Nearly 200 rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the first half of 2011, according to new figures released by the national parks department.

Southwestern black rhinoceros male charging

Unprecedented levels

A record 333 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2010, and this figure looks to be exceeded in 2011 if the current rate of poaching continues. Kruger National Park continues to be the hardest hit, having lost 126 rhinos to poaching since the beginning of the year.

South Africa is home to the largest populations of African rhinos, including the white rhino and the Critically Endangered black rhino. The sharp increase in rhino poaching in the last few years is being fuelled by the demand for horns in Asia, where they are highly valued in traditional medicine.

Sophisticated criminal gangs

“Poaching is being undertaken almost without exception by sophisticated criminals, sometimes hunting from helicopters and using automatic weapons,” says Dr Joseph Okori, WWF’s African Rhino Programme Coordinator.

“South Africa is fighting a war against organized crime that risks reversing the outstanding conservation gains it made over the past century.”

Adult and young eastern black rhinoceros drinking

South African authorities have responded to the recent poaching crisis with more effective law enforcement measures, so far resulting in 123 arrests and 6 successful convictions in 2011.

“We are pleased to see more successful convictions of poachers,” said Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa. “Applying strict penalties for wildlife crimes such as rhino poaching will demonstrate the South African government’s commitment to maintaining this important part of the country’s heritage.”

Male southern white rhinoceros drinking at waterhole

Spread of poaching sparks further fears

However, despite this apparent step forward in convicting poachers, there are fears that the poaching surge shows no sign of flagging. Furthermore, Swaziland lost its first rhino to poaching in nearly 20 years in June, sparking worry that the crime wave could be spreading to neighbouring rhino range countries.

“The poaching surge shows no sign of abating,” says Tom Milliken, Elephant & Rhino Programme Coordinator with TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring group.

“Only a concerted international enforcement pincer movement, at both ends of the supply and demand chain, can hope to nip this rhino poaching crisis in the bud.”

Read the WWF Press Release.

Find out more about the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros on ARKive.

Helen Roddis, ARKive Scientific Text Author

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Indian rhinoceros

A rapid decline in wildlife and the eradication of the Indian rhino during a decade-long insurgency led to the inscription of Manas Wildlife Sanctuary on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 1992. 

However, a UNESCO/IUCN monitoring mission to the sanctuary earlier this year noted that huge progress has been made to increase the populations of key species, including tigers, Asian elephants and Indian rhinos. Threats have declined significantly and the park infrastructure has improved, according to the mission report. 

“The great efforts by the Indian authorities to support recovery of wildlife populations and improve the overall park management have brought about a positive change for one of India’s natural treasures,” says Tim Badman, Director of the IUCN’s World Heritage Programme. 

“The Sanctuary is on a good track, but the work and funding to secure its future need to be sustained.”

Barasingha with velvet on antlers

Reintroduction of the Indian rhino to Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is currently underway, with funding for conservation projects secure until the end of the year. 

The mission report recommended that a restoration programme be established for the barasingha, also known as the swamp deer, as it seems unlikely that this species will recover without direct conservation efforts. It also suggested that a tourism management plan be developed with local communities, so that ecotourism can be established as an alternative livelihood. 

Peter Shadie, Deputy Head of IUCN Delegation, added “While the focus of media and public attention is usually on the new sites to be added to the World Heritage List, the protection of sites already on the list plays an equally important role in ensuring the future of our world heritage.” 

“The List of World Heritage in Danger is a practical way of providing support to the sites that need it the most.”

Read the IUCN press release – Manas Wildlife Sanctuary on the road to recovery. 

View more images and videos of the Indian rhinoceros on ARKive. 

Alex Royan, ARKive Species Text Author

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Nepal’s rhinos are on the increase, according to recently released data from a three-week National Rhino Census in Nepal by WWF. There are now 534 rhinos in Nepal, marking an increase of 99 rhinos from the 435 recorded in the last census in 2008.

Indian rhinoceros covered in mud, with mynah birds along back

Conservationists recently spent 3 weeks riding elephants to count rhinos in the forests of Chitwan in southern Nepal and Bardia in the southwest. The surveys were a combined effort by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of the Government of Nepal, WWF Nepal and the National Trust for Nature Conservation. 

Of the total 534 counted rhinos, 503 rhinos were recorded in Chitwan National Park, 24 in Bardia National Park and 7 in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

Indian rhinoceros wallowing in water

Poached for traditional medicines 

The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), or greater one-horned rhinoceros, was once widespread throughout the northern floodplains and nearby foothills of the Indian sub-continent, between the Indo-Myanmar border in the east and the Sindh River basin, Pakistan, in the west. 

Threatened by habitat loss and the illegal trade in rhino horn, which is used in traditional Asian medicine to treat a variety of ailments, today the remaining 3,000 Indian rhinos are found only in a few protected areas in north-eastern India and lowland Nepal. Although international trade in rhino horn is banned under CITES, the demand for rhino horn remains high. 

The rhino population in Nepal suffered particularly severely during the decade of fighting between government troops and Maoists rebels. During the conflict, soldiers were pulled out of conservation duty to fight the insurgents, leaving the forests unguarded and allowing poachers to hunt the rhinos with little resistance. 

Since the end of the fighting in 2006, soldiers have been redeployed to keep poachers out of protected areas, and the government has introduced programs with villagers living near the forests to preserve these vital ecosystems.

