Recent poaching in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo threatens the few remaining wild northern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) in the region. Conservationists fear that the black market for rhino horns, the driving force behind the poaching, could soon cause the extinction of the northern white rhinos. Rhino horns, in demand for use in traditional medicines, are sold in illegal markets for thousands of dollars.

The poaching is not restricted to rhinos—elephants are also targeted and killed for their tusks which are exploited for black market trade in ivory. Conservationists estimate that as many as 1,000 elephants in Garamba National Park have been slaughtered for their tusks during the past year (National Geographic).

The level of poaching has been growing in Garamba National Park, a 492,000 ha protected area that lies in the northeast corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sudanese poachers, who moved into the park several years ago, are believed to be responsible for the recent killings. Despite anti-poaching measures, they are able to swiftly kill animals for bushmeat and transport the ivory and rhinoceros horns out of the country and onto black markets (National Geographic).

The northern white rhino population is estimated to be less than 30 wild animals. This number is up from 15 animals in 1984. There are approximately 10 northern white rhinos in captivity, worldwide (African Rhino Specialist Group 2003). Northern white rhinos once roamed north-western Uganda, south-western Sudan, southern Chad, eastern Central African Republic, and northeastern DRC (Sydney 1965). Today, their range has been eroded to the northeast corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Garamba National Park is the last stronghold of the species. It contains vast savannahs, grasslands, and woodlands that are interrupted by rivers and swampy patches. The park was deemed a World Heritage Site in 2006 and is aimed at protecting the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros and other rare animals (elephants and giraffes) that roam within its borders.

Find out more:

• African Rhino Specialist Group. 2003. Ceratotherium simum ssp. cottoni. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed December 17, 2007.
• Garamba National Park (UNESCO.org)
• Poachers Threaten Last Wild Northern White Rhinos (National Geographic)
• Sydney, J. 1965. The past and present distribution of some African ungulates. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 3:1-397.
• White Rhino (Ceratotherum simum) (International Rhino Foundation)