2023 ‘State of the Rhino’ Report Released Ahead of World Rhino Day 

Washington, DC, September 18, 2023 – The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) published its annual State of the Rhino report to illuminate the threats to and raise awareness for the five rhino species this World Rhino Day, September 22nd.

“While some species are doing better than others, all of them are under constant poaching threat,” said Nina Fascione, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation. Poaching still impacts all five rhino species and has recently increased in several regions that had not previously been targeted. “Around the world, there is tremendous work being done every day to save rhinos – and that’s why we have hope. Still one thing is clear, rhinos are going to need all the help they can get.” 

Key takeaways from the 2023 State of the Rhino:

• South Africa continues to battle devastating poaching losses of its white rhinos as poachers target Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and other reserves within KwaZulu-Natal province.
• Black rhino populations are increasing despite constant poaching pressure.
• The greater one-horned rhino population in India and Nepal continues to grow thanks to strong protection, wildlife crime law enforcement and habitat expansion.
• The status and whereabouts of 12 of the approximately 76 remaining Javan rhinos is unknown.
• Signs of Sumatran rhinos are increasingly hard to find, creating more uncertainty about their population in the wild.
• 2,000 white rhinos from “World’s Largest Rhino Farm” will now be rewilded throughout Africa.

With all five species combined, there are just over 26,000 rhinos left in the world.

To access the full State of the Rhino report, images and video, please click here.