Black Rhino Adoption

Protect What You Love. Adopt a Black Rhino.

Black rhinos have suffered the most drastic decline of all rhino species. Between 1970 and 1992, the population of black rhinos decreased by 96%. In 1970, approximately 65,000 black rhinos remained in Africa but by 1993, only 2,300 survived in the wild. Since 1996, intense anti-poaching efforts and strategic translocations to safer areas have allowed the species to slowly recover and increase in size to about 6,400 individuals today. Poaching still looms as the greatest threat to black rhinos and all too often, the animal killed was a mother with her vulnerable calf now left to fend for itself.

Rocky was one of those orphaned calves discovered by rhino monitors in Zimbabwe’s Bubye Valley Conservancy. Rocky was badly injured but our partners were able to rescue and rehabilitate him over time – he got his name from his fighting spirit. Eventually, Rocky was released back to a secure location in the wild along with other orphaned rhinos. All orphans from rhino populations where we work are raised under a controlled system to minimize human habituation and dependence, so they can successfully integrate back into the wild rhino population.

You can adopt a black rhino – like Rocky – either in your own name or as a gift for a relative or friend who supports wildlife. Your tax-deductible donation will support IRF’s important conservation work in southern Africa.

*If you would like to make multiple adoptions and/or personalize more than one  certificate, please make separate purchases for each.

• To personalize your adoption certificate, be sure to review your cart before checking out and add the name you'd like featured on the certificate.
• Once your order is complete, you'll receive an email with your adoption packet and personalized certificate sent directly to the email address you provide at checkout.