Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/black-rhino-repopulating/

Black rhinos are the smaller of the two African rhino species and are one of the oldest groups of mammals.

They play a very important role in their habitats, but their population has declined dramatically in the 20th century due to European hunters and settlers.

According to World Wildlife Fund, between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped 98 percent, to less than 2,500.

Since then, the species has thankfully made a great comeback from the brink of extinction, thanks to conservation efforts across Africa. Today, there are around 5,500 black rhinos left, but they are still considered critically endangered.

Sanctuaries all around Africa are doing their part to grow the number of rhinos.

One of those sanctuaries is the Sera Community Rhino Sanctuary in Kenya, which has nearly doubled its black rhino population in less than a decade.

In 2015, the sanctuary took in ten black rhinos, which has since grown to 19, not including their present rhino calves.

In addition to breeding and growing the rhino population, many organizations are also trying to stop the biggest threat that black rhinos face: poaching.

Black rhinos horns make them targets for the illegal trade in rhino horn. Unfortunately, there has been increased trade in rhino horn and poaching due to poverty.

There has also been a rising demand for their horns because many Asian consumers, such as in Vietnam and China, use them in folk remedies.

While poaching threatens to erase conservation success and is plaguing the black rhino species, numbers are slowing decreasing. In 2019, 594 rhinos were poached, down from 1,215 rhinos in 2014.

Aside from poaching, loss of habitat is another factor that is contributing to the decline in rhino population. Their habitats are lost from human activities such as agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure development.

WWF is working with rangers to stop poaching in high-risk areas, and has also been working with select countries that are home to the black rhino to closely monitor key populations.

Learn more in the video below:

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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog