Very, very sad...
Rhinos in South Africa are being wiped out at an alarming rate. Poachers are shooting them in military style operations, chopping off their horns and then escaping in helicopters. All for export to the far east, where the horns are used for "medicinal" purposes. To date, around 250 known killings have taken place. Some of the poachers and local masterminds have been incarcerated, but the demand is so high, the killings continue.
In some reserves, the staff have started cutting the horns off in order to save the animals. This is bad for the animals, as they use their horns for spreading their dung at their dung middens, which are used to mark their territory.
It probably won't be long before junior's horn will have to come off too.
Have a look at this gallery for some rhinos in the same reserve in happier days.
In some reserves, the staff have started cutting the horns off in order to save the animals. This is bad for the animals, as they use their horns for spreading their dung at their dung middens, which are used to mark their territory.
It probably won't be long before junior's horn will have to come off too.
Have a look at this gallery for some rhinos in the same reserve in happier days.
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Dennis Kaczor Photography
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
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Sad and wasteful!
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@Joel: they are normally pretty laid back in this particular reserve, so you can get pretty close.
@John: the horns sell at up US$40k per kg in the far east, so more than enough to pay for heli flips. The irony is that the poachers get around US$500 for doing the dirty work. Some reading:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/07/rhino-horn-poaching-south-africa
http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2010/08/16/illegal-trade-in-rhino-horn-the-vietnamese-connection/
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
I hope the little rhino gets to keep his horn a while longer...
I agree Lindiwe. Unfortunately, the poachers are usually better armed than the game rangers, so the fight is rather unfair :cry
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
I forgot to mention, that is 250 killings this year.
Bugs
Spiders
Flowers
:cry
There is an ad campaign running here currently where the message is 'When the buying stops, the killing can stop', asking people not to buy products made with rhino horns or tiger parts, etc. Seems to me it's a message that needs to be heard everywhere.