16 of the world’s most endangered animals in 2024

Some but not all rhino species are endangered. Black rhinos, Javan rhinos, Northern white rhinos (a subspecies of white rhinos), and Sumatran rhinos are classed by the IUCN as critically endangered.

As of the IUCN's latest assessments, only about 18 Javan rhinos currently exist. Northern white rhinos are possibly extinct in the wild, with an estimated 0-2 individuals left. This makes them critically endangered. Black rhinos are also critically endangered, with an estimated 3,142 individuals remaining. There are only about 30 Sumatran rhinos remaining.

Javan rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching and illegal trade of their parts, particularly their horn. Though they used to range across Southeast Asia, India, and China, they now only live in one national park on the island of Java in Indonesia.

Black rhinos are critically endangered due to poaching, habitat loss, and climate change.

The northern white rhino is critically endangered due to threats of poaching and human conflict within its habitat.

The three main threats causing Sumatran rhinos to be critically endangered are population effects (due to their small population size), human disturbance, and poaching.