A look at six places you can still see rhinos in the wild
Rhinos are critically endangered, and there is a genuine possibility that many of the species will go extinct in our lifetime. They have been hunted for their horns, and conservation is not enough to save them. There are only about 4,000 rhinos left in the wild – that’s a decrease of 90% since 1970!
Luckily there are still six places where you can see rhinos roaming free. In this blog, you will learn about six places where you can still see rhinos in the wild.
Let’s take a quick look at these places.
India
India has over 30% of the world’s rhinos in the wild. You may have heard of Kaziranga National Park – it is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations for many reasons! It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it boasts an impressive population of some 2000- 3000 animals and boasts cultural heritage. You might be wondering how rhinos can survive here with all that work going on.
The answer is simple: large mammals spend their days primarily asleep or grazing when not hunted by predators for food. They have thick skin that protects them from minor scratches inflicted by underbrush and rain puddles during monsoon seasons too! Another reason why India’s population of wild rhinos thrives is that it was declared illegal for people to hunt these creatures in 1972.
Kenya
Kenya is home to over 5000 rhinos, which may not sound like a lot. However, with such little natural habitat left in the world today, they are doing better than most other countries! The majority of Kenya’s population lives within two parks: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. These parks lie on either side of their namesake town – an area that was once known for its coal deposits.
The terrain here is diverse as well, making it perfect for wildlife from all habitats. It ranges from semi-arid thorn bush savannahs to lush tropical forests, too, expect lots of different animals there too! Many rhinos in Kenya also have to contend with the Black Rhino subspecies, known to attack and kill other animals, including humans.
This is why you must stay on well-marked roads when exploring this area! One of the most popular national parks in Kenya is Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where many endangered species live like elephants, cheetahs, hippos, and rhinos.
Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland)
Eswatini is a small country in Southern Africa with the largest population of rhinos of any African kingdom. They have about 17,000 to 18,000 rhinos roaming free across their territory, making them one of the few countries; you can still enjoy watching these magnificent animals live out their days without fear for your own life!
There are enough animals here to support all sorts of tourism – from eco-tourism through various reserves and parks like Hlane Royal National Park with some 2000 elephants and over 100 lions living within its borders and cultural tourism in places like Mbabane or Manzini.
Nepal
Nepal is the home of two-thirds of the world’s remaining rhinos who live in Chitwan National Park. Due to its location, it has remained relatively untouched by human and animal conflicts, so there are still about 600 individuals living here – mainly from the Indian One-Horned subspecies. Some people like to come to Nepal just for what they call “rhino watch,” where they spend their days tracking them through various habitats on foot or sometimes even on elephants!
Namibia
Namibia is home to many rhinos – they have one of the largest populations in Africa. The country also has some exciting places to visit, including Sossusvlei, which was once used as farmland but now it’s an arid desert leftover from when Lake Kariba and Baragoi Dam were built back in the 1970s. This area is so remote that most people don’t even know about its existence! It would be hard for humans to live here because there are no roads or water supply, just endless dunes with not much more than grasses growing between them either.
Indonesia
Indonesia has recovered from the over-hunting of rhinos that happened in the late 1980s by building sanctuaries for them. These preserves are now home to some 270 animals who have managed to make a comeback, thanks mainly to breeding with other subspecies! The country is also doing its best to protect these creatures, which is why they’ve banned all hunting and trade in rhino products such as horns or skin – so it’s one of the few places left where you can see this magnificent animal roam free without fear.
Wrapping Up
There’s still a chance to see rhinos in the wild, but you need to go now! If we don’t protect these animals soon, they will be gone forever. Save animals!