Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine » Javan Rhino

New Year Sees Positive Start for Asian Rhinos

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:25:29 +0000

Syndicated via Planetsave.

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, and a writer for the environmental news blog Planetsave. When I'm not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, I like to rock out to live music.

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Asian Rhino Project Launches Cool New Website!

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:52:11 +0000

Exciting news from Australia!

The Asian Rhino Project website has a fabulous new look!

Earlier this month, the Asian Rhino Project (ARP) rolled out a newly re-designed website and logo.

The design is quite pleasing: The new colors are earthy, yet modern – and there are several photos of all three of these lesser-know rhino species. Large, beautiful photos in the home page banner roll from one species to the next, so each one receives a turn at front and center.

Most importantly, there is plenty of information about getting involved: No matter where you are in the world, you can help Asian rhinos!

Please take a tour of the ARP website at asianrhinos.org.au and learn more about how you can help the three Asian rhino species:

Greater one-horned (Indian) rhino population: 2,949
Sumatran rhino population: About 200
Javan rhino population: Fewer than 50

About the Asian Rhino Project

The Asian Rhino Project (ARP) is an Australian non-profit, volunteer organization raising awareness and support for the three Asian rhino species: Greater one-horned (Indian), Javan, and Sumatran rhinos.

The Asian Rhino Project raises funds from donors, corporate sponsors and memberships, merchandise sales, events, and educational programs. Contributions to in-situ programs are made through partnerships formed with conservation organizations in the field.

Donations to the Asian Rhino Project over $2 are tax deductible and 100% of these funds are directly committed to the conservation of this flagship species.

Learn more:

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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List of 10 Useful ‘Rhino Horn is Not Medicine’ Quotes (with Source Links!)

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:06:22 +0000

“The truth is on the march and nothing will stop it.” – Emile Zola

The world’s leading conservation and environmental organizations – among others – are speaking out against the use of rhino horn as a medical treatment. Check out this list of quotes with source links and a few videos.

Rhino horn quotes

“Although there is no scientific proof of its medical value, rhino horn is highly prized in traditional Asian medicine, where it is ground into a fine powder or manufactured into tablets as a treatment for a variety of illnesses such as nosebleeds, strokes, convulsions, and fevers.” – WWF, African Rhino Poaching Crisis

“The unfounded rumour that rhino horn can cure cancer most likely sealed the fate of the last Javan rhino in Vietnam. This same problem is now threatening other rhino populations across Africa and South Asia.” – Dr. A. Christy Williams, WWF, Rhino horn demand leads to record poaching

“We will be leading global action to clamp down on this cruel and archaic trade, and to dispel the myths peddled to vulnerable people that drive demand for rhino products.” – UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelmen, UK to lead international rhino horn clampdown

“The tragedy is that rhino horn is made of keratin, the same stuff that makes up human hair and nails. It has no medicinal value, you might as well eat your fingernails.” – Mark Jones, Executive Director, Humane Society International/UK, It is devastating to see rhinos killed for a cure that doesn’t work

“To all this, I say that something that works for everything usually works for nothing. I also say that something that has been used for hundreds or thousands of years does not make it right.” – Dr. Albert Lim Kok Hooi, oncologist, A horny story

“Apparently, based on the results of this study, rhinoceros horn can reduce fever, but only at rather high dosage levels when prescribed as a single drug.” – Ethnopharmacology of Rhinoceros Horn. I: Antipyretic Effects of Rhinoceros Horn and Other Animal Horns. In this study, fever-induced rats showed temporary lowering of temperature after being injected with an extremely high concentration of rhino horn extract, however, there was no antipyretic effect at the dosage levels comparable to what would be prescribed to a human patient. Download the study here.

“The Secretariat is also very conscious, however, of the need to respond to the belief that rhinoceros horn is efficacious in the treatment or prevention of cancer. It is despicable that criminals are financially exploiting sufferers, and their relatives, at a time when they will be struggling to cope with distressing and sometimes terminal medical conditions.” – CITES (CoP15 Doc. 45.1). Download it here.

