New hopes from the brink of the extinction

The number of African rhinos is increasing despite poaching. By the end of 2022, it is estimated that there were 23,290 rhinos in Africa, a 5.2% increase compared to 2021. However, at least 561 rhinos were illegally killed during 2022. South Africa, which is home to the majority of rhinos, recorded 448 rhinos illegally killed in 2022, a similar figure to 2021. In Namibia, poaching increased with 93 rhinos killed compared to 47 the previous year. In Kenya, the number of rhinos killed dropped from six to one. Thanks to protection and biological management initiatives, the total number of black rhinos increased to 6,487 (a 4.2% rise), while white rhinos increased by 5.6%, reaching 16,803 individuals. This is the first increase in white rhino numbers since 2012. This sotymap illustrates the distribution of rhinos in Africa and the efforts of the BIOPAMA project to conserve them.