Rhinos once roamed throughout Eurasia and Africa, and were known to early Europeans who depicted them in cave paintings. Within historical times, rhinos were still widespread in the African savannas and the tropical forests of Asia.

Today however, the Indian rhino and the white rhino are listed as Endangered in the IUCN's (World Conservation Union) Red List. Black rhinos, Javan rhinos, and Sumatran rhinos are considered Critically Endangered.

A subspecies of the Javan rhino, recently re-discovered in Viet Nam, and the northern subspecies of the white rhino, survive only as tiny remnant populations clinging to existence. Very few rhinos of any kind now survive outside National Parks and reserves.

Numbers of some rhinos are increasing
There are success stories: the southern white rhino and the Indian rhino are thriving in well-protected sanctuaries, and their numbers are increasing. Black rhinos, too, have increased during the past ten years, but total numbers are still a fraction of what they were fifty years ago.

WWF tackling threats from all angles
WWF is one of the few organizations attempting to tackle these threats from all angles: strengthening protected areas in Africa and Asia, lobbying to halt the illegal timber trade, and stamping out the illegal trade in horn.