|
Here are some fun facts about black rhinos
Great Indian rhinos live in farmland and woodlands in parts of northern India, Nepal, and a few neighboring countries.
The word "rhinoceros" comes from two ancient Greek words. "Rhino" means nose, and "ceros" means horn.
While rhinos generally try to avoid humans, they can be ferocious if they are cornered or feel threatened
these and more facts and much more can be found at http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/creature_feature/0205/rhinos.html
|
|
The plea worldwide to save the Black Rhino often falls on deaf ears and into the hands of unscrupulous poachers and overseas
traders for financial gain, especially for the rhino horn.
Since the turn of the last century, the Black Rhinoceros has declined dramatically in both the extent of its range and
its numbers in subsaharan Africa. In recent years, the Black Rhino has become extinct, or is nearing extinction, in 12 African
countries. Its numbers have dropped 90% across the continent in the last 17 years and a recent survey shows that substantial
numbers of Black Rhinos are now found only in Kenya (500), Namibia (390), South Africa (600), Zambia (100) and Zimbabwe (400).
Without proper conservation management, these beautiful mammals will disappear and become extinct.
Poaching for the horn has been and continues to be the major cause of the decline of the Black Rhino. Despite sustained
efforts to control the trade of rhino products, there has been little reduction in the poaching pressure on the Black Rhino
population remaining in Zimbabwe. They have been sought after by Zambian poachers since 1985, particularly for their horn,
which is used in drugs as an aphrodisiac. In general, government awareness and international help from conservation organizations
has resulted in less poachable rhino horn reaching the world markets, and has minimized the incentive to poach. The poaching
of the horn brings less than 5% of the retail price to the poacher; whereas, the same horn in overseas markets will fetch
high revenues for the trader
|
