History and threats to the black rhino

History of the black rhino

Before the 19 th century, there were hundreds of thousands of black rhino across Africa. But they were powerless against the proliferation of modern weapons and their numbers began to dwindle. Even so, there were still more than 65,000 wild black rhinos alive in the mid-20 th century.

Then, the devastating poaching crisis of the 1970s and 1980s hit. Fuelled by demand for rhino horn in the Middle and Far East; made easier by economic and political chaos in African countries, the slaughter wiped out black rhino populations across the continent. By 1992, there were only 2,500 black rhinos left. Those that could be reached by poachers had been killed. Those that remained were mostly in heavily protected reserves. 

Since those dark days, black rhino numbers have been creeping back up in some countries, thanks to intensive protection efforts in state and private sectors. There are now an estimated 3,600 black rhinos in the wild. Almost all of these are found in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Threats to the black rhino
The upward trend in black rhino numbers is thanks in large part to the courage and commitment of men and women dedicated to the conservation of Africa's wild animals. But there is no room for complacency. Poaching remains an ever-present threat. Demand for rhino horn products continues, although work is being done to try to reduce the demand at source. And while the demand exists, there will be people prepared to exploit it, for reasons of greed and/ or economic necessity.

Some of the greatest threats to rhinos arise from social and economic conditions prevalent across much of the African continent. These include human population growth, poverty, instability, corruption and greed.

The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project also supports ongoing protection measures for existing black rhino populations. This includes the purchase of equipment for anti-poaching units and support for monitoring activities such as black rhino ear-notching programmes. Ear-notching enables park staff to identify individual animals and monitor the overall black rhino population more accurately.

Knowing as much as possible about numbers, territories, calving intervals and age at which calves leave their mothers makes it possible to make informed decisions about black rhino management. Because the total number of black rhino is so small, the species is also vulnerable to natural disaster like disease and loss of genetic material.

Uses of rhino horn
Rhinos use their horns as for self-defence and territorial fights. Man is the rhino's most serious enemy, but lions and hyena will sometimes attack rhino calves. Rhino mothers defend their calves fiercely.

Humans still use powdered rhino horn in some Asian traditional medicines aimed at treating a variety of ailments. It is believed to be a mild fever reducer. Although international trade in rhino horn is banned under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and although some traditional medical practitioners are using alternatives to rhino horn, the demand for horn remains high.

Another cause of the devastating po aching wave of the 1970s and 1980s was the demand in Yemen for ceremonial daggers made from rhino horn. Yemeni religious leaders have since declared the killing of rhinos to be against the will of God.