IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), African Rhino Specialist Group

Rhinos are part of the charismatic megafauna of Africa and ar e valued in multiple ways by African and global stakeholders. Over the past three decades, continental, regional and national conservation efforts have produced successive rhino conservation  action plans and management plans. The African Rhino Specialist Group often supported these plans under the auspices of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. This framework for African rhino conservation builds upon past plans and presents fresh approaches to rhino conservation, integrating new insights with proven practices.

Translocation has become routine in a number of African range states and has played a key role in increasing both white and black rhino numbers. Although less frequent in Asia, expertise and input was sought from many Asian rhino range states and has been incorporated into these guidelines. This authoritative set of guidelines seeks to share and synthesise the knowledge and experience of rhino translocations in Africa and Asia, and to provide decision makers and senior wildlife managers with guidelines on “best practice” for the translocation of African and Asian rhinos.

The black and the white rhinoceros have become flagship species for international conservation. They are significant not only for the continuation of a major evolutionary heritage, but also as symbols for the protection of African savannahs. The battle for the survival of these species has been marked by some notable successes and sadly, many failures, and the situation is still critical.