The black rhino or diceros bicornis is a species of rhinoceros that is critically endangered. It lives in semi-desert savannah, woodlands, and wetlands. They play an important role in their habitats and in countries like Namibia, rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism. The protection of black rhinos creates large blocks of land for conservation purposes.
Populations of black rhino declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. WWF states that the population of the black rhino had dropped by 98% between 1960 and 1995 to less than 2,500. Conservation efforts across Africa have increased the black rhino numbers to about 5,500. Wildlife crime, overall, is the main factor resulting in the decrease of rhinos in the world.
Of all the threats facing black rhinos, poaching is the deadliest. Black rhinos have two horns which make them lucrative targets for the illegal trade. A recent increase in poaching in South Africa threatens to erase the conservation success, reaching an apex in 2014 when 1,215 rhinos were poached. Next to poaching, human activities such as agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure development also contribute to the decline in rhino population.