The two African rhino species are increasing in number but they remain threatened by poaching and some populations are at serious risk of extinction.
Once upon a time, in Africa's savannahs...there were over a million black and white rhinos. After the Europeans' arrival, the rhino numbers and distribution quickly declined. An escalation in poaching happened between the 1970s and the 1980s, as a result of a high demand for rhino horn, used in traditional Asian medicines and valued for dagger handles in the Middle East.
Today, thanks to conservation and anti-poaching efforts, some African rhino populations are stable or increasing, though poaching still occurs. Anyway, it is hard to find African rhinos outside of protected areas and sanctuaries.
WWF is at the forefront of conservation of African rhinos. In 1997 they adopted a strategic and proactive approach to rhino conservation: the African Rhino Programme (ARP). This programme works in cooperation with many partners (government bodies, other conservation groups and NGOs, the private sector and local communities).
Thank to WWF's anti-poaching projects rhinos are now recovering. When the ARP launched there were 8,466 white rhinos and 2,599 black rhinos in the wild: nowadays there are over 20,000 white rhinos and almost 5,000 black rhinos.
However, there's still more to do. Expanding existing protected areas and establishing new ones, improving security monitoring against poaching and improving local and international law in this field, promoting well managed wildlife-based tourism experiences to provide additional funding for conservation efforts.
To help WWF...
Don't buy rhino horn products, donate towards much-needed anti-poaching equipment and support for rangers across Africa and spread the word sharing this information with others!
For more information http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/
WWF is the biggest organization for the defence and the conservation of the environment and the species at risk. It was born on 29 April 1961 with a declaration called the Morges Manifesto and since 1985 it has been investing over US$ 1 billion in more than 12,000 conservation initiatives.
WWF's mission is building a future in which humanity can live in harmony with nature. WWF focuses its efforts on two broad areas: biodiversity, to make sure that the earth's web of life remains healthy and vibrant for generations to come, focusing on critical places and critical species which are very important for the conservation of our earth's rich biodiversity; footprint, namely to reduce the negative impacts of human activity, to ensure that the natural resources required for life are managed sustainably and equitably.
WWF is currently focusing on Amazon, Arctic, China for a Global Shift, Climate and Energy, Coastal East Africa, Coral Triangle, Forest and Climate, Green Heart of Africa, Heart of Borneo, Living Himalayas, Market Transformation, Smart Fishing and Tigers.
WWF's core values are:
- Be a global organization, independent, multicultural, political but not partisan
- Make use of the best scientific information available to identify and pursue its own goals
- Search for dialogue and avoid unnecessary contrasts
- Create concrete solutions for conservation through the combination of field projects, policy initiatives, capacity building and education
- Involve local communities respecting their aspirations and needs
- Tighten appropriate collaborations with other environmental and political organizations and institutions, governments and public opinion to strengthen the effectiveness of WWF
- Critically evalue the adequacy and the efficacy of its efforts to reach the defined goals and to be a careful steward of funds
