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.

Photo: © WWF-Greater Mekong

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.

Photo: © WWF-Greater Mekong

‘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.

Photos provided by & © WWF-Greater Mekong.

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.

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.

© Saving Rhinos LLC

Image: © Saving Rhinos LLC

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.

All in for Rhinos: World Rhino Day 2011 Highlights

World Rhino Day was September 22^nd – and from Australia to Zimbabwe, the message was loud and clear: Rhino horn is NOT medicine!

“All in for Rhinos” features both offline and online activities and events that were held on World Rhino Day.

Enjoy the video!

Thank you for providing content/photos for this very unique production and/or otherwise participating in World Rhino Day:

• Chishakwe Ranch, Zimbabwe
• Save the Rhino International, UK
• Rhino Africa Safaris, South Africa
• Partnership for Rhino Conservation, Nepal
• Asian Rhino Project, Australia
• Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, USA
• TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Malaysia
• Education for Nature-Vietnam
• Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya
• International Rhino Foundation, USA
• human.kind Advertising Agency, South Africa

Find out more at World Rhino Day FAQs.

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.

Encouraging news!

Britain is rising to the challenge of protecting rhinos from illegal trade by embarking on high level global talks to dispel medicinal myths about rhino horn.

The agreement was secured at last month’s 61^st meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman explained that myths about rhino horn are responsible for the killing of at least 279 rhinos this year, as well as an unprecedented rise in museum robberies and antique rhino horn laundering.

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.

Also behind the mythbusting movement is activist Catherine Bearder MEP, who led last year’s successful campaign to halt the one-off sale of ivory. She pressured European Environment ministers to vote against the potentially disastrous stockpile-selling proposal made by Zambia and Tanzania.

Bearder states on her website that she is “proud of the fact that the EU and particularly the British government are leading the way in fighting this archaic trade.”

CITES also recommends that rhino-related crimes be treated as seriously as drug trafficking and other types of organized crime.

Image: © Saving Rhinos LLC

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.

Absolutely stunning!

Artist Maximo Riera has created an incredible piece: An exquisitely detailed chair in the shape of a rhino.

The Rhino Chair is part of “The Animal Chair Collection” which includes an octopus, walrus, lion, beetle, and whale. (View all of them here.)

Each piece begins with the artist’s sketch of the animal, which is turned into a three-dimensional digital image. Using a computer and “mechanized sculpting tools”, the end result is a precise, compressed foam replica of the animal. This is sanded and painted by hand to form the back of the chair.

According to the artist: “Because of its superlative size and presence, The Rhino Chair is considered more like a throne than a regular chair. There is not a better animal than the Rhino to reflect nature’s capacity and mightiness.”

“Each creation retains the animal’s natural vitality whilst being totally biological accurate in their appearance. This collection is homage to these animals and the whole animal kingdom which inhabits our planet, as an attempt to reflect and capture the beauty of nature in each living thing.” – Maximo Riera, Artist.

The chairs are a Limited Edition and prices are by request only. Please see Maximo Riera’s website for additional information.

Photos courtesy & © Maximo Riera

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.

It’s time to start planning for the Big Day!

The Second Annual World Rhino Day is approaching and we’ve created a short video for you to share!

World Rhino Day is September 22^nd

This special day celebrates the rhinos of the world and highlights efforts to debunk the medicinal myths about rhino horn.

World Rhino Day 2011 is an international team effort led by Zimbabwe-based Chishakwe Ranch and US-based Saving Rhinos LLC.

Join the celebration on Facebook® at facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay2011.

For creative inspiration and more information about World Rhino Day 2011, check out Cookies, Crafts and Cocktails: Fresh Ideas for World Rhino Day 2011.

Photos: #1 iStockphoto.com; #2 Saving Rhinos LLC; #3 Wikimedia Commons; #4 Partnership for Rhino Conservation, Nepal (PARC); #5 Saving Rhinos LLC; #6 Wikimedia Commons; #7 Wikimedia Commons; #8 iStockphoto.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, 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.

