International organizations have been creating international ______ day, to spread awareness about species that are in critical danger and facing extinction, and today is World Rhino Day!
“Of the three Asian rhino species, two – Javan rhinos and Sumatran rhinos – are critically endangered. After the extinction of Javan rhino in Viet Nam in 2010, only one small population of Javan rhinos remains, in Java, Indonesia, with fewer than 50 individuals.”
The two species of African Rhinos are Black Rhinos (critically endangered, but starting to make a come back), and White Rhinos (threatened). The Southern White Rhino is are finally thriving in protected areas and sanctuaries, but unfortunately, the Northern White Rhino has a population of 4 individuals.
The demand for rhinoceros horn is by far their greatest threat. Although CITES banned the international trade of rhinoceros horn in 1977, the demand is still high in Africa and Asia. Rhino horn has many uses, including medicinal and tools such as dagger handles.
“Although some traditional medical practitioners are using alternatives, a TRAFFIC survey of medical practitioners showed that 60% stocked rhino horn and 27% maintained that it was essential to their work.”
The African Rhino Crisis is fuelled by the demand for rhino horn in Asian medicine. Organized groups of poachers have been killing hundreds of rhinos per year, putting their numbers seriously in decline. A subspecies of northern white rhino is already thought to be extinct, with many other species not far behind.
Habitat loss and destruction is another major factor in the decline of rhinos, not to mention thousands of other species all over the world.
“Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to species. The world’s forests, swamps, plains, lakes, and other habitats continue to disappear as they are harvested for human consumption and cleared to make way for agriculture, housing, roads, pipelines and the other hallmarks of industrial development. Without a strong plan to create terrestrial and marine protected areas important ecological habitats will continue to be lost.”
3 reasons to celebrate World Rhino Day:
1) The recovery of white rhinos from the brink of extinction 100 years ago to over 20,000 today is one of conservation’s greatest success stories.
2) Black rhino numbers have more than doubled from their low point of 2,400 in 1994 to more than 5,000 today.
3) The greater one-horned rhino faced a similar extinction threat at the turn of the 20th century, when only a handful remained, but have since recovered to over 3,300 today.
– World Wildlife Fund
Who Else is Helping Rhinos?
- SOS – Save Our Species
- IUCN – International Union for the Conservation of Nature
- International Rhino Foundation
How Can You Help?
- Don’t buy rhino horn products. Illegal trade in rhino horn is a continuing problem, posing one of the greatest threats to rhinos today.
- Donate towards much-needed anti-poaching equipment and support in Africa
South Africans / Residents of other countries
- Adopt a Sumatran rhino through WWF-US
- Adopt a Black rhino through WWF-UK
- Use and support sustainable wood, paper and palm oil. By purchasing certified sustainable palm oil and FSC-certified forest products, retailers, traders, and manufacturers help protect Sumatran and Javan rhino habitat by limiting illegal logging and forest conversion to oil palm plantations. Consumers can also help by demanding certified products.
- Donate to WWF to support the Asian Rhino and Elephant Action Strategy
- Spread the word!
Thank you to the World Wildlife Fund for coming up with strategies to save the rhinos!
Other important wildlife and environment dates:
- World Wetland Day – February 2nd
- World Wildlife Day – March 3rd
- International Day of Forests – March 21st
- World Water Day – March 22nd
- Earth Day – April 22nd
- International Day for Biodiversity – May 22nd
- World Environment Day – June 5th
- World Oceans Day – June 8th
- International Tiger Day – July 29th
- World Elephant Day – August 12th
- World Animal Day – October 4th
- World Habitat Day – October 7th
- World Soil Day – December 7th
- International Mountain Day – December 11th
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