The Wildlife Park welcomed its first Black Rhino in October 2016. Today the ‘Into Africa’ enclosure is home to Jasper and Makibo, two critically endangered Eastern Black Rhinos who arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in March 2018. 

Once found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, sightings of Black Rhino were extremely common. However, populations quickly declined with the introduction of European settlers, who relentlessly hunted Black Rhinos.

Between 1970 and 1992, their population declined by 96% to 2,300 from a devastating period of poaching for their horns which are used to make ornamental crowns, cups and ceremonial daggers as well as for herbal medicine. Demand for rhino horn is still rising.

However, thanks to global conservation and anti-poaching efforts since 1992, Black Rhinos numbers have steadily risen to around 5,000 individuals.