Authorities from two law enforcement agencies arrested two suspected rhino killers in Kaziranga National Park.

India Blooms News reported that Dilowar Hussain and Altaf Hussain were arrested in Biswanathghat with a .303 rifle and live ammunition.

Kaziranga security forces and agencies have staged several joint operations this year, resulting in ten arrests during the past three months.

Although at least five rhinos have been killed in India since the beginning of the year, there is good news: This year’s census revealed that India’s greater one-horned rhino population is on the increase.

Continued, strong performance from local law enforcement will support this wonderful trend.

Image © iStockphoto.com

Staff Writer

Saving Rhinos website: savingrhinos.org | Blog: Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine | Web series and podcast: Behind the Schemes | World Rhino Day: worldrhinoday.org |

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Nepal authorities have arrested two rhino horn dealers identified as Tej BK and Pramod Adhikari.

The Himalayan Times stated the two suspects were trying to sell a rhino horn to an “unidentified client” over the phone.

In a separate incident, officials in Nepal also arrested Bishnu Tamang with a leopard skin.

Unfortunately, big cat trafficking is on the rise.

For example, as tiger populations have decreased, lion bone trade has increased significantly over the past few years.

Photo: © & courtesy of Partnership for Rhino Conservation, Nepal.

Staff Writer

Saving Rhinos website: savingrhinos.org | Blog: Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine | Web series and podcast: Behind the Schemes | World Rhino Day: worldrhinoday.org |

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While traditional Chinese “cure-alls” sometimes include endangered species such as rhinos, tigers, and pangolins, the Eastern folk medicine craze has recently become even creepier, as South Korean customs officials have found it necessary to crack down on traffickers of “Chinese-made capsules made from dead human babies”.

According to The Korea Times, “human flesh capsules” are produced in Yanji, Jilin, Qingdao and Tianjin, China.

The capsules are made of powdered dried fetuses or dead babies. Believed to help in rejuvenation, they are used by terminal cancer patients or Chinese laborers working here, according to the customs office.

Al Jazeera reports that since August 2011, 35 trafficking attempts have been made and approximately 17,450 “stamina capsules” were confiscated.

Besides the creepy factor, ABC News notes that additional health risks — such as e coli, salmonella and shigella — could be present in fetal remains since “the birth canal is in close proximity to the rectum”.

Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who consults regularly with the Centers for Disease Control, was quoted as saying that folk medicine is not “regulated”.

There are all kinds of health hazards that can come from abroad from folk or culinary practices that are not regulated.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the disturbing revelation comes as a result of a South Korean documentary which aired last year and accuses “Chinese pharmaceutical companies of collaborating with abortion clinics to make pills allegedly made of human fetuses and the remains of dead infants.”

Endangered species — and now human fetuses? How much more of this appalling nonsense in the name of “folk medicines” must we tolerate?

See also:

• Revealed: China’s ‘Rhino Horn Cancer Treatment’ Scheme
• Rhino Horn and ‘The Red Flags of Quackery’

Image: Saving Rhinos

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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Park authorities in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park have compiled an incredible video which features footage of more than 30 Javan rhinos — nearly the entire population of this critically endangered species.

Executive Director of the International Rhino Foundation, Dr. Susie Ellis, said in a Mongabay.com interview that the video is a “peek into the secret lives of Javan rhinos”.

Check out the amazing camera trap footage of these beautiful rhinos:

The International Rhino Foundation and WWF are providing an additional 140 camera traps in Ujung Kulon National Park for closer monitoring of these elusive rhinos in their rainforest habitat.

Sadly, in October 2011, the Vietnamese subspecies of Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) was declared extinct. Read more at Gone Forever: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam.

Image via YouTube

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

World-famous drummer and former Beatle Ringo Starr is helping to raise awareness about the rhino crisis.

Ringo has changed the home page of his website to a photo of a baby rhino with the message “Save the Rhinos”, and said via his news page that he and fellow drummer, the late great Keith Moon, have always “loved rhinos”.

I’ve always loved Rhinos. They were close to my and Keith Moon’s heart. In fact, I had two huge ones made and gave one to Keith. Mine is still here out on the grass here in England.

The photo featured on Ringo’s website is a baby black rhino named “Shida”, one of the rhino orphans at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. (Sadly, Shida passed away after being fatally wounded by another rhino.)

Tour dates for Ringo Starr and His 13th All Starr band can be found here.

Image: Screenshot via ringostarr.com

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

The International Rhino Foundation has set an ambitious target of raising $10,000 on “Cinco de Rhino” — May 5^th — and you can help make it happen!

On May 5^th (or anytime!), set aside a moment to make a donation to International Rhino Foundation — or go all out and host a Cinco de Rhino party! (Check out what the International Rhino Keeper Association and San Diego Zoo Safari Park are doing for Cinco de Rhino!)

Hosting a Cinco de Rhino celebration is a fun way to raise money for rhinos, and IRF has posted a party guide with ideas and recipes on their website.

For your Cinco de Rhino party, you can set a fundraising goal and ask your friends to donate. You can send your party proceeds to IRF via their online donation form (or mail a check).

Every dollar makes a difference!

• $25 will provide four days of food and veterinary care for an orphaned baby rhino in Zimbabwe.
• $50 will employ an Indian rhino monitor for 2 weeks on anti-poaching and monitoring patrols.
• $100 will provide 1 week of food and veterinary care for a Sumatran rhino at the Sumatran rhino sanctuary.
• $500 will purchase a high-quality GPS unit for rangers in South Africa to help track rhinos and help fight poachers.

To learn more about the amazing work of the International Rhino Foundation, visit their website.

