How Many Rhinos Are There in the World Right Now?

May 2024 · 4 minute read

Rhinos are majestic and endangered animals that have been around for millions of years.

They belong to the order Perissodactyla, which means “odd-toed ungulates”, and are closely related to horses and tapirs.

There are five living species of rhinos, two in Africa and three in Asia.

In this article, we will explore how many rhino are there in the world right now, what are the threats they face, and what are the conservation efforts to protect them.

African Rhinos

The two African species are the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum).

The black rhino has two horns on its nose, a hooked upper lip, and a smaller body than the white rhino.

White rhino has a square upper lip, a larger body, and a longer head. Both species have gray skin and are herbivorous.

According to the latest estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 27,000 rhinos in Africa, of which 18,000 are white rhinos and 5,600 are black rhinos.

South Africa holds the majority of the African rhino population, followed by Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.

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Asian Rhinos

The three Asian species are the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).

The greater one-horned  pachyderms has one horn on its nose, a thick skin with folds, and a large body.

Javan  pachyderms has one horn, a smaller body, and less skin folds than the greater one-horned rhino.

The Sumatran rhino has two horns, a reddish-brown fur, and is the smallest of all  pachyderms.

According to the IUCN, there are about 3,700 rhinos in Asia, of which 3,500 are greater one-horned rhinos, 74 are Javan rhinos, and 80 are Sumatran  pachyderms.

The greater one-horned rhino is found mainly in India and Nepal, where it lives in grasslands and forests.

Javan rhino is found only in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, where it inhabits dense tropical rainforest.

The Sumatran  pachyderms is found in small isolated populations in Indonesia and Malaysia, where it prefers montane forests and swamps.

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Threats to Rhinos

 Pachyderms face many threats from human activities, such as poaching, habitat loss, illegal trade, and climate change.

Poaching is the biggest threat to  pachyderms, as their horns are highly valued for their supposed medicinal properties and as a status symbol in some Asian countries.

Between 2008 and 2020, more than 9,000 African  pachyderms were killed by poachers.

In Asia, poaching has driven the Javan and Sumatran  pachyderms to the brink of extinction.

Habitat loss is another major threat to  pachyderms, as their natural habitats are converted to agricultural land, urban development, mining, logging, and infrastructure.

Habitat loss reduces the availability of food and water for  pachyderms, increases their exposure to human disturbance and conflict, and fragments their populations into smaller and more vulnerable groups.

Illegal trade is a threat that fuels poaching and undermines conservation efforts.

Pachyderms horns are illegally traded for high prices due to cultural beliefs and myths about their healing powers and symbolism.

However, there is no scientific evidence that  pachyderms horn has any medicinal value or can cure any disease.

Climate change is an emerging threat that may affect  pachyderms in various ways.

Climate change may alter the distribution and quality of their habitats, affect their food availability and health, increase their exposure to diseases and parasites, and exacerbate natural disasters such as droughts and floods.

Conservation Efforts

Despite the challenges that  pachyderms face, there are many conservation efforts underway to protect them from extinction.

These efforts include:

Anti-poaching measures

These include law enforcement patrols, intelligence gathering, surveillance technologies, canine units, community engagement, education campaigns, and prosecution of poachers.

Population management

This involves translocating selected  pachyderms from high-risk areas to safer locations or new habitats to increase their genetic diversity and range.

Habitat protection

This involves securing existing habitats from encroachment and degradation, restoring degraded habitats or creating new ones, establishing corridors or fences to connect fragmented populations or prevent human-wildlife conflict.

Captive breeding

This involves breeding pachyderms in zoos or sanctuaries to increase their numbers or reintroduce them to the wild.

Demand reduction

This involves raising awareness and changing attitudes and behaviors of consumers and traders of  pachyderms horn, through education, advocacy, and social marketing.

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Conclusion

pachyderms  are amazing animals that have survived for millions of years, but are now facing a serious threat of extinction due to human activities.

There are only about 30,000 pachyderms left in the world, and they need our help to survive.

By supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure that these magnificent creatures have a future in the wild.

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