World Rhino Day!

Tweet

Today is World Rhino Day 2018!  As with many large African species, black rhinos and white rhinos  are threatened by habitat loss and illegal hunting. To save them, conservationists are working hard to coordinate programs with local communities, decrease demand for rhino horn, and even airlift some individuals to safety.  Why should we care? As the World Wildlife Fund's website states:

"In almost all rhino conservation areas, there are other valuable plants and animals. The protection of rhinos helps protect other species including elephants, buffalo, and small game. Rhinos contribute to economic growth and sustainable development through the tourism industry, which creates job opportunities and provides tangible benefits to local communities living alongside rhinos. Rhinos are one of the "Big 5" animals popular on African safaris and they are a popular tourism draw in places like the Eastern Himalayas."

Do you want to help?

1. Learn more about rhinos and their conservation
2. Never buy products containing rhino horn or any other body part
3. "Adopt" a rhino from WWF or donate to the African Wildlife Foundation to help with conservation efforts

Mammal Monday -- rhinos

Tweet

We've celebrated rhinos before on Mammal Monday, but today I realized we need to take another look.  Last night, CBS Sixty Minutes included a fascinating report about black rhino relocations -- why conservation experts feel it's necessary and why it's so difficult.  Here's a little clip on the background which causes these veterinarians think these relocations are necessary:

But this process isn't easy or risk-free.  Just last week, the Washington Post reported on the death of 8 endangered black rhinos that died after relocation to a sanctuary in Kenya.  Relocations of endangered species are not the best solution, but it's sometimes necessary.  The best solution is what conservationists call the "precautionary principle." Basically, we want to prevent harmful actions before they happen, rather than trying to fix disasters afterward.  While relocations are a valuable last-gasp effort, the ultimate conservation goal is to directly address the threats to rhinos -- habitat loss and poaching.  Want to learn more or help out?  Save the Rhino and World Wildlife Fund are both active in rhino conservation -- check out how you can help!

Last of a Kind -- Sudan

Tweet

I heard the sad news this morning about the death of Sudan, the last male white rhino.  I think his veterinarian summed it up best: 

"Dr. Steve Ngulu, the veterinarian who was in charge of Sudan, said the animal's death is sad and shocking -- and a testament to human failure."

There's not much new I can say about the fact that this species is creeping ever closer to extinction, but my son's video sums up my mood. 

Last of a kind

Tweet

Most folks have seen the horrible video of a starving polar bear, illustrating the effects of climate change.  An equally daunting threat to biodiversity is habitat loss, and the white rhino is one of the species that will go extinct due to habitat loss and overhunting.  My son took one of his college assignments and decided to reflect on the plight of endangered species.