“Cinco de Rhino” image #1: Saving Rhinos. Additional materials supplied by International Rhino Foundation.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Acting on intelligence reports, Kaziranga forest officials have arrested two individuals identified as Rupam Kutum and Manoj Pegu, believed to be part of a rhino-killing gang operating in India.

Although the pair was not in possession of a rhino horn at the time of their arrest last week, a Kaziranga National Park spokesperson said via the Times of India that “specific information” has linked them to previous rhino crimes.

We have specific information that the arrested persons were involved in one more rhino poaching attempt in the park and are members of an interstate rhino poaching gang. However, no incriminating articles were recovered from them. We are still interrogating them.

At least five rhinos have been killed for their horns in India since the beginning of 2012.

However, there is great news for greater one-horned rhinos: This year’s census revealed that India’s rhino population is on the rise.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

For the second time this month, Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau has successfully nabbed a gang of rhino horn racketeers.

According to The Himalayan Times, Ram Bahadur Gurung and Keshav Bahadur Rokka of Dhading, Rudra Bahadur KC of Myagdi, and Krishna Bahadur Dhital of Gorkha were arrested “as they were on their way to find prospective clients”.

Authorities confiscated a rhino horn from the gang.

Under Nepal’s National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, the suspects could face up to 15 years in prison, plus heavy fines, for killing and trading in endangered species.

In Nepal, court delays and postponements for rhino-related crimes are usually avoided because the cases are handled directly by the divisional forest office.

The country has a history of administering serious punishments for rhino crimes.

Last week, two rhino horn traders were busted in Kathmandu.

Nepal enjoyed an entire calendar year of no rhino killings, until tragedy struck earlier this month: A female rhino was found dead, with her horn missing, in Chitwan National Park.

Greater one-horned rhinos in Nepal

One of the three Asian rhino species, greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) were once widespread throughout the northern floodplains and nearby foothills of the Indian sub-continent between Indo-Myanmar border in the east, and Sindh River basin, Pakistan in the west.

Nepal’s most recent rhino census found that the population of greater one-horned rhinos has increased to 534. The count was conducted in April 2011, and revealed an increase of 99 rhinos since the last count in 2008.

Chitwan National Park was found to have 503 rhinos, while 24 reside in Bardia National Park, and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve holds seven of the precious pachyderms.

Today, greater one-horned rhinos are found only in a few protected areas in northeastern India and lowland Nepal.

Traditional medicine myths continue to threaten rhinos

Although the greater one-horned rhino population is steadily increasing, these rhinos remain under threat of being killed for their horn.

Despite the fact that extensive scientific analysis has confirmed that rhino horn has no medicinal value, myths about rhino horn persist throughout China and Vietnam, where rhino horn is considered a key ingredient of traditional Chinese medicine.

Photo © Partnership for Rhino Conservation Nepal/Saving Rhinos

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

The world’s only population of Javan rhinos will now be more closely monitored, thanks to the quadrupling of video camera traps by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and WWF.

Critically endangered Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia, will now be monitored by 160 video cameras.

The Head of Ujung Kulon National Park Office, Moh. Haryono, said in a WWF release that the cameras would be useful for recording other species inside the park.

With the total of 160 video camera traps placed simultanously around the park, we can collect various information, not only on javan rhino but also other wildlife.

The video can even monitor human activities inside Javan rhino habitat in Ujung Kulon. This information serves as an important basis to increase Javan rhino population in Ujung Kulon, which is in line with Indonesia’s rhino conservation strategy and action plan.

Thanks to information obtained from video camera traps in 2011, 35 rhinos — 22 males and 13 females — were identified.

Dr. Susie Ellis, Executive Director of IRF, noted that the cameras will help “provide an important step for ensuring the survival of existing Javan rhinos.”

Adhi Hariyadi, coordinator of WWF-Indonesia’s Rhino Conservation Program, explained that the cameras would be part of a suite of monitoring tools.

By integrating video information gathered from camera trap with DNA based monitoring, we can get a better description of the Javan rhino population, and an even deeper understanding of rhino behaviors.

APP greenwashing continues

Meanwhile, the notorious Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) seems to be continuing its efforts to hoodwink the public with its “public-private partnership” called “The Javan Rhino Conservation Working Group”.

Although APP announced last year that it was making a $300,000 donation (over five years) to the Indonesian government on behalf of Javan rhino conservation, Dr. Susie Ellis explained in a Mongabay.com interview that this was most likely another greenwashing attempt.

A relatively small donation (especially in comparison to their billions of dollars in annual revenue) from APP to the Indonesian government does not mean that they play a role in the on-the-ground conservation of this species.

From the NGO perspective, this contribution appears to be truly an attempt to greenwash the company’s image.

How to help Javan rhinos

You can help protect critically endangered Javan rhinos by supporting Operation Javan Rhino, a global partnership led by International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino International.

Operation Javan Rhino is creating 4,000 hectares of expanded habitat for Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon, to encourage population growth and establish a second “insurance” population of Javan rhinos at a separate site.

Please visit the International Rhino Foundation’s Operation Javan Rhino page to make your donation and learn more.

Image via YouTube.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. I am the Editor of Rhino Horn is Not Medicine and Project Pangolin, author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave, and the host of Behind the Schemes. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Greater-one horned rhinos at risk.

A greater one-horned rhino was killed last week in the Bagori forest range of Kaziranga National Park, bringing India’s rhino death toll to at least five.

The Times of India reported that the rhino’s horn had been chopped off and twelve suspects were arrested.

This tragic death brings this year’s death total to at least five greater one-horned rhinos in India.

Despite the recent deaths, Assam’s rhino population is on the rise.

Staff Writer

Saving Rhinos website: savingrhinos.org | Blog: Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine | Web series and podcast: Behind the Schemes | World Rhino Day: worldrhinoday.org |

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.