More Black Rhinos, More White Rhinos (a First in a Decade!)

Through a combination of protection and biological management initiatives, the number of rhinos is on the rise in Africa – including white rhinos, for the first time since 2012 – which is positive news for the highly endangered species.

“With this good news, we can take a sigh of relief for the first time in a decade,” explains Dr. Michael Knight, Chair of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group. “However, it is imperative to further consolidate and build upon this positive development and not drop our guard.”

There are a total of 6,487 black rhinos in Africa, an increase of 4.2% from 2021. A total of 16,803 white rhinos – an increase of 5.6%, the first rise in number since 2012 – now roam the continent, and that number is expected to rise over the next decade with the Africa Parks Foundation’s project to rehome and rewild 2,000 rhinos. With effective protection, management, and generous donors, the number of this large animal can increase, thus regaining its rightful place in the animal kingdom.