A list of creative ways for you to celebrate World Rhino Day!

The Second Annual World Rhino Day is September 22^nd and we’ve compiled a helpful list of creative ideas to get you started!

Cause-related organizations, NGOs, zoos, and members of the public are encouraged to celebrate these precious pachyderms with both offline and online activities.

Root of the rhino crisis

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.

World Rhino Day tradition continues

Last year, WWF led the inaugural World Rhino Day initiative by asking people around the world to make noise for rhinos in an effort to bring attention to the rhino crisis, and to help raise funds for anti-poaching efforts.

This year, the World Rhino Day tradition continues with a team effort led by Zimbabwe-based Chishakwe Ranch and US-based Saving Rhinos LLC.

‘All in for Rhinos’

The World Rhino Day 2011 flagship project is the production of “All in for Rhinos”, which will feature user-generated content and showcase the creative ways people are raising awareness about the rhinos’ plight and spreading the message that rhino horn is not a remedy.

Beginning now and through September 22^nd, we are inviting people from every corner of the world to submit photos for inclusion in World Rhino Day 2011′s “All in for Rhinos” feature!

You can post your photos to World Rhino Day 2011 – if possible, use high-resolution photos.

(Note: Photos which feature how people are celebrating rhinos will be given preference for the “All in for Rhinos” project.)

Please feel free to share your rhino photos on World Rhino Day 2011.

Get creative

Please consider taking some time between now and September 22^nd to celebrate World Rhino Day and participate in “All in for Rhinos”. The suggestions that follow are mainly time commitments and are very pocketbook-friendly.

We hope these ideas get your creative juices flowing!

Posters in Action

We want to see posters up all over the world!

• Feeling crafty? Create your own posters! Or download posters from Saving Rhinos’ World Rhino Day 2011 poster collection.
• Print the posters and put them up where people will be sure to see them: Schools, businesses, at your office, your favorite coffeehouse or the shopping center kiosk are just a few suggestions!
• Take photos of the posters when you have them up!
• Share your photos of “posters in action” on World Rhino Day 2011 at facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay2011

Wall of rhinos

Rhinos, paint, and kids: A crafty combination for a World Rhino Day classroom art project!

• Have your students paint pictures of rhinos – the more, the better
• Put all of the kids’ artwork up in the classroom – until an entire wall is covered with rhinos
• Take a photo of the “wall of rhinos” so we can include it in “All in for Rhinos”!

Chalk it up

This is a great way for kids (of all ages) to get involved – and get outdoors, too!

• Use chalk to draw rhinos on neighborhood and city sidewalks, and playgrounds
• You can also write conservation messages such as “rhino horn is not medicine” or a simple “World Rhino Day is September 22!”
• There are more ideas for using sidewalk chalk at “Walking on Wildlife” here.

Have a party

Is there a birthday (or anniversary) coming up in your family, classroom or at the office?

How about celebrating with rhino-shaped cookies, a rhino decorated cake – or even a rhino made out of cake?

Check out this amazing rhino-shaped cake:

For the adults: Did you know there is a cocktail called “Charging Rhino”? Here’s the recipe via MixedDrinkWorld.com:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz Campari bitters
1/2 oz dry vermouth

Preparation Instructions: Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with twist of lemon.

Servings: 1 person

Serve In: Cocktail glass

Make some noise

Following in the WWF tradition of the first World Rhino Day, dust off your vuvuzela and make noise for rhinos!

No vuvuzela? Honk your car horn or your didgeridoo, crank up your electric guitar or just give a rhino-sized shout!

You can also donate to WWF’s rhino conservation efforts here.

Social media sharing

It is simple and effective to spread messages via social media.

Bloggers – write about World Rhino Day and post your link to World Rhino Day 2011. (Please note: Posts which advocate violence or harm will be deleted.)

