Eastern black rhino mom and calf
Below are wild rhinoceros population statistics compiled by the Traffic Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network. The numbers are so appalling that we thought we’d share them with you to raise awareness and garner support for the dire plight of rhinos. We hope you’re as shocked and alarmed as we are and even more dedicated to fighting for the survival of this important species.
- Combined black rhino populations = 4,838 animals – IUCN listed as Critically Endangered
- Southern white rhino populations = less than 20,000 animals – IUCN listed as Near Threatened
- Combined Nepalese and greater one-horned rhino populations = 2,913 – IUCN listed as Critically Endangered
- Javan rhino populations = less than 50 animals – IUCN listed as Critically Endangered
- Sumatran rhino populations = less than 200 animals – IUCN listed as Critically Endangered
Rhino poaching stats from South Africa
- 2009 = 122 animals
- 2010 = 33 animals
- 2011 = 448 animals, including 19 black rhinos
- Poachers arrested in 2010 = 165
- Poachers arrested in 2011 = 232
Source: http://www.traffic.org/
Help us spread the word that poaching needs to stop. Re-tweet this tweet:
#PeopleShouldStop poaching. ow.ly/8zCPI RT & spread the word!
— San Diego Zoo (@sandiegozoo) January 19, 2012
Matt Steele is the social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Rhinos: Never Give Up, Never Surrender.
Thanks for the update Matt. I heard the bad news that one of the Rhino sub-species went extinct late last year but these numbers are not good for the other Rhino species either.
The number of poachers arrested look good but if they just get their hands slapped and let go then nothing is accomplished. Is there no way to stop the end-user of the horns?
Lee, you bring up a good point. The demand for rhino horn (the “end-user” of the horn) is the root of the problem, and must be addressed. Without demand there would be no need to provide supply (poaching). More effort needs to be directed to educating people and diffusing the demand for rhino horn in the areas where there is a market for it. It’s a difficult thing to do, but many organizations are doing great work in this regard.
Unfortunately educating the users doesn’t always work as they believe in the horns medicinal powers, something that is seeded in their history and hard to undo despite it’s been proven there it has no medicinal value. The users due to their beliefs feel the psychological benefit which is no different then giving a person a placebo with the same effect…Not sure how organizations can over come that factor to save the rhinos.
Thanks for your reply Matt. I am so glad to hear that there are organizations trying to stop the demand for the horns. Any change is hard to convince people to do, expecially if it is something that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. We have to just keep trying though or soon there will be no rhinos left.
Hey Matt…you omitted the most depressing number of all…the number of Northern White Rhinos…only 7…and 1 hybrid. Fortunately, for those of us in Southern California, we have the ever-so-rare opportunity to see 2 of the 7 at the San Diego Safari Park. Go see Nola and Angalifu now, before they are gone forever.