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While the difference between black and white rhino populations is straightforward, the status of these species is more complex. How many White and Black Rhinos are left? The white rhino is considered ‘near threatened’ while the black rhino population, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is critically endangered. Prior to implementing new measures in 2012, 18% of the rhino horn reaching the illegal trade came from sport hunting in South Africa. The black rhino faces a similar threat from poaching and has also seen a decrease in habitat as private reserves have less incentive to own rhino with the increased protection costs.Īs many as 75 rhinos are sport-hunted in Africa per year. Illegal hunting has not only affected the white rhino population directly, it has also indirectly lowered the live sale price and investment incentive. The demand for rhino horn stems from traditional Chinese medicine and ornaments. The main threat to rhino populations is poaching to supply the illegal rhino horn trade. Monitoring at-risk wildlife and working with law enforcement has helped Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe conserve the remaining wild black rhino populations. The western black rhino (a fourth subspecies) lived in the Masai Mara and was declared extinct in 2011.Īlthough rhinos have been struggling, the numbers of both rhino species have been increasing in countries where there are considerable investments in conservation. The white rhino has two subspecies, the Northern white rhino and the Southern white rhino, while there are three distinct subspecies of black rhino living in Africa.These are the southern-eastern black rhino, eastern black rhino, and south-western black rhino. While white rhinos live in savanna, shrubland, and grassland in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. The black rhino was the most numerous of the world’s rhino species before it was relentlessly hunted.īlack rhinos live in savanna, shrubland, and desert areas in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The white rhino, ceratotherium simum, and black rhino, diceros bicornis, are the two main species of rhinoceros found in Africa. Read on to discover the major differences between the two rhinoceros species. Both are in the Rhinocerotidae family and are grey in color, so it is vital you know the five features that tell the two species apart.Ī sighting of these enormous plant-eating mammals will likely be a highlight of your time in the wild. During a game drive in Kenya, you may have a tough time telling a black rhino from a white rhino.