As the world commemorates Rhinoceros Day, also known as Rhinos Day, the urgent need to protect these majestic creatures from the numerous threats they face is widely emphasized.

Rhinoceros have significantly been threatened calling for more protection in sanctuaries, the species renowned as the last largest megafauna existing are of an herbivorous diet and weigh at least a tonne in adulthood. The Rhinoceros exists in five species inclusive of the two African Rhino species black and white rhinos, whereas the rest species globally are Asian rhino species, like one-horned, Sumatran, and Javan rhinos.

The population of armored African giants is rapidly declining, according to reports such as the IUCN. The Sumatran, Javan, and Black Rhinos are all listed as critically endangered. Only 66 Javan rhinos remain, while there are an estimated 6,195 black rhinos and 34-47 Sumatran rhinos left, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.

White rhinos, native to sub-Saharan Africa, are divided into two subspecies southern and northern. By the late 1800s, only about 20 southern white rhinos were left. A century later, conservation efforts have boosted their numbers to about 16,000 rhinos in eastern and southern Africa. The northern white rhino, however, became extinct in the wild in 2008, leaving only a handful of survivors in zoos and conservancies.

Kenya is home to one of the two last northern white rhinoceros that rests at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy after facing threats of elimination and a promised extinction due to widespread poaching and habitat loss.

Followed closely is the data classifying white rhinos as nearly threatened with 15,942 existing as the greater one-horned rhino is considered in quite a vulnerable position with only 4,014 available in the wild.

The rhinoceros is a member of the five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae a species that has so far become extinct. Bestowed with a longer life span of 40-50 years for the white rhinoceros, 35-45 years for the Indian Rhinoceros, and 35-50 years for the black rhinoceros, the species has a longer gestation period apparently.

Rhinos take more than a year before reproducing with days based on the species whereby the white rhinoceros takes up to 16-18 months, the Indian rhinoceros takes 15-16 months whereas the black rhinoceros takes 15-16 months.

 Kenya has indeed attained a milestone in the conservation and management efforts of rhinoceroses evidenced by the last three decades’ noted increment in population.

According to the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, Peninah Malonza OGW, in the last three decades’ rhino populations have significantly increased from fewer than 400 in 1989 to an estimated 1,890 rhinos.

“Rhinos increase in numbers is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the government and stakeholders in developing and implementing endangered species-specific recovery plans,” said CS Peninah Malonza.