For those of you using Twitter, the hashtag is #worldrhinoday – you can help make World Rhino Day a trending topic!

One of the most popular social media networks is Facebook®. You can also help spread the word on StumbleUpon, Reddit, Digg, and others.

Connect

Connect with World Rhino Day 2011 on Facebook® at facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay2011.

NGOs, zoos, cause-related organizations: Are you holding a fundraiser or promotion for World Rhino Day? Please post a link to your event to the World Rhino Day, or send your information to info (at) savingrhinos (dot) org.

See you there!

Image #1, #2 & #3: Saving Rhinos LLC; #4 © iStockphoto.com; #5 via webstockbox.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, 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.

A colorful collage of rhinos are featured in our collection of posters for World Rhino Day 2011.

We have just released a four-poster set for World Rhino Day 2011! The black rhino is representing the two African species and the greater one-horned rhino is representing the three Asian Species.

Spreading the word: Thank you to The Earth Times for their article “World Rhino Day 2011 coming – get ready to blow your horns for rhinos!” – read it here.

Print and share – or create your own posters

Links for downloading are included below each poster (formatted to print from your desktop).

1) Print the posters and put them up where people will be sure to see them: Schools, businesses, at your office, your favorite coffeehouse or the shopping center kiosk are just a few suggestions!

2) Take photos of the posters when you have them up!

3) Share your photos of “posters in action” on the World Rhino Day 2011 page on Facebook® at facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay2011

3) We will be featuring YOUR photos of the posters from around the world in a very cool presentation following World Rhino Day!

Enjoy the posters and thank YOU for helping to raise awareness about rhinos on World Rhino Day 2011!

Black rhino profile on black background

Download the poster here (6.3MB).

Black rhino profile on mustard seed background:

Download the poster here (11MB).

Greater one-horned rhino profile on black background:

Download the poster here (278KB).

Greater one-horned rhino profile on mustard seed background:

Download it here (11MB).

High resolution full-sized posters

Each poster is also available in a high resolution format at the full poster size of 16 x 20 inches. We will upload those later this week.

However, if you need the full-sized high resolution files now, please contact info (at) savingrhinos (dot) org with “WRD Posters” in the subject line.

About World Rhino Day 2011

When: World Rhino Day is September 22^nd, 2011.

Where: Join the virtual celebration at facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay2011. Connect and share both online and offline activities!

Who: Friends of the rhino everywhere! Together with Chishakwe ranch in Zimbabwe, we have set up the World Rhino Day 2011 page on Facebook® – and the hashtag is #worldrhinoday for anyone on Twitter.

Why: Worldwide rhino supporters are working to raise awareness about the fact that rhino horn does not contain any medicinal properties at all – yet hundreds of these gentle pachyderms have already been slaughtered because of this myth.

See you there!

All designs © Saving Rhinos LLC.

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.

Ingesting antique rhino horn could be deadly.

In the latest European rhino horn robbery, thieves broke into Ipswich museum and ripped the horn from a greater one-horned rhinoceros exhibit.

According to a report in the East Anglian Daily Times, the incident took just a few moments and the gang also stole a rhino skull.

The raiders entered by breaking through a door at the back and spent only four or five minutes in the building before making off with the horn and skull. Nothing else was taken or damaged.

The exhibit was named “Rosie the Rhino” in the 1960s.

Chemical cocktail

However, if Rosie’s horn is destined to be ground into illegal Chinese medicine, not only will the patient derive zero medicinal benefits, but he or she could be in for a deadly surprise.

Museum manager Peter Berridge explained that the exhibit was preserved with a “cocktail of chemicals”.

We don’t know for certain what was used, but it may well have included large amounts of arsenic.

The alleged powers of rhino horn are completely mythical and this one is likely to do much more harm than good to anyone who tries taking it!

The museum plans to replace Rosie’s horn, presumably with a synthetic material. Mr. Berridge noted in a BBC video that Rosie is very popular with children who visit the musem.

