Patterns of depletion in a Kenya rhino population and the conservation implications

The Amboseli black rhino population has been monitored closely over 13 years and its decline to near extinction levels parallels its fate elsewhere. The patterns and causes of decline are attributed directly to human agencies, initially resulting from changing social and political circumstances amongst pastoralists, recently due to poaching for horns. The general conservation implications are discussed and the need to contain the international trade in horns is considered the overriding priority, due to the difficulty and expense of eliminating poaching. © 1982.