The Australian Rhino Project is a conservation organisation that is committed to working as part of the collective international fight to protect African rhinoceros from extinction. The Australian Rhino Project, together with the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, Orana Wildlife Trust and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, is currently working to expand the population of white rhinos in Australia and New Zealand to maintain a genetically diverse breeding crash that can act as an insurance population should the rhino become extinct in its African homeland. The outcome of the project will result in increases in white rhino populations in both New Zealand and Australia.

Since 2010, official figures suggest that 8,955 rhinos have been poached in South Africa. With an estimated remaining population of less than 20,000 white rhinos, the species is becoming increasingly threatened due to poaching. Rhino populations in Asia and Africa have also been heavily impacted by poaching. Poaching has been driven by an illicit demand for rhino horn.

The Australian Rhino Project consists of a team of individuals, supporters and partner organisations who are passionate about ensuring the survival of the rhinoceros. Since the start of the project, the poaching epidemic has only increased in South Africa and the future of the rhino species continues to become more precarious.

The project is proudly working with our South African conservation partners, the Thaba Manzi Wildlife Sanctuary, to help make this project a reality.

We believe that we need to act now, as rhinos may be extinct in the wild in less than 10 years.