Decades of conservation work — including in parks like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, where the white rhino was pulled back from near-extinction in the early 20th century — rebuilt the population from only a few dozen individuals to the tens of thousands alive today, though poaching remains an ongoing threat.
Source: WWF South Africa
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between white and black rhinos?
Despite the names, both are grey — the distinction is mainly in mouth shape: white rhinos have wide, flat lips for grazing grass, while black rhinos have pointed lips for browsing leaves and shrubs.
Why are rhinos still under threat despite conservation success?
Poaching for rhino horn, driven by demand in some illegal markets, remains a persistent threat even as breeding populations have recovered significantly from historic lows.
How close did white rhinos come to extinction?
By the early 1900s, the southern white rhino population had dropped to fewer than 100 individuals, almost all in what is now Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, before dedicated conservation efforts rebuilt the population.