However, because of poaching and habitat destruction, the creatures continue to be in danger.
Despite the fact that poaching is still widespread, the African rhino population is increasing for the first time in ten years, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
There were expected to be 23,290 rhinos on the continent at the end of 2022, up 5.2% from the previous year, according to statistics made public ahead of World Rhino Day on Friday.
Notably, the number of white rhinos, which was evaluated for inclusion on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020, increased by 5.6% and is currently estimated to be 16,803. It has increased for the first time since 2012.
“With this fantastic news, we can now breathe a sigh of relief after a decade. IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) Chair Dr. Michael Knight stated that it is crucial to further consolidate and build upon this excellent development while remaining vigilant.
The privately owned Platinum Rhino project, which aims to safeguard and breed the species to avert extinction, is credited with the comeback, according to the IUCN website, in major part for its protection and biological management measures.
The African Parks Foundation purchased the project earlier this year with the intention of rewilding 2,000 rhinos over the next ten years.
There are five different kinds of rhinos in the globe; the white and black rhinos live in Africa, while the three other rhino species—the Sumatran, Javan, and Indian rhinos—dwell in Asia.
Poaching continues to be a major issue. In 2022, 448 rhinos were reportedly slaughtered unlawfully in South Africa, while 93 rhinos were reportedly slain in neighbouring Namibia. Despite the fact that the figures are still alarming, a considerable decrease from 2015, when 1,349 African rhinos were poached, can be seen.
Around 500,000 rhinos may be found in Africa and Asia at the turn of the 20th century. By 1970, only 70,000 people still belonged to them.
While northern and western white rhinos have recently gone extinct in the wild, southern white rhinos are still flourishing in protected areas. In the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, there are only two northern white rhinos left, and they are constantly watched over.
