Rhino horn and other body parts have traditionally been highly sought after, particularly in Asia and the Middle East for medicine and ornamental uses. In the Selous, poaching to meet this demand has decimated rhino numbers to little more than a small handful of animals today from an estimated 3,000 in the 1960s. Globally, the situation has been equally critical, with rhino numbers across the world reduced from half a million thirty years ago to fewer than 18,000 today of which black rhinos total less than 4,000. Tanzania alone dropped from around 3,800 black rhinos in 1981 to not much more than 100 today.

Already on the world’s list of critically endangered species, without support the rhino is in serious threat of becoming extinct. Elephants have shared similar fates, though in larger numbers.  Support to SRT also benefits other critical species that share the rhinos' ecosystem, especially elephants.