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Loading...135 Rhinos Lost in South Africa
- Jake Richardson
- March 19, 2012
- 2:03 pm
- 60 comments
One hundred and thirty-five endangered South African rhinos have been poached so far in 2012. Demand for rhino horn in Asia, where superstitious beliefs have created a relentless trade, has increased rhino losses to an alarming level. In one area of Kruger wildlife park, 75 rhinos have been killed since January 1.
One possible explanation for the increase is the claim in Vietnam that rhino horn cures cancer, a claim that has no significant evidence. Rhino horn is made mostly of keratin, the same protein found in human fingernails and toenails. There is no magic cure for cancer that has been found, and killing rhinos is a tragic waste of life.
An Ohio University professor is studying rhino head anatomy to help determine humane ways of removing rhino horns from live rhinos to prevent poachers from doing so in a very destructive inhumane way. CT scans are done on the heads of deceased rhinos to gather data for the research.
“What the poachers want is that tusk. It would be bad enough if they just poached them and cut it off, but they’re not even doing that in a humane way. It’s not a clean cut. It’s like literally ripping, and the bone is connected onto the skull,” said the lead CT scanner. (Source: Athens News)
Rhinos in South African wild parks could be wiped out entirely in just several years if the current rate of loss remains constant.
Image Credit: Yoky, Wiki Commons
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60 comments
+ add your ownA total of 668 rhinos lost their lives to poaching here in South Africa in 2012 alone. In the meantime the South African Government still sees fit to issue hunting licenses to leagally shoot white rhino bulls and other endangered species. Please sign my petition to urge the SA government to stop:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/682/813/449/stop-issuing-hunting-licenses/
sad
SAD :(
... until there is nothing left....
very sad news, thanks for sharing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeEETlgT2xI&feature=youtu.be
Here's a way YOU can help!
This is so very saddening. Its unbearable to think that this is happening even when they are supposed to be protected in the national parks. This MUST stop, who the hell are the idiots (for want of a better word) that are buying horn and horn products? STOP STOP STOP. We have already lost the Javan Rhino to extinction last November..................................
sad :(
At this horrific rate, I fear the extinction of these pure innocent creatures is coming closer than I thought if nothing can be stopped. But, then again, greed, uneducated people and cruel cultures are what could soon be the demise of our planet. We humans should of known better to take care of our planet rather than raping it blind.
How horrible, where do they get this idea about Rhino Horns? To think surperstition could cause the extinction of a whole group of animals :-(
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