Only 4 living representatives left
The northern white rhinoceros once occurred in southern Chad, the Central African Republic, southwestern Sudan, northeastern Zaire Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and northwestern Uganda.
As late as 1960, there were more than 2,000 northern white rhinos remaining. However widespread poaching decimated the population and in 1984 only about 15 individuals survived, all in Garamba National Park, DRC.Under a strict regime of protection in Garamba National Park and through the intervention of the World Heritage Committee, IUCN, WWF, the Frankfürt Zoological Society and the Congolese government, the popuation of this sub-species increased to a minimum of 30 animals by 1993. But an intensive aerial survey of the park carried out in July 2004 counted a minimum population of just 17-22 animals. Poaching has since decimated the population even further - today, only four individuals remain in the park, although there are unconfirmed reports of a few survivors in southern Sudan.
Thanks to the dedication of park staff through years of armed conflict in the region, the northern white rhino still survives, but the recent population surveys suggest its survival prospects are bleak.