Rhino Horn is NOT Medicine » Kenya

Celebrity Rhino ‘Max’ Murdered in Kenya

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:59:25 +0000

Yet another senseless tragedy.

The young bottle-fed, hand-raised Southern white rhino featured on the BBC’s “Last Chance to See” program has reportedly been killed for his horns in Kenya. “Max” was only five years old.

According to Wanderlust, the program’s presenters, Mark Carwardine, and Stephen Fry, have been tweeting about the tragedy. Carwardine also tweeted this photo of Max.

Mark Carwardine described Max in his book (Last Chance to See) as being “the tamest rhino in Africa”.

We patted Max on the head, introduced ourselves, and took some photographs. A storm was gathering and the sky was threatening and deep, dark blue. A rainbow appeared above Max’s head. It was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.

Read the entire excerpt about Max from Last Chance to See here.

Image: 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, 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.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

UK’s Chester Zoo Launches New Campaign to Protect Black Rhinos in Kenya and Tanzania

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 06:03:38 +0000

The Chester Zoo is helping critically endangered black rhinos in the wild.

A new campaign called Act for Wildlife has been launched by the UK’s Chester Zoo. The campaign is raising support and awareness for endangered species in the wild – including black rhinos.

Critically endangered black rhinos

In 1970, 65,000 black rhinos roamed the African continent. However, by 1993, the demand for illegal rhino horn decimated this species to just 2,300.

Conservation efforts have increased the critically endangered black rhino population to 4,860 today. Only three subspecies are surviving – the Southwestern, Southern central and the Eastern black rhino. Sadly, the Western black rhino subspecies is now believed to be extinct.

The Eastern black rhino subspecies (Diceros bicornis michaeli) is the least numerous of the three; only around 700 remain in the wild.

Most Eastern black rhinos are found in Kenya, with small populations in Tanzania and South Africa.

Conservation and communities

The Chester Zoo’s Eastern black rhino breeding program has been instrumental in the conservation of this species, and the Act for Wildlife campaign supports three projects to help protect black rhinos in the wild – two in Kenya and one in Tanzania.

Maasailand Preservation Trust in Chyulu Hills – Kenya
Laikipia Wildlife Forum – Kenya
George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust in Mkomazi National Park – Tanzania

Antony Kasanga, Information Officer for the Maasailand Preservation Trust and Field Co-ordinator for the Black Rhino project at Chyulu Hills, explains how the project is important to both rhinos and the local community.

We employ around 45 game scouts and rangers, all from the local Maasai communities. Our rhino rangers work alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service, to monitor and protect our rhinos as threats continue to increase.

The game scouts also have a huge role in protecting local habitat and wildlife. The area is a crucial water catchment for both people and wildlife, including elephant, cheetah, lion and African wild dog. Each year the game scouts confiscate hundreds of snares, arrows, spears and other tools used by poachers. They make around 800 arrests each year.

As the rhino crisis spreads across the African continent, Act for Wildlife works to protect rhinos by funding intensive anti-poaching activities and community education projects.

Working together is the only way we can make sure the black rhino is protected, and saved from extinction.

Learn more about the Chester Zoo’s Act for Wildlife campaign: Check out the Act for Wildlife website and Facebook® page to see how you can help.

Photos and Act for Wildlife logo courtesy of Michelle Duma, Chester Zoo

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Only Seven Northern White Rhinos Survive After Death of ‘Nesari’

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:13:10 +0000

The world’s Northern white rhino population dwindles to just seven.

One of the world’s last known Northern white rhinos has died at Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic. The female rhino named “Nesari” was 39 years old.

Northern white rhinos are believed to be extinct in the wild, and Nesari’s death leaves just seven known survivors.

A lone female, “Nabire”, still resides at Dvůr Králové Zoo, while two are at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly known as San Diego Wild Animal Park).

Read the entire article at White rhino dies in Czech zoo, seven left worldwide.

Dvůr Králové Zoo was home to six Northern white rhinos until December 2009, when Sudan, Suni, Najin, and Fatu were flown to Kenya in hopes of encouraging them to breed.

