Rhinos are one of the most iconic symbols of the African savanna, it is one of any five extant species of odd-toed ungulates. The African rhino is divided into two species, the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). White rhinos mainly live in South Africa, but they have also been reintroduced to Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. As of 2013, the southern subspecies of white rhinoceros has a wild population of 20,405 making them the most abundant rhino subspecies in the world. The majority of the black rhino population 98% is concentrated in four countries: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. South Africa houses 40% of the total black rhino population
Rhinos have been around for millions of years and played a crucial role in their ecosystem. They’re important grazers, consuming large amounts of vegetation, which helps shape the African landscape. This benefits other animals and keeps a healthy balance within the ecosystem. Local people also depend on the natural resources within rhino habitat for food, fuel and income. As one of Africa’s ‘big five’, rhinos are a popular sight for tourists.
As human populations rise and cities grow, logging, agriculture, roads, and settlements destroy rhino habitats. The two African rhino species have both increased in number in recent years thanks to successful conservation efforts, especially in South Africa i.e IRF’s Operation: “Stop Poaching Now Program in Southern Africa”, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) program and other conservationist campaign and awareness geared towards rhino conservation in Africa. Indeed, the white rhino has been brought back from the brink of extinction. However, both species are again at risk due to a huge surge in poaching to meet demand for illegal rhino horn, primarily in Asia. Countries and conservationists are stepping up their efforts but record numbers of rhinos are currently being killed.
Adult rhinoceros have no real predators in the wild, other than humans. Young rhinos can however fall prey to big cats, crocodiles, African wild dogs, and hyenas. Although rhinos are large and have a reputation for being tough, they are very easily poached; they visit water holes daily and can be easily killed while they drink. As of December 2009, poaching increased globally while efforts to protect the rhino are considered increasingly ineffective. The most serious estimate, that only 3% of poachers are successfully countered, is reported of Zimbabwe, while Nepal has largely avoided the crisis (BBC; 2009). Poachers have become more sophisticated. South African officials have called for urgent action against poaching after poachers killed the last female rhino in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve near Johannesburg (The Guardian; 2010). Statistics from South African National Parks show that 333 rhinoceros were killed in South Africa in 2010, increasing to 668 by 2012, over 1,004 in 2013.and over 1,338 killed in 2015 (The Guardian; 2016). In some cases rhinos are drugged and their horns removed, which are bought and sold on the black market. East Asia, specifically Vietnam, is the largest market for rhino horns, (Frank Langfitt, 2013).
By weight, rhino horns cost as much as gold on the black market. Rhino horn is consumed purely as a symbol of wealth, people grind up the horns and consume them, believing the dust has therapeutic properties, powdered horn is used in traditional Asian medicine as a supposed cure for a range of illnesses – from hangovers to fevers and even cancer. The horns are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails.
Poaching syndicates, mostly based in Mozambique, but some within South Africa, are well-equipped, highly-organized and dangerous, they use helicopters, machine guns, veterinary immobilization drugs, night vision equipment to track rhinos and other sophisticated methods to stalk rhinos. This means countries and conservationists need to match this level of technology to be able to tackle the problem, alongside working to reduce demand.
The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature warns that the rhino poaching crisis was not only spreading to include other wildlife species like elephants, but also impacting on rural people living around protected areas because of their exposure to organised crime syndicates. “Overall 2017 also appeared to show a shift to poaching impacts on other species, with elephant losses in Kruger National Park reported to have increased to 67 in 2017 compared to 46 in 2016 – these are important trends to address now to be ahead of the curve and prevent the escalation seen previously for rhino,” says World Wide Fund.
Wildlife trafficking remains a pervasive threat to rhinos, and increasingly to other species such as elephants and lions which bring tourists and jobs to our important protected areas, says Dr Jo Shaw, African rhino lead for WWF International (https://www.worldwildlife.org).“TRAFFIC calls on South Africa urgently to adopt and implement its national strategy to combat wildlife trafficking: the potential growth of new markets for rhino products is a deeply worrying development that needs to be nipped in the bud – we’re far from seeing the light at the end of this very long, dark tunnel,” says Tom Milliken, a rhino expert for the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC (http://www.traffic.org).
It’s highly imperative that the government, non-governmental and other environmental/wildlife conserving agencies in Africa synergise to conserve rhino and as well embark on a Rhino Rescue Mission in Africa; by strengthening protected areas and creating new ones, preserve rhino habitat and help to eradicate the illegal trade in rhino horn, investigate, expose and crack down poaching of rhinos, engage the public. Recruit, train and equip wildlife scouts who protect the rhino from poachers. Promote wildlife-based tourism that helps fund conservation efforts and compensate local communities for living alongside wildlife; Work with communities living around protected areas to help them use their natural resources more sustainably; and supporting the translocation of rhinos to create new, secure populations.
