Officially extinct: Africa's western black rhino

Africa's western black rhino was last seen in 2006.

Conservation: Africa's western black rhino is now officially extinct according the latest review of animals and plants by the world's largest conservation network.

The subspecies of the black rhino - which was classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species - was last seen in western Africa in 2006.

The IUCN warns that other rhinos could follow saying Africa's northern white rhino is "teetering on the brink of extinction" while Asia's Javan rhino is "making its last stand" due to continued poaching and lack of conservation.

Like what you see? For weekly Element news sign up to our newsletter.
We're also on facebook and Twitter.