New hope for Northern white rhinos

In barely more than a year after their historic journey from the Czech Republic to Kenya, romance blossomed and Northern white rhino matings were confirmed.

The first mating was between Fatu and Suni (northern white on northern white). The second mating was Sudan – our oldest northern white male – with Aramiet (southern white female). To see the old boy has still “got it” is hugely encouraging and as we write this, he has his eye set on Taura, another one of the southern white female.

Learn more about Sudan, Suni, Najin, and Fatu:

There is even more Northern white rhino controversy at New Study Finds the Northern White Rhino is Actually a Sixth Rhino Species.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

I am the founder of Saving Rhinos LLC, which publishes news and information about the global rhino crisis. Besides writing Rhino Horn is Not Medicine, I am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine, the Editor of Project Pangolin, 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.

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Rhino Killed in Kenya, Six Suspects Arrested

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Tue, 03 May 2011 04:14:58 +0000

Six people are in custody following the murder of another rhino in Kenya.

A manhunt launched by the Narok police and County Council rangers, along with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has led to the arrests of six suspects in connection with the murder of a white rhino last Wednesday in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

The suspects are said to be employees of the rhino sanctuary where the latest atrocity occurred. Earlier this year, another rhino was killed at the Olchoro-Oroiwua Conservancy.

According to AllAfrica.com, the six are also believed to be responsible for a spate of wildlife killings, and more suspects could be involved.

Narok police boss Peterson Maelo said the six are the employees of the rhino sanctuary in which the white rhino was killed.

Maelo said his team has launched a man hunt for more suspects with the help of the KWS and Narok County Council rangers. He said the suspected poachers are thought to be Tanzanians and have been killing animals in the park in the past three months. He said the poachers may have entered the highly-guarded conservancy by climbing a perimeter fence.

It was also noted by Narok County Council Maasai Mara senior warden James Sindiyo that increased poaching along the border between Kenya and Tanzania was a result of Asian influence in the region.

The increase of poaching activities can be blamed on the increased demand of ivory and other wild animals’ products in Asia and the partial lifting of ivory trade in some countries in Africa.

Read the entire article at Kenya: Cops Arrest Mara Poachers.

Continued use of illegal rhino horn

Rhino killing is tragically on the rise worldwide. In 2011, the following countries in Africa and Southern Asia have been hit:

Kenya
South Africa
Zimbabwe
India
Nepal

Behind the slaughter is the continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine, which is still sought after in both China and Vietnam.

However, rhino horn has been rigorously analyzed and actually contains no medical properties whatsoever. (Read the entire article at Busting the Rhino Horn Myth with Science.)

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Rhino Gunned Down in Kenya, Suspect Held

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:42:49 +0000

One person is in custody after a rhino was killed in Kenya.

A white rhino was killed earlier this week in Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The tragedy occurred at the Olchoro-Oroiwua Conservancy, and one suspect is reportedly in police custody.

Police, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and Narok county council rangers have launched a massive manhunt for the remaining suspects, who are believed to be from Tanzania.

Narok county council Maasai Mara senior warden James Sindiyo said via allAfrica.com that the Kenya-Tanzania border has experienced an increase in poaching.

The increase of poaching activities can be blamed on the increased demand of ivory and other wild animals products in Asia and the partial lifting of ivory trade in some countries in Africa.

Helicopters and sniffer dogs were deployed in the search for the killers.

Spreading Chinese footprint

China’s increased presence in Africa has been linked to increased killings of rhinos and elephants across the African continent.

This disturbing issue was even the topic of a recent Wikileaks cable, in which American Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger noted that elephant killings increased near Chinese labor camps and that Chinese nationals comprise the majority of those arrested for ivory trafficking.

The KWS noticed a marked increase in poaching wherever Chinese labor camps were located and in fact set up specific interdiction efforts aimed to reduce poaching. KWS also reports that 90 percent of the ivory smugglers detained at JKIA are Chinese nationals.

Regarding Southern Africa, it has been noted that the spreading Chinese footprint has placed the demand for rhino horn perilously close to the supply.

Continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional ‘medicines’

The rhino killing epidemic is driven by the continued use of illegal rhino horn in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Illegal rhino horn is in highly sought after for use in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam, despite the fact rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and contains no medicinal properties.

Rhino killing spree

During the first quarter of 2011, rhinos have been killed in the following countries:

Kenya
South Africa
Zimbabwe
India
Nepal

Last week, four white rhinos and one critically endangered black rhino were found slaughtered in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Our sources also confirmed that a white rhino was killed in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, on the western boundary of Kruger National Park.

Some of the killings have been noted here, such as last month’s tragedy in the Western Cape, where a rhino was darted and overdosed at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve.

Just a few days earlier, a rhino was murdered in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, near the town of Senekal, in South Africa’s Free State Province.

Also in January, a rhino was killed in KwaZulu-Natal. Prior to that, two rhinos were murdered in Kruger National Park, a pregnant rhino was slaughtered in the Hoedspruit area, and another near Musina. Still another was killed in the Eastern Cape, at Kariega Game Reserve near Kenton-on-Sea.

In addition, at least seven rhinos have been gunned down in Zimbabwe. Two rhinos have been killed in protected areas within India – one in Orang, and the other in Kaziranga National Park.

The year’s first tragedy occurred in Nepal.

Source: “White Rhino Poacher Held. ” allAfrica.com, 03 March 2011

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Critically Endangered Black Rhino Slaughtered in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:52:48 +0000

Demand for traditional Chinese medicine strikes the world-famous Serengeti.

Despite being microchipped and under “elite” guard, a critically endangered black rhino has been butchered in Tanzania’s famed Serengeti National Park. The rhino was reportedly found – with the horns hacked off – on Tuesday.

The rhino was one of five eastern black rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli) that had been translocated from South Africa in May 2010, as part of the Serengeti Black Rhino Repatriation Project sponsored by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Nduna Foundation and the Wildlife Without Borders program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Tanzania is home to fewer than 100 eastern black rhinos, and the project aims to boost the population by 32 over the next two years.

Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ezekiel Maige, said via Reuters that a “serious manhunt” is on.

We have commissioned a serious manhunt to trace the whereabouts of the poachers behind this incident. We are using every means at our disposal.

We are also in talks with the Frankfurt Zoological Society to ensure closer monitoring and surveillance of the animals and the build-up of the necessary resources.

In addition to the eastern black rhinos, nearly 60 southern central black rhinos (Diceros bicornis minor) live in Tanzania, according to a 2009 census report prepared for CITES.

Continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional ‘medicines’

Illegal rhino horn is in highly sought after for use in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam, despite the fact rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and contains no medicinal properties.

Contrary to popular belief, Yemen is no longer a factor in today’s illegal rhino horn trade, as confirmed by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC.

Regarding Southern Africa, it has been noted that the spreading Chinese footprint has placed the demand for rhino horn perilously close to the supply. The same troubling correlation has been observed in Kenya, particularly in the case of elephants.

Tanzania under scrutiny

There is growing concern that Tanzania’s elephants – and its critically endangered black rhinos – will increasingly become casualties of the country’s warm relationship with China.

Tanzania is currently under intense scrutiny for its plans to sell a collection of worked ivory pieces on December 30^th, 2010, despite the fact it is prohibited by CITES.

This latest attempt comes just nine months after the country’s bid to sell 90 tonnes stocks worth $20 million was rejected by CITES at CoP15 in Doha, Qatar.

Tanzania’s international credibility is weak because there is little evidence that the Government can effectively curb illicit ivory trade within its borders as major recent ivory seizures in Asia have been traced back to Tanzania.

Ivory stockpile auctions have been linked to increased elephant killings in Africa, as the flood of ivory into the market has had the disastrous effect of whetting the famous Chinese appetite for all things ivory.

The main customer for such auctions is China, and thus it is no surprise that China has been implicated in Africa’s rising elephant slaughter. Indeed, China and Japan are the only countries expressing interest in Tanzania’s planned sale in December.

