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Rhinos have been under threat
from man for a long time. There are five remaining species today: White, Black,
Javan, Sumatran and Indian. The main reason for their decline is poaching. Rhino
horn has proven to be very valuable on the black market.
The species
most in danger are the Sumatran and Javan Rhinos. The Javan Rhino, once
roaming throughout southeast Asia, Sumatra and Java, is near extinction with less
than 100 surviving in the Udjong Kulon Reserve in western Java. . IUCN lists the
Javan rhino as critically endangered
and facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
| The
Sumatran Rhino is now restricted to less than 400 individuals scattered
throughout Sumatra. Again, the Sumatran Rhino is listed as critically
endangered by the IUCN.
The Indian Rhino was once found across
the entire northern part of the Indian sub-continent. Now it is restricted to
a few reserves in west Bengal and Nepal with a population of approximately 2,100.
IUCN listed as endangered.
The
Black Rhino has suffered the most spectacular rate of decline of all rhino
species in the last four decades with a reduction of 95%. In 1960, there were
approximately 100,000 Black Rhinos but the number has dwindled to less than 2,600.
Considered critically endangered by the IUCN.
The White Rhino is
split into two populations. The Northern population has suffered severely from
poaching and has to declined to around 30 individuals. However its very different
for the Southern population. This population was almost extinct during the last
century, down to a number of around 100 individuals. But due to effective protection
the numbers have increased to 8,400 Southern White Rhinos in the wild. White Rhinos
are classed as Lower Risk Conservation
Dependent. |
FACTS
| - 85%
of the black rhinos have been killed in the last 25 years.
- In
1990, the two horns from a single Black Rhino brought as much as $50,000.
- In
the past 30 years, poaching has reduced Kenya's black rhinoceros population from
20,000 to a mere 400.
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| How
many are left | |
| Javan
Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) | 60 |
| Sumatran
Rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) | 300 |
| Indian
Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) | 2,400 |
| Black
Rhino (Diceros bicornis) | 2,700 |
| White
Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) | 10,400 |
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Conservation
Organisation Links |
International
Rhino Foundation
http://www.rhinos-irf.org/
| The
International Rhino Foundation is dedicated to preserving the five species of
Rhino. They are involved in techincal, admin and scientific projects to contribute
to the conservation of the species. |  |
| The
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust | The
Trust was set up in 1977 in memory of the Naturalist David Sheldrick. Involved
in Elephant and Rhino conservation their goal is to protect and preserve the Rhino
and to aid in the anti-poaching of elephants. |
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| World
Wildlife Fund - Saving Rhinos | WWF
is the principal international conservation organization tackling the rhino crisis
on every front-from stepping up protection and support for protected areas and
rhino reserves, to stopping poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn, to working
with traditional medicine communities to stem demand for rhino-based products.
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