The latest global rhino status report, African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade*, reveals a complex picture for the world’s five rhino species. While there has been a welcome decrease in poaching incidents, threats such as drought, policy shifts, habitat fragmentation, and climate change are now equally undermining rhino conservation efforts.
Dr Jo Shaw, our CEO, said: “We are concerned that the future of rhinos remains threatened by the compounding impact of trafficking rhino horns, fragmented habitats, management and policy constraints and the climate crisis. Rhino conservation is not just about stopping poaching; it needs a collaborative, global effort to address these ongoing threats and ensure that all five rhino species, and the African and Asian wild landscapes they live in, thrive.”
Rhino species recovery stalls
At the end of 2024, Africa conserved an estimated 22,540 rhinos: 6,788 black rhinos and 15,752 white. The recovery of both species appears to have stalled, as the overall total is only slightly higher than the last official count (at the end of 2021) of 22,137. During 2024, black rhino numbers increased by 5.2%, while white rhinos declined by 11.2%, highlighting how easily hard-won conservation gains can be lost. Last year, rhino-poaching incidents across Africa totalled 516, meaning the poaching rate dropped to 2.15% of the continental population; the lowest rate since 2011.
However, the anticipated recovery in rhino numbers didn’t happen due to the adverse impacts of extended droughts, and challenges with rhino monitoring, management and reporting. With Africa’s remaining rhinos often found in small, fragmented populations, strategic management efforts are required to maintain their population health, for example by translocating them to maintain genetic diversity and to prevent a rhino sanctuary from becoming overcrowded, when breeding performance declines. Concerningly, 2025 has seen what appears to be an increase in rhino poaching. South Africa lost 91 rhinos in the first three months of 2025, while Chad lost two female black rhinos in March 2025 meaning only two males remain in the country.
At the end of March 2025, Greater one-horned rhinos were estimated to number 4,075, with 3,323 in India and 752 in Nepal. This species’ recovery has also stalled, with numbers similar to the 4,014 reported at the end of 2021. Between January 2021 and December 2024, nine Greater one-horned rhinos were poached in India, and four in Nepal. The most concerning figures come from Indonesia, where the most recent estimate of Sumatran rhino numbers is 34 to 47 individuals, the same as reported in 2021. The report considers that northern Sumatra shows promise for the species, while records of live animals in southern Sumatra have been scarce in recent years. In 2023, Indonesian authorities reported a total population of 76 Javan rhinos but, since then, it has determined that as many as 26 Javan rhinoceroses had been poached between 2019 and 2023, making a current estimated 50 Javan rhinos, a significant decline from 2021.
Illegal rhino horn trade trends
The authors of the status report calculate that an average of 378-589 rhino horns were in illegal trade annually from 2021 to 2023. The successful implementation of dehorning operations (in which trained veterinarians anaesthetise rhinos to remove their horns without damaging the base layers) is thought to have reduced the number of illegally sourced horns in trade. However, the authors note that seizures of rhino horn continue to be made in conjunction with illegal wildlife products from other species, such as elephants and pangolins, implying the continued involvement of organized crime networks.
The upcoming CITES COP20 in November 2025 provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the countries identified by the report as being most implicated in the illegal trade in rhino horn – South Africa, Malaysia, Viet Nam, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. South Africa, which has the world’s largest rhino population, accounted for 66% of global seizures by weight and had the highest number of illegal trade links; while Malaysia represented the strongest by-weight trade link, followed by Viet Nam. The roles of Qatar and United Arab Emirates as transit hubs with illegal trade links with South Africa appear to have increased, and a new illegal trade link between Mongolia and South Africa was identified.
The authors note that it is unclear whether the apparent decline in involvement of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, mainland China and Mozambique in illegal rhino horn trade is the result of effective enforcement and demand-reduction measures or due to challenges in data reporting and analysis.
CITES Standing Committee reports from 2023 and 2025 have flagged Angola’s emergence as an exit point for illegal rhino horn consignments from Africa to Asia and encouraged Angola and Viet Nam to strengthen their engagement and joint operations to address rhino crimes.
In addition, a joint investigation by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime and Mongabay, released last month, revealed how the new China–Laos Railway has resulted in Laos becoming a critical node in transnational rhino horn trafficking networks. The railway’s launch resulted in a tourism boom of Chinese visitors to shops openly selling illegal rhino horn.
Myriad challenges requiring prioritised adaptive solutions
Overall, the report demonstrates how rhino conservation faces multiple, interconnected challenges, ranging from transnational organised crime and climate change to biological management issues and habitat fragmentation. Security and anti-poaching efforts are central, but many areas with suitable food and water for rhinos remain unsafe, requiring proactive strategies such as real-time surveillance, data analytics, and community-led patrols to protect vulnerable populations. The urgent need for adaptive, interdisciplinary thinking is clear, with effective governance, financial support and collaborative strategies being key to overcoming these hurdles.
Despite these challenges, Save the Rhino remains committed to supporting the significant opportunities that exist to advance rhino conservation. Rhino rewilding, range expansion, and planning climate-resilient habitats are all achievable goals, provided there is cross-border cooperation, proper enforcement and community engagement. Addressing the underlying drivers – such as corruption, institutional and policy challenges, lack of funding and low community involvement – is critical for the long-term success of anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts. Best practices highlight the importance of strong leadership, motivated teams, and collaboration to secure lasting solutions for rhino conservation.
*produced by experts from the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s African Rhino Specialist Group, Asian Rhino Specialist Group and TRAFFIC as commissioned by the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).