Rhinoceros sondaicus
In-situ population: ~50 animals
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered

The biggest threat to the Javan rhino is that all remaining rhinos live in one, small location, Ujung Kulon National Park, on the western side of the island of Java. This makes the species extremely vulnerable to natural disasters and disease, and therefore efforts to increase habitat for this species are critical. Between 2019 and 2023, it’s understood that around 20 rhinos were poached in the Park. 

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
In-situ population: 34-47
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered

The Sumatran rhino was almost poached to extinction throughout the 20th Century and now, the only animals that do remain are isolated in small pockets across a handful of remote locations. This makes it hard for the individuals to find a mate and boost their population numbers. Efforts now focus on boosting the number of animals left through captive breeding in semi-wild facilities, to secure a future for this extremely rare rhino.

Diceros bicornis
In-situ population: 6,421
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered

Large-scale poaching saw black rhino populations decline from around 70,000 individuals in 1970 to just 2,410 in 1995 – a dramatic decline of 96% over 20 years. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have risen since then to a current population of between 5,366 and 5,627 individuals. Importantly, their geographic range has also increased thanks to translocation programs.

Rhinoceros unicornis
In-situ population: 4,018
IUCN Red List Classification: Vulnerable

Greater one-horned rhinos have made a startling comeback from the brink of extinction. By 1900, fewer than 200 individuals remained but now, after decades of concerted efforts in both India and Nepal, there are more than 3,580 individuals and their population continues to increase. Although poaching remains a high threat, particularly in Kaziranga National Park, the need to expand their habitat to provide space for the growing population is a key priority.

Ceratotherium simum
In-situ population: 17,464
IUCN Red List Classification: Near Threatened

The overwhelming rhino conservation success story is that of the Southern white rhino. The white rhino recovered from near extinction with numbers as low as 50 – 100 left in the wild in the early 1900’s, this sub-species of rhino has now increased to between 17,464, with the vast majority living in a single country, South Africa. The Northern white rhino, however, has only two females left (in Kenya), after the last male, Sudan, died in March 2018.