70
8-9,000
90
90
20
630
25
1,500
15
10
10
A national summary (Table 1) shows that nearly all countries have fewer rhinos than four years ago, but that most of the losses occured in the northern range of black rhinos. The few countries with stable or increasing populations occur in southern Africa (Fig. 1) and account for only 30% of the continental total.
170
180
2500
The overall status of the white rhino continues to improve steadily (Table 3) but once again geography distinguishes the fate of the northern and southern subspecies, the former failing from an estimated 650 in 1979 to less than 20 today, while the latter has increased to nearly 4,000 animals, up from only a few dozen early in the century. The northern race must be regarded as essentially extinct everywhere except Garamba National Park in northern Zaire, where poaching continues to threaten the last dozen or so animals (Hillman et al, in press).
3920
70
200
200
3,330
3,020
5
30
3,920
20
30
400
The overall status of the white rhino continues to improve steadily (Table 3) but once again geography distinguishes the fate of the northern and southern subspecies, the former failing from an estimated 650 in 1979 to less than 20 today, while the latter has increased to nearly 4,000 animals, up from only a few dozen early in the century. The northern race must be regarded as essentially extinct everywhere except Garamba National Park in northern Zaire, where poaching continues to threaten the last dozen or so animals (Hiliman et al, in press).
Based on Iain Douglas-Hamilton's (pers. comm.) recent re-analysis of Markus Borner's 1983 Selous census (see page 18), there may be reason to suspect that this vast reserve has lost up to three-quarters of its rhinos since Douglas-Hamilton's 1976 survey,
2,750
150
1,400
3,795
We estimate that in 1984 there are 8-9,000 black rhinos, about 3,920 southern white rhinos and near to 20 northern white rhinos. The 40% decline in estimates of black rhinos results partly from improved estimates of previously little-known populations, but predominantly from poaching losses. So, for example, the large reduction in Kenya's population is due more to improved censusing than real losses, whereas the new figures for Sudan and C.A.R. almost certainly reflect poaching losses.
In 1981 Kes Hillman estimated there to be between 10,000 and 15,000 black rhinos.
In 1981 Kes Hillman estimated there to be< 1,000 northern white rhinos, and 3,000 southern white rhinos.
8000-9000
By using Groves' (1967) classification of black rhino subspecies and their geographic distribution, we can get some idea of how the seven recognized races have fared (Table 2). The three subspecies occupying the northern-most range, ladoensis, brucii and longipes, have virtually been exterminated. The remaining few hundred are widely scattered and heavily hunted and could become extinct in the next few years. Chobiensis in the southern continent has also dwindled to a hundred or so animals, and is in danger of extinction. Bicornis, though only a few hundred in number, seems well protected in southern Africa. Michaeli, which numbers several hundred, is well protected in various Kenya sanctuaries, but is still vulnerable elsewhere. Minor, the most widespread and numerous subspecies, numbers several thousand, or more than two third of all black rhinos, and is doing fairly well.
1,650
1,680
3,130
285
5
60
250
3,000
300
14-15,000
10
60
15-30
1
1
10
15
<1,000
1
20
400
20
640
400
130
110
100
550
400
110
90
1,975
According to Borner's recent survey of Ruaha in Tanzania, virtually all of the 500 rhinos reported in the mid-1970s (Norton-Griffiths et al 1980) have been killed and fewer than 20 survive.
25
300
345
300
3,480
6,895
3,135
330
5
5,840
20
30
30
40
300
300
300
110
100
