Thursday, September 30, 2010

Endangered African Rhinoceros

A white rhino, hunted and left for dead for it's horn
    We have been aware of Rhinoceros by their large bodies, stubby legs, but mostly because of their beautiful and fearful horns. They are one of the main tourist attractions of Africa and Asia, but lately if you come to see this magnificent creature, you see rhinoceros without their horns, defenseless against their predators. Why is that?

A poor innocent rhino, killed for the horn
    It is the cause of illegal rhino horn poaching. Ever since 2006 to 2009, the population of rhinoceros has decreased by four hundred and seventy rhinos, which means that twenty or so rhinoceros per month has been murdered. This massacre was the cause of the great demand from the Asian market, the destruction of their natural habitat and the beginning of the human settlement. The number one cause of the decrease of the rhinoceros population is the high demand by the Asian Market for rhino horns. These horns contained traditional Chinese medicine, but although there are many substitutions for rhino horns in these medical practices, there is still stress towards the people trying to help save these animals.
  
   It has been a struggle, but the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been doing their best to create a better living habitat, reducing the illegal timber trade as well as the trade for rhino horns. Their mission is to help earth’s natural environment, to help nature and humanity live in harmony. WFF has over five million supporters that help run around 1,300 projects one at a time. The crew of the WWF has been monitoring the habitat of the white and black rhinoceros and enforcing the law to fully ban the slaughtering of rhinos, but also giving the tourists space to experience the sights of Africa as well.WWF has been helping the African rhinoceros for years and finally, there is some hope that there will be restoration to their population.

A man admiring his kill for the rhino horn.
     International Union of Conservative for Nature (ICUN) has calculated before that the population of African Rhinoceros was less than three thousand, now with all the work WFF, other organizations and generous people have done, there has been a great increase in the almost extinct species. With all the hard work there has been contributed, the growth rate for the white rhino is 6.8% and the black rhino has grown 4.5% since 1995. There are many things you can do to help these defenseless creatures, without your help and their horns, the population can reduce all over again and leave this species extinct.


 


Resources and Pictures
African Rhino Poaching Crises
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/poaching_crisis_african_rhinos/
Google
http://www.Google.ca/images
Rhinoceros
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/
Success in African Rhino Conservation
http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/rhino_conservation/

WWF in Brief
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_quick_facts.cfm

Blogs Commented
http://vanezzabioblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.yay4bio.blogspot.com/


2 comments:

  1. Reading this was very sad, it's very unfortunate for these rhinoceros' who have to get hurt or killed for their horns. I understand that the horns are for the Chinese medicine, but this is just against laws. Killing animals shouldn't be allowed at all. However I'm so happy for WWF to try and make an effort in helping these poor rhinos. It's good to see that humans are actually helping out! Great Job, Frances!

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  2. As I click you page to see your blog, the first thing i saw was the disturbing picture of the horns being removed. I was interested to continue reading. I was shocked at how much rhinos getting killed, just for medication. It was good to know that there are organization like WWF, that are trying to help saving these poor animals.

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