Complied by:Rhinos have been around for millions of years and played a crucial role in their ecosystem. They’re important grazers, consuming large amounts of vegetation, which helps shape the African landscape. This benefits other animals and keeps a healthy balance within the ecosystem. Local people also depend on the natural resources within rhino habitat for food, fuel and income. As one of Africa’s ‘big five’, rhinos are a popular sight for tourists.
As human populations rise and cities grow, logging, agriculture, roads, and settlements destroy rhino habitats. The two African rhino species have both increased in number in recent years thanks to successful conservation efforts, especially in South Africa i.e IRF’s Operation: “Stop Poaching Now Program in Southern Africa”, African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) program and other conservationist campaign and awareness geared towards rhino conservation in Africa. Indeed, the white rhino has been brought back from the brink of extinction. However, both species are again at risk due to a huge surge in poaching to meet demand for illegal rhino horn, primarily in Asia. Countries and conservationists are stepping up their efforts but record numbers of rhinos are currently being killed.
Adult rhinoceros have no real predators in the wild, other than humans. Young rhinos can however fall prey to big cats, crocodiles, African wild dogs, and hyenas. Although rhinos are large and have a reputation for being tough, they are very easily poached; they visit water holes daily and can be easily killed while they drink. As of December 2009, poaching increased globally while efforts to protect the rhino are considered increasingly ineffective. The most serious estimate, that only 3% of poachers are successfully countered, is reported of Zimbabwe, while Nepal has largely avoided the crisis (BBC; 2009). Poachers have become more sophisticated. South African officials have called for urgent action against poaching after poachers killed the last female rhino in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve near Johannesburg (The Guardian; 2010). Statistics from South African National Parks show that 333 rhinoceros were killed in South Africa in 2010, increasing to 668 by 2012, over 1,004 in 2013.and over 1,338 killed in 2015 (The Guardian; 2016). In some cases rhinos are drugged and their horns removed, which are bought and sold on the black market. East Asia, specifically Vietnam, is the largest market for rhino horns, (Frank Langfitt, 2013).
By weight, rhino horns cost as much as gold on the black market. Rhino horn is consumed purely as a symbol of wealth, people grind up the horns and consume them, believing the dust has therapeutic properties, powdered horn is used in traditional Asian medicine as a supposed cure for a range of illnesses – from hangovers to fevers and even cancer. The horns are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails.
Poaching syndicates, mostly based in Mozambique, but some within South Africa, are well-equipped, highly-organized and dangerous, they use helicopters, machine guns, veterinary immobilization drugs, night vision equipment to track rhinos and other sophisticated methods to stalk rhinos. This means countries and conservationists need to match this level of technology to be able to tackle the problem, alongside working to reduce demand.
The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature warns that the rhino poaching crisis was not only spreading to include other wildlife species like elephants, but also impacting on rural people living around protected areas because of their exposure to organised crime syndicates. “Overall 2017 also appeared to show a shift to poaching impacts on other species, with elephant losses in Kruger National Park reported to have increased to 67 in 2017 compared to 46 in 2016 – these are important trends to address now to be ahead of the curve and prevent the escalation seen previously for rhino,” says World Wide Fund.
Wildlife trafficking remains a pervasive threat to rhinos, and increasingly to other species such as elephants and lions which bring tourists and jobs to our important protected areas, says Dr Jo Shaw, African rhino lead for WWF International (https://www.worldwildlife.org).“TRAFFIC calls on South Africa urgently to adopt and implement its national strategy to combat wildlife trafficking: the potential growth of new markets for rhino products is a deeply worrying development that needs to be nipped in the bud – we’re far from seeing the light at the end of this very long, dark tunnel,” says Tom Milliken, a rhino expert for the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC (http://www.traffic.org).
It’s highly imperative that the government, non-governmental and other environmental/wildlife conserving agencies in Africa synergise to conserve rhino and as well embark on a Rhino Rescue Mission in Africa; by strengthening protected areas and creating new ones, preserve rhino habitat and help to eradicate the illegal trade in rhino horn, investigate, expose and crack down poaching of rhinos, engage the public. Recruit, train and equip wildlife scouts who protect the rhino from poachers. Promote wildlife-based tourism that helps fund conservation efforts and compensate local communities for living alongside wildlife; Work with communities living around protected areas to help them use their natural resources more sustainably; and supporting the translocation of rhinos to create new, secure populations.
Olufemi .S. Adesina
Comments
Post a Comment