This disturbing issue was even the topic of a recent Wikileaks document, in which American Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger noted that elephant killings increase near Chinese labor camps and that Chinese nationals comprise the majority of those arrested for ivory trafficking.

The KWS noticed a marked increase in poaching wherever Chinese labor camps were located and in fact set up specific interdiction efforts aimed to reduce poaching. KWS also reports that 90 percent of the ivory smugglers detained at JKIA are Chinese nationals.

Yet another contentious issue involving Tanzania is the proposed Serengeti highway, which will bisect the path of the world famous annual wildebeest and zebra migration comprised of nearly 2 million animals. The highway will also destroy critical habitat for wild dogs and critically endangered black rhinos.

Financing for the Serengeti highway is being provided by China, prompting Forbes to dub the project “The Chinese Road Across the Serengeti”.

Sadly, the death of this rhino may be another symptom of Tanzania’s increasingly cozy relationship with China.

Sources:

“Poachers kill rare black rhino in Tanzania: minister.” Reuters. 16 December 2010.

“International Partnership Helps Return Rhinos to Tanzania.” America.gov. 14 June 2010.

Milliken, T., Emslie, R.H., Talukdar, B. (2009). African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade. CoP15. CITES Secretariat, Geneva, Switzerland.

Larson, R. (2010). Rhino Killings on the Rise: A troubling correlation between rhino killings and the spreading Chinese footprint in Southern Africa. Saving Rhinos LLC, San Francisco, USA.

“Tanzania: Nation to Sell Banned Ivory.” allAfrica.com. 13 December 2010.

“US worried by China exports to Kenya.” Capital FM Kenya. 09 December 2010.

“FZS Statement on the Proposed Serengeti Commercial Road.” Frankfurt Zoological Society. 06 June 2010.

“The Chinese Road Across the Serengeti.” Forbes. 17 September 2010.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

In Support of Public Destruction of Rhino Horn Stockpiles

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:35:54 +0000

There is a growing opinion among some conservationists, activists, and the general public that it is time to make a bold and very public statement in order to protect rhinos from the killing crisis that is poised to push these majestic creatures even closer to extinction.

As many of you are now aware, Assam has announced it will publicly burn its stockpiles of 1,571 rhino horns. Saving Rhinos supports Assam’s bold decision.

This courageous event will send an unmistakable message to rhino poachers, rhino horn traders, and consumers of rhino horn “remedies” that rhino horn has no monetary or medicinal value.

Here is why Saving Rhinos is in favor of publicly destroying rhino horn stockpiles:

Eliminate trading opportunities by eliminating stockpiles

Keeping rhino horn stockpiles sends the message to rhino horn consumers that trade in rhino horn may one day be legalized or that a one-off sale could be approved in the future.

In the event of any trade involving rhino horn, or even a one-off sale or auction, there is no doubt that the main purchaser would be China. Despite China’s statement to CITES at the CoP 15 in March of this year that “the use of rhinoceros horn had been removed from the Chinese pharmacopoeia since 1993″, what goes on behind the closed door of China is quite the opposite.

Not only does China allegedly possess an enormous rhino horn stockpile, it is promoting the accumulation of rhino horn in the event of an “unexpected disaster”, as rhino horn is considered by traditional Chinese medicine to be one of “four key drugs” (rhinoceros horn, antelope horn, bezoar, musk) prescribed for emergency treatment.

A recent report, Effectively Utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine in Unexpected Event¹, noted that although actual numbers are not known, “tons” of rhino horn are already kept in traditional medicine storehouses in China.

According to incomplete statistics, there are tons of rhinoceros horns kept in the storehouses of TCMM companies in provinces and municipalities.

It seems very important for the government to store up the four key drugs at this time.

China’s intentional accumulation of rhino horn, its refusal to acknowledge the findings of modern science regarding rhino horn’s so-called “medicinal” properties, and its disregard for international law as a CITES signatory are keeping the illegal trade in rhino horn alive.

Allowing any type of trade in rhino horn with China – whether as a partner or a one-off sale – will push rhino populations even further to the brink, and undermine decades of conservation success.