Regarding rumors that rhino horn is a cancer treatment: “There is no evidence that rhino horn is an effective cure for cancer and this is not documented in TCM nor is it approved by the clinical research in traditional Chinese medicine.” – Lixin Huang, Statement opposing the use of rhino horn in medicines by the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

“Tests also showed that rhino horn, which, like fingernails is made of agglutinated hair, has no analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmolytic nor diuretic properties, and no bactericidal effect could be found against suppuration and intestinal bacteria.” – WWF Scientific Tests Fail to Show Rhino Horn Effective as Medicine

“For some time I have been contemplating to publish a paper which should have a headline in giant newsprint to say that RHINO HORN IS NOT AN APHRODISIAC. There is even no evidence that rhino horn was ever regularly used for this purpose. Such a paper should be followed by another with more giant newsprint announcing that RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINAL. Consensus now appears to be that even if rhino horn is mildly anti-pyretic to lower fever symptoms, the benefits do not outweigh those of cheap over-the-counter medicines readily available in any pharmacy.” – Dr. Kees Rookmaaker, Rhino Resource Center Newsletter #25, November 2011

Bonus #11

This is interesting: Even the author of a recently published paper tacitly touting the benefits of China’s rhino farming scheme and legal rhino horn trade has acknowledged that scientific testing has proven rhino horn has no medicinal value (although “believers” in traditional Chinese medicine remain unconvinced).

To the believer in TCM, tests conducted by the Swiss pharmaceutical firm Hoffmann-La Roche, which concluded that rhino horn had no effect on the human body whatsoever, or those carried out by Chinese scientists in Hong Kong, who found that rhino horn did have a cooling effect on fever in laboratory rats but only when used in massive doses, have no relevance.

Download it here.

Videos

Humane Society International: “There’s no scientific proof that rhino horn cures disease.”

Dr. Raj Amin: “There is no evidence at all that any constituent of rhino horn has any medical property. Medically, it’s the same as if you were chewing your own nails.”

World Rhino Day 2011: “At the root of the rhino crisis is the myth that rhino horn contains curative properties. For that reason, World Rhino Day 2011 is highlighting efforts to debunk the myths and diminish the demand for rhino horn.”

Bonus video: “Lone Rhinoceros” (Just wanted to share one of my favorite songs by my favorite guitarist, Adrian Belew.)

Additional

Of interest: Dr. Rookmaaker (whose fantastic quote is #10) does not agree with the citing of #9 (Hoffmann-LaRoche/WWF) because the full academic reports used to document these studies cannot be located, or with Dr. Raj Amin’s video (above) because the study itself was apparently not undertaken at ZSL – not because the information itself is invalid. He simply recommends that alternative studies be cited. (In my opinion, #6 is an alternative study. I still consider #10 and Dr. Amin’s video acceptable sources, as do many others.) You can review his comments here.

Image © iStockphoto.com

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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Take Action to Protect the World’s Only Javan Rhinos

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:23:28 +0000

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James

There are fewer than 50 Javan rhinos left in the world and you can help protect them by supporting Operation Javan Rhino, a global partnership led by International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino International.

Javan rhinos at risk

With the recent extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam, there is only one population of Javan rhinos left on Earth.

All of them live in Ujung Kulon National Park on the island of Java, Indonesia.

The Javan rhino is at significant risk of extinction – one natural disaster or an introduced disease could be the end of this species forever.

But you can help prevent the extinction of Javan rhinos!

Operation Javan Rhino

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.

Here’s what Operation Javan Rhino is doing to make the new habitat suitable and safe for Javan rhinos:

Clearing the site for an electric fence and adjacent patrol road
Constructing a fence and small bridges
Planting rhino food plants and removing invasive species
Creating a water supply and salt-lick
Constructing new guard posts
Hiring and training more guards and other staff from local villages
Launching an education program for nearby communities

This immense project costs $650,000 – and $350,000 has already been raised. International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino International are asking for your help in raising the additional funds needed to prevent the extinction of the Javan rhino.

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

Sources: International Rhino Foundation and Save the Rhino International

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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Indonesia’s Javan Rhino Population May Hold Only Four Females

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:15:11 +0000

Camera traps recorded just four females in a recent survey.

It is barely a week since the extinction of the Javan rhino subspecies (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) was confirmed, and already there is troubling news about the remaining Javan rhinos.

There may be just a handful of females among the world’s last population of Javan rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus), which are found only in Indonesia.

According to The Jakarta Globe, camera traps recorded 17 rhinos this year and only four were females.

The rhinos were found in the eastern half of Ujung Kulon National Park.

Video of Javan rhino and calf:

Recently, the video cameras were moved to the western half of the park, which is “more remote”.

It is hoped that additional female Javan rhinos will be found; the results could be known in a few weeks.

Learn more about the extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam at “Gone Forever: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam“.

‘Operation Javan Rhino’

However, there is hope for Javan rhinos in Indonesia.

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) along with an international team of partners, is working to expand the useable habitat for Javan rhinos in UKNP by creating the 4,000 hectare Javan Rhino Study and Conservation Area (JRSCA).