Related articles:

• Woman Falls Ill After Consuming Rhino Horn ‘Medicine’ in Vietnam
• Daring Rhino Horn Heist at Swedish Museum
• Disturbing Connection Between Antique Rhino Horn ‘Activity’ and Rhino Killings in South Africa
• Appetite for Illegal Rhino Horn Behind Museum Heists

Image: Saving Rhinos LLC

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.

Should PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” acknowledge the rhino crisis?

A recent taping of the TV program PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” may have had the unwanted effect of further stimulating the illegal rhino horn market by celebrating the high dollar value of an antique rhinoceros horn cup collection.

In the episode, the Chinese antique rhino horn cups were appraised for a “record-breaking” dollar amount, which now has the media buzzing.

However, the high dollar value of rhino horn – of any age or condition – is nothing to celebrate.

On the contrary, publicizing these outrageous dollar amounts will complicate efforts to protect rhinos (and museum collections) by providing even more financial incentive to rhino horn trafficking syndicates.

In fact, since the taping aired, there has already been another UK rhino horn theft from a museum in Ipswich.

Global crisis

Data compiled over the past few years shows a direct link between the rising prices of rhino horn antiques, increased museum thefts, and rhino killings.

Research also indicates that antique rhino horn art objects have historically been sourced for illegal use in Chinese medicines. The continued use of rhino horn in these remedies is the root of today’s rhino crisis.

• South Africa has already suffered a massacre of over 200 rhinos since the beginning of the year; 333 rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2010.
• Museum thefts have risen so dramatically that a joint statement was released last week by Saving Rhinos LLC, the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation (LCCHP), the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and Save the Rhino International.
• UK authorities have had to issue new restrictions for the antique rhino horn trade after a surge of buyers from the Far East were found to be paying unprecedented prices for mounted rhino horn, with the intention of exporting the horns and having them manufactured into Chinese medicines.
• Antique rhino horn thefts prompted Europol to issue an advisory, warning that an Irish organized crime group (OCG) was found to be sourcing rhino horn from auction houses, museums, antique dealers, art galleries, and private collectors. This crime network is active in the EU, UK, France, USA, South America, South Africa, China, and Australia
• Sadly, the antiques rhino horn market does have ties to illegal trade. World-renowned rhino horn and ivory trade expert Dr. Esmond Bradley Martin found in 1990 that antique rhino horn cups were being stockpiled for use by Chinese pharmaceutical factories.

The illegal trade in rhino horn affects all rhino horn – regardless of age or condition or whether attached to a living rhino or not.

Opportunity?

Could there be an opportunity here for PBS and its “Antiques Roadshow” to make up for unintentionally overlooking the larger issue of how the demand for rhino horn is fueling the rhino crisis?

PBS has, in the past, taken the plight of the rhino seriously.

From the PBS website:

PBS and our member stations are America’s largest classroom, the nation’s largest stage for the arts and a trusted window to the world. In addition, PBS’s educational media helps prepare children for success in school and opens up the world to them in an age-appropriate way.

PBS and “Antiques Roadshow” need to hear our voices

Let us urge PBS to continue its tradition of educational excellence by issuing a public service announcement about the connection between the rhino crisis, increased museum thefts, and the high dollar value of antique rhino horn. The PSA should be issued immediately via PBS and “Antiques Roadshow”‘s social media channels, and again with the rhino horn episode when it airs at a later date.

PBS:

Public Broadcasting Service
2100 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202

Corporate communication emails posted on the PBS website here.

PBS Facebook® page is here.

PBS on Twitter: @PBS

Antiques Roadshow:

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW
WGBH
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
ATTN: Event Producer

Contact Antiques Roadshow online here.

Antiques Roadshow Facebook® page is here.

Antiques Roadshow on Twitter: @RoadshowPBS

For more information about rhino horn, see Busting the Rhino Horn Medicine Myth with Science.

Image: © iStockphoto.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, 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.