhino fact
The greater one-horned rhino are good swimmers and can dive and
feed underwater
Rhino fun fact
The Mughal emperors of South Asia used the Greater one-horned
rhino in fights against elephants as entertainment. The rhinos would
often win. Thankfully, this sport is no longer practised or permitted.
Rhino fact
The greater one-horned rhino are good swimmers and can dive and
feed underwater
Rhino fun fact
The Mughal emperors of South Asia used the Greater one-horned
rhino in fights against elephants as entertainment. The rhinos would
often win. Thankfully, this sport is no longer practised or permitted.

6. Sumatran Rhino
The Sumatran rhino is the closest relative alive of the
famous woolly rhinoceros that lived during the ice-ages. It is
thought of as the most 'primitive' because of its hairy skin
and other ancient characteristics
Rhino fact
The greater one-horned rhino are good swimmers and can
dive and feed underwater
Rhino fun fact
The Mughal emperors of South Asia used the Greater one-
horned rhino in fights against elephants as entertainment.
The rhinos would often win. Thankfully, this sport is no
longer practised or permitted.

7. Javan Rhino
Rhino fact
The Javan rhino is possibly the rarest large mammal
on earth.
Rhino fun fact
The Javan rhino is more likely to run away from an
enemy than attack.
The rarest of the rhino species, and possibly the rarest
large mammal on earth, the Javan rhino can now only be
found in Ujung Kulon National Park and has rarely ever
been photographed. They are extremely vulnerable due to
their small population size

8. Threats to Rhino
Rhinos were once found throughout Euroasia and Afria but their numbers have dropped dramatically due to
human activities. Today very few rhinos survive outside protected areas.
In recent years rhino numbers have dropped dramatically due to poaching for their horn which is prized in
Asian countries. They also face threats from habitat loss and political conflict. Ilegal poaching is the most
pressing cause of the decline in rhino populations, but habitat loss has also been a key factor.
In some locations, where normal law and order has broken down – particularly in war zones or where there is
political instability – it has become much easier for the poachers to kill rhinos and other endangered species.
Particular examples of places where political conflict has been matched by a rise in poaching include the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and Nepal.
Habitat loss is a major threat to rhino populations. There are several ways in which this is manifested
including clearance of land for human settlement and agricultural production, logging, authorised and illegal.
This is a major threat to all species as wildlife needs space to live and survive. It is therefore also a major
barrier for rhino numbers to recover and increase.