We are doing this by constructing small bridges, an electric fence, and a patrol road; eradicating invasive species which have taken over a good portion of the habitat; planting rhino food plants; providing a water supply and saltlick; and constructing additional guard posts. The continued survival of the Javan rhino depends on their population increasing in numbers as rapidly as possible, and in spreading the population out so that ‘all the eggs are not in one basket’.

Find out how you can help Operation Javan Rhino here.

Image via YouTube

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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#cuntoftheday Awarded to Vietnam’s Rhino Killers

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:01:07 +0000

Congratulations.

Today, I am pleased to note that Shrub Monkey has bestowed “Cunt of the Day” status upon the vile thugs who are responsible for the extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam.

Shrub Monkey’s “Cunt of the Day” (@cuntoftheday) currently has 47,957 followers on Twitter.

Shrub Monkey tweeted: “Rhino poachers who have hunted the Javan rhino to extinction in Vietnam are Cunts of the Day. A proud day for humanity.”

Here is an excerpt from today’s Shrub Monkey blog:

It is high time that poachers got another mention on these pages as they really are a bunch of indefensible cunts. We learn today that the Javan rhino has been poached to extinction in Vietnam. Living in a protected area was not enough for the few remaining rhinos who were illegaly hunted for their horns. This leaves a population of about 50 Javan rhinos in Indonesia.

Poachers are flat out cunts and no excuses about coming from a poor country will cut it. Those who willingly purchase products made from rare species are also cunts of the first order whose selfishness perfectly exemplifies our greed, stupidity and lack of respect for the world in which we live.

Follow Shrub Monkey’s Cunt of the Day at @cuntoftheday

Learn more about the extinction of the Javan rhino subspecies at Gone Forever: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam.

Here’s to a well-deserved Cunt of the Day award!

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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Gone Forever: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:54 +0000

EXTINCT: The world’s last Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus was murdered for her small horn.

Photo: © WWF-Greater Mekong
The extinction of the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) in Vietnam is now confirmed, according to WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).

A new report released by WWF concludes that Vietnam’s last rhino was a victim of the illegal rhino horn trade.

Poaching was identified as the cause of the extinction of the subspecies; the last individual was shot in the leg, which probably caused its death, and the horn had been removed.

The female rhino’s body was found in Cat Tien National Park on April 29^th, 2010. It is estimated that she died in late January or early February.

DNA analyses conducted at Queen’s University, Canada, determined that the dung samples collected during a 2009/2010 WWF survey belonged to one rhino.

Sadly, the samples matched those taken from the dead rhino.

Lack of political will

Vietnam’s tiny rhino population struggled against several formidable obstacles, including the traditional medicine trade, questionable government funding decisions, and habitat loss.

However, it seems the impact of these obstacles could have been lessened, if only the recommended conservation programs had been implemented and supported by the relevant authorities within Vietnam.

The report indicated that there was a glaring lack of political will and very little, if any, accountability for the protection of this critically endangered species.

Demand for traditional ‘medicines’

WWF noted that Vietnam’s “uncontrolled illegal wildlife trade” and “inadequate protection” of habitat led to the extinction of the country’s rhinos.

Vietnam is facing an extinction crisis due to the largely uncontrolled illegal wildlife trade and rampant, ubiquitous poaching of wildlife. Current protected area management practices and conservation interventions have proved inadequate for dealing with this threat. The extinction of the Javan rhinoceros from Vietnam is a direct result of this inadequate protection and protected area management from all parties involved in its conservation.

The “increasing demand for wildlife in the traditional medicine trade in Vietnam, China and other parts of Asia” continues to decimate Southeast Asia’s wildlife populations.

Rhino horn is still a sought-after ingredient for traditional Chinese medicine, despite the fact it has been rigorously analyzed and contains no medicinal properties. Earlier this year, the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine and TCM educators spoke out against the continued use of rhino horn.

Indeed, it is the thriving trade in traditional “medicines” made from animal parts which is responsible for killing the world’s last Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus.

Habitat loss

It was also revealed that the Vietnamese government focused its funding on “infrastructure development” and demonstrated “insufficient political support” for protecting its critically endangered rhino population.

There was insufficient political support to secure adequate habitat, prevent encroachment, and protect the remaining rhinoceros from hunting. Although Cat Tien National Park is a relatively well funded protected area, as is typical for National Parks in Vietnam a much greater proportion of government funding is spent on activities such as infrastructure development, than on addressing threats to the protected area.

The range of the Javan rhino in Vietnam decreased significantly from 75,000ha in 1988 to just 6,500ha by 2010. Urban development, conversion to agricultural land, park encroachment by settlers, and explosive human population growth proved to be ongoing issues that were never adequately addressed.

