What is the current conservation status difference between *C. s. simum* and *C. s. cottoni*?

*C. s. simum* is numerous, while *C. s. cottoni* is functionally extinct.

The distinction between the two recognized subspecies of white rhinoceros reveals drastically different conservation realities. The Southern White Rhinoceros (*Ceratotherium simum simum*) is the most populous subspecies, thriving in managed populations and wild areas across Southern Africa, often leading to a classification like Near Threatened for the species overall. In sharp contrast, the Northern White Rhinoceros (*Ceratotherium simum cottoni*) is considered functionally extinct in the wild, maintained only by a few individuals under intense human care, representing an absolute emergency requiring specialized, immediate intervention strategies that differ significantly from those applied to the southern population.