Positive news for Asian rhinos
 Conservationists have reported the first live sighting of a Sumatran rhino in Indonesian Borneo in over 40 years!
The female rhino was safely captured in East Kalimantan on 12 March before being moved to a protected forest, with plans for a new breeding population. The species was thought to be extinct in Kalimantan until 2013, when researchers discovered evidence of the species surviving in the area from footprints and camera traps.
In further good news for Asian rhinos, Indonesian officials have reported that seven Javan rhinos were born in Ujung Kulon National Park during 2015. This is the largest number of Javan rhinos born in a single year, after years of population decline. The birth of the new calves brings the Javan rhino population up to 63 individuals.
Read the full story on our website.
IUCN reports deepening poaching crisis across Africa
 Last month, Save the Rhino joined 70 experts from 18 countries for the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group meeting in South Africa.
Many strategies and responses to the poaching crisis were discussed at the meeting, with poaching statistics and rhino population figures also compiled.
Despite South Africa seeing a slight reduction in poaching, worryingly the total number of African rhinos killed by poachers has increased for the sixth year in a row with at least 1,338 rhinos killed by poachers across Africa in 2015.
However, with increased law enforcement and the dedicated efforts of the field rangers, the exponential rate of poaching seen during 2013-15 has slowed down. These poaching figures would be much higher if it were not for the hundreds of rangers risking their lives day in, day out to protect rhinos.
The current white rhino population is estimated between 19,682 and 21,077 individuals, with black rhinos estimated between 5,042 and 5,455 individuals.
Read more on our website.
Darwin Initiative grant for community conservation in Zimbabwe
 Save the Rhino is delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant of £267,882 from the Darwin Initiative, a UK government grants scheme that helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide.
Save the Rhino will be partnering with the Lowveld Rhino Trust, Senuko Ranching Pvt Ltd and the Gudo Community Development Trust to implement a community conservation project focused on harmonizing land use in Save Valley Conservancy, south-eastern Zimbabwe. The Save Valley Conservancy is home to one of Africa’s large black rhino populations.
Click here to read an article with more information on the project.
Engaging evening with Professor Alice Roberts
 Thank you to everyone who attended the 14th Douglas Adams Memorial Lecture given by Professor Alice Roberts on the ‘Survivors of the Ice Age’.
We would like to say a special thanks to the evening’s sponsors, the London Speaker Bureau. Funds raised from the evening will support Save the Rhino and the Environmental Investigation Agency.
View photos and a video from the event.
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Photo credits: International Rhino Foundation, Mark Carwardine, Save the Rhino, Lowveld Rhino Trust |
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