Current Conservation Programs

World Wildlife Fund

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has led the effort to protect these species from extinction. Its goals comprise of flying rhinos, protecting Sumartran rhino habitat, tackling illegal wildlife trade, stopping forest conversion, monitoring and tracking Javan rhinos, establishing new populations, monitoring and protecting white rhinos, strengtening local and international law enforcement (7).

"Blindfolded and tranquilized, a black rhino is airlifted in a ten-minute helicopter ride from South Africa's Eastern Cape Province to a waiting truck that will deliver it to a new home some 900 miles away. Designed to extricate the animals gently from difficult terrain, the airlifts are part of an effort to relocate endangered black rhinos to areas better suited to increasing their numbers as well as their range."
via ngm.nationalgeographic.com

International Rhino Foundation

The International Rhino Foundation participates in many efforts to protect the various endangered rhino species. They operate in both Africa and Asia. They aim to protected threatened populations in the wild as well as conduct research and management for captive populations in order to improve the chances of long-term survival and protection of all rhino species (1).

Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund

The Wildlife Without Borders - Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund as enforced efforts to protect rhino species (as well as tiger species) from extinction and aims to restore population numbers (10). These efforts include  fighting poaching, managing habitats and ecosystems, developing nature reserves, developing community conservation initiatives, managing human-wildlife conflict, and lastly, raising public awareness (10). The fund supports operating costs for aircrafts to conduct surveillance patrols in Hluhuwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa where more than 2,000 white rhinos and 200 southern black rhinos live as wells as expanding habitat for the critically endangered Javan rhino in the Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia by clearing space, securing more food and water sources, and supporting trained guards (10).

via rhinos.org

Imire Rhino Breeding Program

Many conservations projects like the Imire Rhino Breeding Program aim to educate the public and preserve the species by facilitating rhino breeding efforts. During the late 1980s, poaching rhinos reached an all time high in Zimbabwe so the Department of National Parks and Wildlife removed the remaining 120 black rhino out of the danger zones of the national parks in Zimbabwe and into Intensive Protection Zones on various conservancies (9). Imire was responsible for the care of 7 baby rhinos (9), They were each hand fed for 8 years and raised as a semi-domestic herd (9). The black rhinos successfully bred and there are 14 births that have taken place at Imire to date (9). About 10 were relocated to two national parks (9). Unfortunately, three black rhino and an unborn calf were shot and killed by poachers on November 7, 2007 resulting in a huge blow to the conservation program and the loss of a generation of black rhino (9). Despite this brutal blow to the program, efforts still remain strong. The program currently has 4 sub-adult black rhinos that are apart of a breeding program (9). They are housed separately at night and are physically guarded by armed guards, and are taken out during the day with their handlers to browse (9). Hopefully the future is bright for these 4 and once they mature they will hopefully be able to be successful parents without the grim fate that other endangered rhinos have suffered.

via witness.co.za