The Brink of Extinction: The Most Endangered Animals in the World

Black Rhino

Conservation efforts have already saved the Black Rhino, found mostly in South Eastern Africa, from complete extinction once and brought its numbers up from a scant 2,500 in 1995 to a healthier current population of about 5,000 worldwide. However, they are still considered to be critically endangered and are a prime target for poachers looking to earn a quick buck selling rhino horns on the black market.

The last decade has seen a huge resurgence in poaching numbers due largely in part to the South African government’s moratorium on domestic rhino horn sales which passed in 2009. Since then the annual poaching numbers have soared from 122 rhinos in a year to more than 1000 in 2017, showing there is still much work to be done in order to save this species from extinction.

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