The Rhino Population data for Africa indicates that South Africa maintains the lead with the biggest number of the horned species on the continent, despite increasing cases of poaching in the country.
The African continent is estimated to have over 17,460 white Rhinos and 6,420 black rhinos.
In total there should be more than 23,880 Rhinoceroses on the African Continent.
1. South Africa
South Africa tops the bill on the continent with a total of 16,056 Rhinos, among them 13,991 whites and 2,065 blacks. But the International Rhino Foundation reveals that the country also leads in Rhino poaching cases where 499 such animals were killed in 2023.
2. Namibia
Namibia follows in the second position with 3,612 Rhinos, according to the State of Rhino Report of 2024, but only two happen to be black Rhinos while the rest, 1416 are white. A total of 67 Rhinos were poached in Namibia within 2023.
3. Kenya
Kenya, which leads in East Africa as far as the number of Rhinos is concerned, ranks third on the continent with a total of 1,811 such animals, among them 938 blacks and 873 white species. Only one Rhino was killed by poachers in Kenya in 2023.
4. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has a total of 1,033 Rhinos, with the State of the Rhino Report ranking the country at number four, though it suffered 11 cases of poaching in 2023.
5. Botswana
Botswana comes fifth in Africa with the highest number of Rhinos at 265, among them 242 whites and 23 blacks. A total of 138 such rare mammals were however poached in the country between 2018 and 2022.
6. Tanzania
Tanzania takes the sixth position in Africa with a total of 212 Rhinos, from the census conducted by the National Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI). The country has not experienced any rhino poaching incident for over five years now.
7. Eswatini
Eswatini with 146 Rhinos takes the seventh position in Africa, as of late; there have been no cases of poaching in the country either according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).
8. Zambia
Zambia is left with 66 Rhinos at the moment, 58 blacks and 8 whites, with only one poaching incident which occurred in 2022 and therefore the country ranks at number eight in Africa.
9. Rwanda
At number nine, comes another East African Country, Rwanda which has a total of 58 black rhinos, with no poaching incident so far.
10. Malawi
Closing the top ten list on the continent is Malawi which has 56 Rhinos with only one killed in 2022.
11. Uganda
Uganda is another country in the East African Community with Rhinos; Kampala has recorded 35 White Rhinos, ranking at number 11 on the continent.
12. DR Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo at Number 12 has a total of 20 white Rhinos.
13. Mozambique
Mozambique with 16 Rhinos, among them 14 whites and 2 blacks ranks the African population list at number 13.
14. Chad
Finally comes Chad whose Rhino population is at a measly 7 closing the list at number 14.
Rhino Population rebound
Despite a 10-year decline during the height of the poaching crisis, white rhino populations have come a long way and are increasing again.
- White Rhinos occur in just four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
- White Rhinos are not endangered, although they have been impacted by poaching.
Black rhinos have been steadily increasing since their population low in 1995. Both species are far better off than they were 30 years ago and will hopefully continue this upward trend.
Poaching Incidences
There was a total of 586 rhino poaching deaths reported across Africa in 2023; with 499 of those occurred in South Africa. The 586 rhinos lost in 2023 represent about 2.5 percent of the African rhino population that year, or one rhino killed every 15 hours.
Kruger National Park of South Africa, once the hotspot for rhino poaching – had 78 rhinos killed in 2023, a decrease of 37 percent from 2022.
The vast majority of poaching last year (65 percent) occurred in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, which had an alarming 325 rhinos poached – 307 of those deaths occurred in just one state park, Hluhluwe iMfolozi.
Tanzania Times
World Rhino Day 2024
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