Protecting the rhino and other keystone species from poachers also means standing up against wildlife crime syndicates that threaten entire ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods and national security. It extends further than safeguarding a mega-herbivore crucial to building and maintaining the natural ecosystems in which they and other wildlife exist. Saving the rhino goes beyond just doing the right thing. Whilst the number of rhino poached decreased to 1028 in 2017, the species remains under critical threat.
In 2014 the country lost 1215 rhino to poaching. South Africa is home to approximately 80% of the world’s wild rhino, with only an estimated 5000 black rhino and less than 20 000 white rhino remaining.
