African rhino numbers rise for first time in decade despite poaching

South Africa is home to nearly 80 percent of the world's rhinoceros. © AFP - Luca Sola

Conservationists have confirmed the number of rhinos across Africa increased last year, hailing the first bit of "good news" in a decade for an animal heavily threatened by poaching.

Nearly 23,300 rhinoceros roamed the continent at the end of last year, up 5.2 percent on 2021, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).