Latest News
There’s a new female rhino calf in Sumatra!
On 30 September 2023, the Government of Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry announced the wonderful news that a new Sumatran rhino has been born! This female calf is the fourth rhino to be born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park and the third baby for her mum, Ratu.
This is an important moment for Sumatran rhino conservation, yet it reminds us of the alarming state of their population. Dr Jo Shaw, CEO of Save the Rhino International, says, “We’re thrilled with this positive development for the future of the species. With so few left and in small, isolated populations, Sumatran rhinos are in urgent trouble”.
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New numbers and challenges for World Rhino Day
New information released on 22 September (World Rhino Day) shows good news: global rhino numbers are up, having increased to approximately 27,000 by the end of 2022!
Southern white rhino numbers have increased for the first time since 2012, with a 5% growth since 2021. Black rhino numbers have also increased by almost 5%. However, both species remain under threat from poaching, with 561 rhinos killed in Africa during 2022, a rise from both 2020 and 2021.
In India and Nepal, numbers of the Greater one-horned rhino show a marginal rise to 4,018. However, poaching is also a serious concern for this species.
The status of Javan and Sumatran rhinos is increasingly perilous, with both species estimated to have less than 80 individuals.
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Rewilding plans announced for 2,000 rhinos
African Parks and its partners have committed to “rewilding” more than 2,000 Southern white rhinos. The rhinos, which have been living at the Platinum Rhino ranch in South Africa, represents nearly 8% of all the five species of rhinos alive globally.
This reintroduction will assist in the recovery of this white rhino subspecies, while ensuring their ecological role is fulfilled. However, significant investment and collaborations will be necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the rhinos, as well as the people who live around them.
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