Rhinos are majestic and endangered animals that have been around for millions of years.
They belong to the order Perissodactyla, which means “odd-toed ungulates”, and are closely related to horses and tapirs.
There are five living species of rhinos, two in Africa and three in Asia.
In this article, we will explore how many rhino are there in the world right now, what are the threats they face, and what are the conservation efforts to protect them.
African Rhinos
The two African species are the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum).
The black rhino has two horns on its nose, a hooked upper lip, and a smaller body than the white rhino.
White rhino has a square upper lip, a larger body, and a longer head. Both species have gray skin and are herbivorous.
According to the latest estimates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there are about 27,000 rhinos in Africa, of which 18,000 are white rhinos and 5,600 are black rhinos.
South Africa holds the majority of the African rhino population, followed by Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya.
Asian Rhinos
The three Asian species are the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis).
The greater one-horned pachyderms has one horn on its nose, a thick skin with folds, and a large body.
Javan pachyderms has one horn, a smaller body, and less skin folds than the greater one-horned rhino.
The Sumatran rhino has two horns, a reddish-brown fur, and is the smallest of all pachyderms.
According to the IUCN, there are about 3,700 rhinos in Asia, of which 3,500 are greater one-horned rhinos, 74 are Javan rhinos, and 80 are Sumatran pachyderms.
The greater one-horned rhino is found mainly in India and Nepal, where it lives in grasslands and forests.
Javan rhino is found only in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia, where it inhabits dense tropical rainforest.
The Sumatran pachyderms is found in small isolated populations in Indonesia and Malaysia, where it prefers montane forests and swamps.
Threats to Rhinos
Pachyderms face many threats from human activities, such as poaching, habitat loss, illegal trade, and climate change.
Poaching is the biggest threat to pachyderms, as their horns are highly valued for their supposed medicinal properties and as a status symbol in some Asian countries.
Between 2008 and 2020, more than 9,000 African pachyderms were killed by poachers.
In Asia, poaching has driven the Javan and Sumatran pachyderms to the brink of extinction.
Habitat loss is another major threat to pachyderms, as their natural habitats are converted to agricultural land, urban development, mining, logging, and infrastructure.
Habitat loss reduces the availability of food and water for pachyderms, increases their exposure to human disturbance and conflict, and fragments their populations into smaller and more vulnerable groups.
Illegal trade is a threat that fuels poaching and undermines conservation efforts.
Pachyderms horns are illegally traded for high prices due to cultural beliefs and myths about their healing powers and symbolism.
However, there is no scientific evidence that pachyderms horn has any medicinal value or can cure any disease.
Climate change is an emerging threat that may affect pachyderms in various ways.
Climate change may alter the distribution and quality of their habitats, affect their food availability and health, increase their exposure to diseases and parasites, and exacerbate natural disasters such as droughts and floods.
Conservation Efforts
Despite the challenges that pachyderms face, there are many conservation efforts underway to protect them from extinction.
These efforts include:
Anti-poaching measures
These include law enforcement patrols, intelligence gathering, surveillance technologies, canine units, community engagement, education campaigns, and prosecution of poachers.
Population management
This involves translocating selected pachyderms from high-risk areas to safer locations or new habitats to increase their genetic diversity and range.
Habitat protection
This involves securing existing habitats from encroachment and degradation, restoring degraded habitats or creating new ones, establishing corridors or fences to connect fragmented populations or prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Captive breeding
This involves breeding pachyderms in zoos or sanctuaries to increase their numbers or reintroduce them to the wild.
Demand reduction
This involves raising awareness and changing attitudes and behaviors of consumers and traders of pachyderms horn, through education, advocacy, and social marketing.
READ ALSO: Ime Udoka Parents, Nationality, Marriage, Career and Net Worth
Conclusion
pachyderms are amazing animals that have survived for millions of years, but are now facing a serious threat of extinction due to human activities.
There are only about 30,000 pachyderms left in the world, and they need our help to survive.
By supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure that these magnificent creatures have a future in the wild.
