Population estimates (Emslie 2012; International Rhino Foundation 2014; IUCN 2010; Simmons 2018)
IUCN Status
CITES Status
Southern white rhino recovery
Isolation of small populations
Poaching
Only 2 northern white rhinoceros remain in the world.
Nola, pictured above, was the last member of her subspecies in the United States; two other females survive in Africa. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is developing techniques to use artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and surrogate southern white rhinos.
The outlook for southern white rhinos is more hopeful and their population recovery is a remarkable conservation achievement. Once numbering fewer than 100 individuals, a more healthy population of over 20,000 now survive in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana and Swaziland.
Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.
Charlton (2015)
Emslie (2012)
Emslie and Brooks (1999)
International Rhino Foundation (2002)
International Rhino Foundation (2014)
IUCN (2010)
Leader-Williams (1992)
Owen-Smith (1973)