Additionally, there was “little or no accountability” within Vietnam’s current protected area management system, which includes rangers, their managers, and protected area managers.

‘Conservation failure’

Although once thought to be extinct, Vietnam’s Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus was rediscovered in 1988.

The small population consisted of perhaps a dozen rhinos. Sufficient habitat was available and it was hoped that these rhinos would make a recovery similar to the Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis ) – both of which were on the brink of extinction 100 years ago.

However, by 2006, probably only three Javan rhinos remained in Vietnam. Despite years of valid recommendations from conservation groups, implementation and accountability were both lacking in Cat Tien National Park.

The extinction of the Javan rhinoceros in Vietnam is a major conservation failure.

Three subspecies of Javan rhino once existed. Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis, which formerly occurred in northeastern India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, is already extinct.

Today, only one subspecies of Javan rhino remains: Fewer than 50 Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus are still surviving in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park.

Source: Brook, S., Van Coeverden de Groot, P., Mahood, S. “Extinction of the Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus).” 2011. WWF-Vietnam.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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By Popular Demand: ‘Horny’ Rhino T-Shirts (and More)

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:26:51 +0000

More rhino t-shirt designs!

Since 2007, we’ve been offering a wide selection of rhino t-shirts and other merchandise, and one of the most popular t-shirt designs has consistently been our “horny is good” t-shirt. People seem to have fun with this message.

This year – just in time for the holidays – those who enjoy the “horny” double entendre are in for a treat: We’ve just added a new online store called Horny Forever.

Horny Forever features designs that are geared towards adults. (Those of you with an eye for detail might have noticed a slightly different version of the Saving Rhinos logo – more on that later.)

Six ‘horny rhino’ designs

As of this writing, there are six designs (including the original “horny is good“), with more in this week’s pipeline.

In addition to the Horny Forever logo, there is “Big & Horny” (a white rhino) and another called “Making Baby Rhinos” that is simply an illustration of two rhinos (making a baby rhino). “Have a horny day!” is a simple twist on a classic design.

And then there’s just “HORNY” which sports a golden rhino with plum lettering.

Visit both stores:

Horny Forever – let’s keep rhinos horny forever!
Main store – home of the “Rhino horn is NOT medicine” t-shirts

Please note: Merchandise is available for online ordering only; international shipping is available.

Rhinos in Nepal

We contribute a portion of our t-shirt proceeds to Partnership for Rhino Conservation (PARC/Nepal) and have been doing so since 2009.

The funds help pay for printing educational materials and sponsoring public awareness events that directly impact the people living side-by-side with the greater one-horned rhino in the Chitwan National Park buffer zone. In addition, we promote PARC’s efforts on our social media platforms.

Find out more about the public awareness activities we have helped support at Update from Nepal: A Successful Year of Raising Public Awareness About Rhino Conservation.

About Saving Rhinos

Saving Rhinos LLC is mostly a self-funded endeavor, and is not a charity or nonprofit, and does not accept donations. I also work behind the scenes to provide subject matter expertise to select NGOs and verifiable media sources.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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Updated Rhino Species Fact Sheets

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:21:36 +0000

The latest fact sheets are ready!

Our popular Rhino Species Fact Sheets are now updated and ready to download! Each rhino species has its own fact sheet.

The Rhino Species Fact Sheets were first published in 2009, updated in 2010, and have since been downloaded by people all over the world. The 2011 population figures are based on information provided at the International Rhino Keeper Association Workshop, which was held in May 2011.

Enjoy!

Download the Rhino Species Fact Sheets

For additional free public awareness and learning tools, please visit the Saving Rhinos downloads page.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

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Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine » Javan Rhino

New Year Sees Positive Start for Asian Rhinos

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Top Ten Rhino Stories of 2011

What were the most popular rhino stories of 2011? Find out here.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Asian Rhino Project Launches Cool New Website!

Exciting news from Australia!

Rhishja Cota-Larson

List of 10 Useful ‘Rhino Horn is Not Medicine’ Quotes (with Source Links!)

“The truth is on the march and nothing will stop it.” – Emile Zola

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Take Action to Protect the World’s Only Javan Rhinos

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” – William James

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Indonesia’s Javan Rhino Population May Hold Only Four Females

Camera traps recorded just four females in a recent survey.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

#cuntoftheday Awarded to Vietnam’s Rhino Killers

Congratulations.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Gone Forever: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam

EXTINCT: The world’s last Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus was murdered for her small horn.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

By Popular Demand: ‘Horny’ Rhino T-Shirts (and More)

More rhino t-shirt designs!

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Updated Rhino Species Fact Sheets

The latest fact sheets are ready!

Rhishja Cota-Larson