According to the International Rhino Foundation’s State of the Rhino 2025 report, one rhino was killed every 15 hours in Africa last year.
Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania joins the world in commemorating World Rhino Day on September 22, new data reveals that poaching levels in Africa have reached an 11-year low. However, ecologists caution that the survival of rhino populations is still under serious threat.
According to the International Rhino Foundation’s State of the Rhino 2025 report, one rhino was killed every 15 hours in Africa last year.
Fortunately, overall rhino numbers are starting to recover, with populations in Africa and Asia increasing by 430 since 2022, bringing the global total to 26,700.
“Africa remains home to the majority of the world’s rhinos, including the critically endangered black rhino, which has an estimated population of 6,788, and the near-threatened white rhino, which numbers around 15,752,” the report states.
Despite this progress, poaching and the illegal horn trade continue to threaten rhinos, largely driven by demand from Vietnam and China. Rhino horn is often used in traditional medicine and is also sought after for ornamental and luxury items.
Peter Knights, the Chief Executive Officer of Wild’s Africa, stated that while rhino poaching has decreased this year and populations are growing overall, rhinos are still at risk from poaching for their horns.
He emphasized the need for integrity testing of rangers, which has proven effective, and called for its widespread implementation, along with education and demand reduction campaigns in Vietnam and China.
Knights noted that since the beginning of the poaching crisis in 2008, more than 12,000 rhinos have been illegally killed in Africa. The peak occurred in 2015 when 1,349 rhinos were poached. In contrast, 2024 saw only 516 recorded incidents, the lowest number in over a decade.
He also referenced the African and Asian Rhinoceroses Status, Conservation and Trade report, commissioned by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) for 2025, which found that poaching accounted for just 2.15 percent of Africa’s total rhino population loss in 2024, the lowest rate in 13 years.
Current conservation strategies across Africa now combine ground protection, intelligence-led enforcement, aerial surveillance, advanced ranger training, community partnerships, and the translocation of rhinos to safer areas.
Knights emphasised that while recent gains are promising, they remain fragile. Organizations should continue investing in anti-poaching efforts, fostering stronger international collaboration, and promoting consumer education to reduce global demand for rhino horn.
Governments, conservationists, and the public are urged to remain vigilant, protect rhino habitats, and report wildlife crimes.