One-off ivory sale whets China’s appetite and reinvigorates elephant poaching in Africa

The most recent and tragic example of granting China access to species banned from trade occurred when CITES allowed a one-off sale of ivory to China. This disastrous decision whetted the Chinese appetite for ivory and resulted in the widespread slaughter of elephants across every elephant range state in Africa.

Eliminating the possibility of any future rhino horn stockpile sales to China (or any other consumer state) significantly reduces the opportunity for the rhino horn market to be further invigorated, as is the tragic situation facing Africa’s elephants.

Expose the medical myth of rhino horn

If there is to be any hope of protecting rhinos from this “massacre for medicine”, then the notion of rhino horn as a “remedy” is a myth that needs to be busted once and for all.

Consumers, traders, and marketers of rhino horn “medicines” have chosen to ignore scientific analysis that proves rhino horn has no medicinal effect on humans.

However, a public burning is a statement that cannot be ignored.

Following such a unified public declaration that rhino horn has no medicinal value, any country still promoting the use of rhino horn as a “remedy” is likely to have a difficult time having its scientific or medical contributions taken seriously by the international community.

Stockpile destruction ‘breaks the cycle of trade’

Expert opinion matters. There are numerous examples of conservation experts advocating the use of stockpile destruction to end illegal trading cycles. Here are just a few.

Andrea Johnson, Director of Forest Campaigns at EIA via National Geographic, regarding the Madagascar logging crisis:

To end the cycle of illegal harvest and corruption, the government should take the step of destroying all stocks that are not contained in the latest official inventories…

Traders, who are currently stockpiling illegal timber, hoping for another ‘exceptional’ export authorization, must receive a clear signal that it will be impossible to profit from the illegal trade in the future.

Dr. Samuel Wasser, elephant DNA expert at University of Washington via Science Daily:

Public support stopped the illegal ivory trade back in 1989 and can do so again.

Kuki Gallman, activist, conservationists, and author of I Dreamed of Africa who personally helped haul ivory to the 1989 burning, via Conservation Wars:

This bold and brave message, sent to the world, stopped the legal trade on ivory; for 19 years the poaching was enormously easier to control. All ivory was illegal. Ivory is neither food, medicine nor fuel. It is not an essential commodity. It is the tooth of a majestic animal. It is criminal that the great herds are destroyed to just make bad taste trinkets no one needs, but this is what is happening.

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, in support of Assam’s public burning of its rhino horn stockpiles:

All caring authorities have a responsibility to do the correct thing that is in the interest of endangered species, and it is my hope that you will rise to this challenge.

Perhaps the most famous is previous President of Kenya, Daniel arap Moi via The New York Times in 1989:

To stop the poacher, the trader must be also be stopped and to stop the trader, the final buyer must be convinced not to buy ivory.

I appeal to people all over the world to stop buying ivory.

Rise up: Enough is enough

It is time for those responsible for the rhino killing epidemic to be exposed and held to public scrutiny.

Already, several subspecies of rhino have been slaughtered into extinction, and two subspecies now teeter at the brink with fewer than 10 individuals.

Why? To satisfy wanton demands based on myths and superstitions, to perpetuate a flagrant disregard for science and medicine.

As our friends at Bush Warriors have stated, there is a war that is hidden from the Western world: It must be brought into the open so that it can be halted.

A public burning of rhino horn stockpiles will not be ignored: Let us tell the poaching syndicates, their accomplices, and consumers of rhino horn “medicines” that the world is watching – and they can no longer commit their crimes and consume their potions in secret.

Rise up: Enough is enough.

1. Pei, H. (2009). Effectively Utilizing Traditional Chinese Medicine in Unexpected Event. Strategic and Development Department, China National Group Corp. of Traditional & Herbal Medicine.

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

World Famous Rhino & Elephant Expert Adds Voice of Support to Assam’s Public Burning of Rhino Horns

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:34:24 +0000

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, one of the world’s leading authorities on rhinos and elephants, lends her voice to the public burning of rhino horn stockpiles in Assam.