Indian rhinoceros grazing in habitat

Success for conservation 

The recent increase in Nepal’s rhino population reflects the success of conservation efforts for this species, which includes increased rhino protection measures and the improved management of rhino habitat. 

“This is a fine example of working together where all conservation partners and local communities are contributing to the conservation efforts of the Government of Nepal”, said Krishna Prasad Acharya, Director General of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. 

“Support received from WWF Nepal is appreciated and we are hopeful that this support will continue in the coming years with more vigor”, Mr Acharya added. 

Yet, even though the current census shows a rise in rhino numbers in Nepal, conservationists are warning against complacency. Nepal has already lost one rhino to the illegal rhino horn trade in 2011, meaning continued conservation efforts to improve rhino protection and habitat will be required to ensure the preservation of this iconic animal. 

Find out more about the Indian rhinoceros on ARKive. 

Read the full story at WWF – ‘Nepal rhino census shows increase’ 

Alex Royan, ARKive Species Text Author

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There was a glimmer of hope recently for the Critically Endangered northern white rhino, a subspecies of the white rhino, as news emerged that the individuals translocated from Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya in December 2009  have begun to mate.

A northern white rhinoceros getting used to the transport crate at Dvůr Králové Zoo, Czech Republic

With the northern white rhinoceros feared Extinct in the Wild and only 8 individuals remaining in captivity, the outlook for this subspecies seemed bleak, especially since the rhinos had not reproduced for several years. As part of a final bid to save the subspecies, the decision was made to take four individuals back to the wild to try and induce normal social and territorial behaviour and encourage the rhinos to begin mating.

A northern white rhino in a transport crate in the cargo hold of a Boeing 747 aeroplane between Prague and Nairobi

The project was carried out by a partnership of conservation organisations including Fauna & Flora International, the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Dvůr Králové Zoo, the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Back to Africa and the Kenya Wildlife Service and the translocation was featured in the BBC’s Last Chance to See series presented by Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine.

The initial release of a northern white rhino into a small enclosure at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

The rhinos, named Sudan, Suni, Najin and Fatu, were initially kept within small enclosures and closely monitored for the first few weeks. After recieving “fence training” to ensure that they would respect the electric fencing and being dehorned to prevent any injuries occurring after they were re-introduced to each other, the rhinos were given more room and eventually released to a larger area of over 700 acres.

A game ranger and vet checking on a northern white rhinoceros after its initial release

Finally, in early 2011, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally came and word quickly spread that the rhinos had started to mate. The younger male Suni was the first to make a move on female Fatu and since then Sudan, the older male, has also mated with Aramiet, a southern white female. Everyone at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy was thrilled to see that the old boy has still “got it” and now the team are keeping their fingers crossed for a conception and confirmation of pregnancy in the next few months.

The northern white rhinos have now been rehabilitated back in the wild

Although this subspecies still teeters dangerously close to extinction, this breakthrough is certainly a step in the right direction.

Why not check out our selection of white rhinoceros photos and videos on ARKive and read more about the project on the Last Chance to Save the Northern White Rhino website.

Return of the Rhino: A Last Chance to See Special is being shown again on BBC One at 02:55 on Friday.

Claire Lewis, ARKive Media Researcher

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Rhino poaching has risen sharply in South Africa, with a total of 333 rhinos illegally killed in 2010 – the highest ever experienced in South Africa and nearly three times the 2009 figure.

A Critically Endangered species, 10 black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) were illegally killed in South Africa in 2010.

This recent rise in poaching threatens to reverse hard-won population increases achieved by conservation authorities during the 20th century. The world famous safari destination Kruger National Park, which is home to the largest populations of both white and black rhinos in the country, was hardest hit, losing 146 rhinos to poaching in 2010. An additional five rhinos have been lost to poaching in South Africa since the New Year.

Two subspecies of the white rhino are recognised: northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum).

Criminal gangs

The current wave of poaching is being committed by sophisticated criminal networks using helicopters, night-vision equipment, veterinary tranquilisers and silencers to kill rhinos at night while attempting to avoid law enforcement patrols. While traditional poachers relied on simple snares, the current threat comes from well-equipped criminals funded by East Asian demand.

Rhino products have long been prized as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine. It has even been claimed recently that rhino horn possesses cancer-curing properties, despite there being no medical evidence to support the assertion.

South Africa has responded by intensifying its law enforcement efforts, and made approximately 162 poaching arrests last year.

“Many more successful convictions, backed up by appropriately daunting penalties will significantly demonstrate the South African government’s commitment to preventing the clouding of the country’s excellent rhino conservation track record that it has built up over the past several decades.” Dr. Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF South Africa.

Rescued from near extinction, the recovery of the southern white rhino stands as one of the world's greatest conservation success stories. Nevertheless, poaching pressure remains an ever-present threat.

21,000 rhinos in South Africa

South Africa is home to approximately 21,000 rhinos, more than any other country in the world. This includes around 1,700 black rhinos and 90 percent of Africa’s entire white rhino population.

The recovery of southern white rhinos from less than 100 in the late 19th century to more than 20,000 today is a remarkable conservation success story attributable to concerted conservation action. But the recent rise in poaching threatens everything that has been achieved to date, and even risks South Africa’s popularity as the unique destination to view the famous ‘Big Five’ – elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino.

To find out more about rhino poaching in South Africa, see the WWF press release.

Explore more endangered species on ARKive.

Alex Royan, ARKive Species Text Author

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