Take Action Before Poachers Kill The Last Rhino

Can you imagine a world without rhinos? With the recent death of Sudan, the world's last male northern white rhino, a future without rhinos could become a reality. When Sudan the rhino was born in 1972 more than 1,000 northern white rhinos called central Africa home. Now, after years of brutal poaching, the northern white rhinos are functionally extinct.

Across Africa, rhinos have become victims of organized crime and are being slaughtered for their horns. In South Africa alone, 1,054 rhinos were killed in 2016 — an almost 9,000 percent increase since 2007 (when just 13 rhinos were poached). Since 1960, the population of the critically endangered black rhinos has declined an estimated 97.6 percent. This ruthless killing funds a lucrative black market where poachers make millions of dollars from people who buy the illegally traded rhino horn, falsely believing it can cure cancer and other ailments.

Extinction is looming for Africa's gentle rhinos but there is hope. In September 2019, with support from African Wildlife Foundation, the United States passed the RAWR Act to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching. This act strengthened the anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts being undertaken by African governments and conservation partners, like AWF.

Don't let poachers drive rhinos into extinction. Honor Sudan's legacy and sign this petition if you agree that illegal wildlife poaching has no place on our planet.