The Future of Rhino Protection
Namibia’s custodianship program has become a global model for devolved wildlife management based on sustainable use. The onslaught on the Namibian black rhino has seen more than six hundred rhinos poached between 2015 and 2024. This number is escalating yearly!
Effective security for rhinos requires a combination of methods such as foot, vehicle, aerial, and horse patrols, cameras, dog units, perimeter security technology, threat analyses, and training. Cooperation between custodians, Namibia Wildlife Protection’s (https://www.namwildlifeprotect.com) anti-poaching units, MEFT, the Namibian Police and Defence Force, police reservists, neighborhood watches, and others is critical. Improved information-sharing between stakeholders builds trust and is therefore also critical.
Rhino populations in private custodianships are at high risk. Rhino poaching pushes this species closer to extinction, damages ecosystems, and sees a reduction in biodiversity. This leads to a loss of tourism revenue to the Namibian custodians and government, which are left in dire straits.
Namibia, as a black rhino stronghold, urgently needs a cost-effective, and thus sustainable, long-term strategy to monitor their rhinos. The protection
of the black rhino imposes an enormous financial burden on custodians. Donor funding to sustain these protection efforts is critical. The loss of rhinos and the costs of combating poaching has caused financial strain on the
Namibian people and government. Custodians may also lose revenue from tourists who want to observe wild rhinos with intact horns.
The Black Rhino Protection Fund is a sustainable incentive developed and implemented so that custodians can receive direct benefits in terms of effective rhino protection. The fund works in close cooperation with a well-known and highly successful anti-poaching company, Namibia Wildlife Protection (https://www.namwildlifeprotect.com) .
Abstracts from: Conservation Frontlines, Jewell, Z. (2019). “Dataset for PeerJ rhino monitoring paper”
Population Decline
Over the past century, black rhino populations have dramatically declined due to poaching, habitat loss, and other human-induced factors. At their lowest point in the late 20th century, the population had plummeted to just a few thousand individuals.
Current Population
While there has been some recovery in certain areas, the total population of black rhinos remains relatively low compared to historical levels. Estimates suggest that there are around 5,500 black rhinos remaining in the wild throughout Africa.
Poaching Threat
Despite conservation efforts, black rhinos continue to face significant threats from poaching for their horns, which are highly valued in traditional Asian medicine markets. Poaching remains the primary threat to the survival of black rhinos.