One rhino is poached in Africa every 15 hours, but numbers are starting to come back
New data released in the International Rhino Foundation’s 2025 State of the Rhino report ahead of World Rhino Day on the 22nd indicates that although one rhino was poached every 15 hours in Africa last year, poaching levels are at their lowest in more than a decade. Asian and African rhino populations overall have increased by 430 to 26,700, since the last official count in 2022. Wild Africa emphasizes that despite this progress, the poaching crisis remains a serious threat.
Africa is home to the majority of the world’s rhinos, including the “critically endangered” black rhino, a member of Africa’s iconic Big Five, and the “near-threatened” white rhino. Current estimates place the black rhino population at 6,788, and the white rhino at 15,752.
Poaching and the illegal trade in rhino horn remain the greatest threats to their survival, driven by demand from Vietnam and China, socioeconomic factors in Africa, and organized criminal gangs. Rhino horn is used as medicine in Vietnam and China and even for ornamental carvings and trinkets, as well as in traditional Chinese medicine.
In a concerted effort to prevent rhino extinction, African governments and conservation groups have implemented a range of anti-poaching strategies. These include on-the-ground protection initiatives, intelligence-led enforcement, advanced ranger training and integrity testing, and stronger collaboration with local communities. Many initiatives also integrate innovative technologies, such as camera traps, aerial surveillance, and motion sensors, alongside rhino translocation programmes aimed at reducing risk in high-poaching areas. While progress has been gradual, these multi-faceted approaches are beginning to yield results.
Since the onset of the poaching crisis in 2008, over 12,000 rhinos have been illegally killed in Africa, with the highest number recorded in 2015, when 1,349 rhinos were poached. By contrast, 2024 saw ‘merely’ 516 recorded poaching incidents. According to The African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade report (commissioned by CITES 2025), poaching accounted for just 2.15% of Africa’s total rhino population loss in 2024, the lowest rate in 13 years.
“While rhino poaching in South Africa has declined this year and populations are growing overall, rhinos are still threatened by poaching for their horns. Integrity testing of rangers needs to be applied across the board as it has been proven to be effective and education and demand reduction in Vietnam and China is also important as we seek to rebuild rhino populations,” says Peter Knights OBE, CEO of Wild Africa.
South Africa rhino statistics:
• South Africa has the largest rhino population according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• In 2024, 420 rhinos were poached in South Africa, a 15% decrease from 499 in 2023.
• This represents 81.4% of all rhino poaching cases in Africa (420 out of 516).
• From 1 January to 31 March 2025, 103 rhinos were poached in South Africa, averaging 34.3 rhinos per month. 35 fewer than the same period in 2024.
• On 5 May 2025, Dr. Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, announced ongoing efforts to combat rhino poaching.
• Median rhino populations in South Africa remain below the levels recommended by the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group, meaning many populations are too small to be reproductively and genetically viable.
While there is hope for rhinos, their plight is far from over. These gains, though significant, remain fragile. Sustained investment in protection, stronger international collaboration, and continued efforts to reduce demand, particularly in consumer countries, are critical to securing the species’ future. On World Rhino Day 2025, Wild Africa urges governments, enforcement agencies, conservation groups, and the public to stay vigilant and maintain their commitment to rhino preservation. Say no to poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, protect rhino habitats and report wildlife crimes.
