World Rhino Day, celebrated annually on September 22nd, is a global initiative dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of conservation and the ever-increasing need to rescue and protect our our planet’s endangered rhinoceroses: the southern white rhino, the black rhino, the Javan rhino, the Sumatran rhino, and the greater one horned rhino (also known as the Indian rhino).
The theme for world rhino day 2024, “Building a Future for Rhinos,” emphasises the collective action, innovation, and unwavering commitment needed to ensure the long-term future and survival of the world’s five rhino species for generations to come.
The Ongoing Battle Against Rhino Poaching
In the first six months of 2024, South Africa reported the poaching of 229 rhinos, a slight decrease from the 231 poached during the same period in 2023. While this number shows that poaching remains a severe threat, it’s important to note that May and June 2024 saw a significant drop in rhino losses, with 21 and 22 rhinos poached, respectively—down from 42 and 34 in May and June of 2023.
This reduction is largely attributed to the dehorning of rhino populations, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal’s Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where over 1,000 rhinos have been dehorned since April 2024.
Kruger National Park (KNP), once a critical stronghold for rhinos, lost 45 rhinos to poaching between January and June 2024, a slight increase from 42 in the same period in 2023. The KNP continues to implement its Rhino Conservation Plan, but recent studies and rhino poaching statistics paint a grim future for rhinos in government-owned reserves.
499 rhinos were poached across South Africa over the course of 2023, with 307 rhinos being poached in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN). It is thought that the ever-decreasing rhino population in Kruger National Park is pointing poachers towards the lesser-funded KZN game reserves and safari parks.
The continued horrors of poaching in South Africa, which sees 1 rhino poached every 16 hours, means that its up to private organisations and privately funded anti-poaching initiatives to help save our rhinos. To date, private game reserves now conserve half of South Africa’s rhino population, making the need private rhino conservation teams, like Saving Private Rhino, more important than ever.
Challenges, Progress, and Hope for the Future
At the end of 2023, Africa’s black rhino and white rhino populations stood at 16,603 and 6,487, respectively, reflecting an overall increase of 1,032 rhinos since the end of 2021. This positive trend, despite the persistent threat of poaching, highlights the resilience of these magnificent animals and the tireless dedication of conservationists across the continent.
However, the situation in South Africa tells a more complex story. Once a beacon of hope, the white rhino population had surged to over 20,000 individuals by 2018, a remarkable recovery from the brink of extinction in the 1930s, when fewer than 80 southern white rhinos remained in the wild. Unfortunately, this success has been overshadowed by recent declines, with the southern white rhino population now numbering just over 16,000 in 2024, indicating a troubling reversal of progress.
This decline is believed to be partly driven by poachers and illegal wildlife traffickers who, leading up to the functional extinction of the northern white rhino species in 2018, began to turn their attention southward, targeting the southern white rhino and black rhino populations South Africa had previously fought so hard to protect.
Another major issue facing wildlife conservation and anti-poaching initiatives is the lack of funding for national parks and game reserves, and the extreme corruption stemming from poverty and a lack of awareness in many parts of Southern Africa.
The National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT) is a key component of these efforts, promoting collaboration between government agencies, private stakeholders, and international partners to combat wildlife crime and protect rhino populations.
Also Read: World Rhino Day 2023
Building a Future for Rhinos: The Path Forward
This year’s theme, “Building a Future for Rhinos,” reminds us that the future of these magnificent creatures depends on our collective actions today. The continued implementation of conservation strategies, the expansion of innovative technologies, and the strengthening of international partnerships are all critical to ensuring that rhinos not only survive but thrive.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is also finalising the revised Biodiversity Management Plan for Black and White Rhinos, which will guide conservation efforts moving forward. This plan, developed through extensive consultations, will be completed by the end of 2024 and will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of rhino conservation in South Africa.
World Rhino Day 2024: Your Role in Rhino Conservation
World Rhino Day 2024 is not just a day to raise awareness—it’s a call to action. Whether through supporting conservation organisations, donating to anti-poaching units, participating in community initiatives, or simply spreading the word about the importance of rhino conservation, every effort counts.
A unique and exciting way local South Africans and Cape Town residents can help contribute towards Saving Private Rhino is through our unique partnership with Gun Fun: an indoor shooting range in Cape Town’s city centre.
Not only does Gun Fun form a vital part of our Cape Town anti-poaching training and licensed firearm training courses, but they’re offering an exclusive 3-for-2 “save the rhino” shooting package this September, with all proceeds going towards savingprivaterhino.org.
This year, consider how you can contribute to building a future where rhinos can thrive. Join us in celebrating World Rhino Day on the 22 September 2024, and take a stand for the future of these incredible, though vulnerable, animals. Together, we can make a difference.
