Population and poaching of African rhinos across African range state

This report analyses rhino number data and poaching statistics in Africa, focusing particularly on Southern Africa. The paper underlines that private rhino ownership has contributed to the overall success of increasing rhino numbers in South Africa. However, increasing security costs, and risks to investments and declining economic incentives are leading to increasing numbers of white rhino owners selling and getting rid of their rhino.

On the other hand, the document indicates that data on the trend in poaching is available for Africa and for individual range-states, yet it could not be disaggregated for the white rhino and black rhino in the time available. However, in the main range state South Africa, it appears a disproportionately higher proportion of the commoner white rhino are being poached compared to black rhino. This is due to white rhino being easier to find in the more open habitats they favour, besides their more sociable nature.

Key points include:

• in absolute numbers, South Africa has had the highest increase in poaching rate in recent years
• poaching continues to escalate in South Africa despite the number of arrests continuing to increase year on year
• in relative terms, poaching has been higher in recent years in Malawi and especially Mozambique where any rhinos that move across the border from South Africa are likely to have a very limited lifespan
• if these trends continue, current rates of rhino population growth in general and white rhino population growth in particular could be threatened

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