Conservationists are happy because the number of African black rhinos increased. The rhinos had been poached to near extinction. An international conservation group said there were 4,845 black rhinos in Africa in 2012. This rose to 5,630 in 2018 - an increase of 2.5 per cent a year for six years. The increase is a good sign for the future of the species. They are still endangered and at risk of extinction. Conservationists hope numbers will keep growing.
Big efforts have been made to save the black rhino. These include relocating them away from poachers, ensuring a better male-to-female ratio, and stronger laws to protect them. The group said: "The continued slow recovery is a...powerful reminder that conservation works." It added: "There is no room for complacency as poaching and illegal trade remain acute threats. It is essential that the ongoing anti-poaching measures...continue."