With kind permission from wildlife advocate and conservationist Azam Siddiqui, we present an excerpt from Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s message to Assam wildlife authorities.

Azam previously trained under Dr. Sheldrick in Kenya, in the area of Orphaned Elephant Management. He is now based in Assam.

Excerpt from Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s message to Assam wildlife officials

The proposal to burn recovered Rhino Horns in Assam is definitely something that should be done to all recovered Rhino Horns throughout the world.

Kenya burnt its Rhino horn and Ivory stockpile in l989, and hopefully will soon do so again. The demand for Rhino Horn and Ivory is causing the elimination of both Rhinos and Elephants from the Planet, and the world will be the poorer for it.

I would therefore urge you to do the correct thing by carrying out the proposed burning of your Rhino horn, irrespective of protest from those with a vested interest in perpetuating the decimation of these ancient and extremely valuable animals that have been unchanged for the past 60 million years.

In terms of Nature, therefore, they are perfect for the role they are designed to play within the environment and as such vital to the health of the whole. All caring authorities have a responsibility to do the correct thing that is in the interest of endangered species, and it is my hope that you will rise to this challenge.

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE MBE MBS DVMS

Thank you again to Azam Siddiqui for taking time to discuss the Assam rhino horn burning event, and for sharing this extraordinary statement of support.

Photo: istock.com

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

Northern White Rhino Breeding Plan to Begin with ‘Hybrids’

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:40:44 +0000

All hope for saving the Northern white rhinos from extinction is resting squarely on the shoulders of the ‘Fab Four’ – Sudan, Suni, Najin, and Fatu.

Now that the Northern white rhinos have settled into their new home at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy, experts hope they are in the mood for love – with Southern white rhinos.

The initial plans are to produce “hybrid” calves from breeding the Northern white rhinos with the Southern white rhinos.

Once sufficient numbers are reached, cross-breeding the hybrid rhinos back with the Northern white rhinos will take place.

Richard Vigne, CEO of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, has made it clear that they will be breeding hybrids for a while before sufficient numbers will then permit to cross them back towards nearly pure Northern White.

The four … are thought to be the last hope to ever restore a Northern White population, as the last herd in the wild was wiped out by Ugandan rebels in Eastern Congo, where an incompetent and arrogant minister some years ago halted the translocation from the Garamba National Park to Ol Pejeta at the last moment, condemning these rarest of rhinos to almost certain extinction.

The extraordinarily rare rhinos have been released from their bomas into the expansive – and well-guarded – area they are sharing with Ol Pejeta Conservancy’s Southern white rhinos.

Experts are confident that exposure to the wild Southern white rhinos will stimulate normal breeding behavior in the Northern white rhinos.

Top priority: Preserving Northern white rhino genes

Although a recent taxonomic reassessment indicates the Northern white rhino is actually a distinct species from the Southern white rhino, this finding has not appeared to have altered breeding plans. It is traditionally believed that the Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) are each a white rhino subspecies.

Whether or not the Northern white rhino is classified as a subspecies or distinct species, preserving the Northern white rhino genetic material in any way possible remains the top priority for rhino conservation experts.

Source: eTurboNews

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.

All Black Rhinos in Kenya Being Fitted with Tracking Devices

Rhishja Cota-Larson — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:33:01 +0000

Kenya’s entire black rhino population will soon be electronically monitored.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is setting the standard in rhino protection by fitting each of its 610 critically endangered black rhinos with tracking devices.

Starting next week at Masai Mara, black rhinos will be tranquilized, identified with an ear notch, and electronically tagged. The project is expected to take about a week.

The tracking devices ensure that the rhinos will be monitored at all times, even as they migrate from Kenya to Serengeti in Tanzania. So far, efforts to tag the rhinos have been successful, and black rhino numbers in Kenya are on the upswing.

Kenya’s black rhinos are of the eastern black rhino subspecies (Diceros bicornis michaeli). The black rhino population in Africa currently totals about 4,230.

Source: Daily Nation

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Rhishja Cota-Larson

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

See Rhino Horn is Not Medicine for more information.