Rhino numbers recorded growth after more than 10 years

For the first time since 2012, rhino numbers across Africa have recorded annual growth.

The number of rhinos in Africa has increased. Illustrative photo. (Source: Reuters)

According to statistics on September 21 of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the number of rhinos on this continent increased to nearly 23,300 individuals this year, more than 5.2% compared to 2021.

“This good news is the first time in a decade that we can breathe a sigh of relief,” said Michael Knight, a wildlife ecologist and chair of the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group.

The IUCN combines rhino estimates from various countries to produce a continental inventory and claims a "combination of protection and biological management initiatives" has led to a 4.2% increase in black rhino numbers to 6,487.

Meanwhile, the number of white rhinos increased by 5.6% to 16,803, the first increase since 2012.

Rhinos have been decimated for decades by poaching, fueled by demand in Asia, where their horns are used in traditional medicine for their supposed medicinal properties. According to the IUCN, black market prices for rhino horn can reach as high as $60,000 per kilogram, making it as valuable as gold.

The international organization also said that in the past year, more than 550 rhinos were killed by poachers across the continent, mainly in South Africa, home to nearly 80% of the world's rhinos.

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