The gist of the situation is that ancient folklore in many Asian cultures persist in making people believe that rhino horn has medicinal properties, when in reality, the horn is made of exactly the same protein — called keratin — that makes up your hair, nails, and animal hooves. The growing problem these myths create is explained in this excerpt from an article by Tia Ghose, of LiveScience. One rhino subspecies, the northern white rhino is in even greater danger, with just five individuals — all in captivity —remaining.
Poaching is the main problem. Last year, 2, rhinos were killed in the center of poaching territory — South Africa — compared to just 13 back in , said Susie Ellis, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation, a conservation and advocacy organization that aims to protect rhinos. World Wildlife Fund. Demand for rhino horns in Asia is fueling illegal rhino hunting. In China and Vietnam, the burgeoning middle- and upper-middle classes see rhino horn as a status symbol.
Eastern medicine practitioners tout the horns as a blood cleanser, fever reducer, hangover cure and even cancer treatment, though there is absolutely no evidence that it has any medicinal value, Ellis said. I have struggled today to avoid showing you the photos of rhinos after poachers have dropped out of the sky from helicopters, sawed off their horns and then left the animals to suffer and die, missing half their faces. Ever Widening Circles will very rarely call for its community to turn their backs on anyone, but cultural practices that exterminate and degrade our planet for everyone cannot continue.
If we want to lift the average up, we have to stand against folkloric practices that harm our shared world. An EWC Call to Action: If you live in a culture that supports this practice, take a stand: Start a movement to shun the notion that these beautiful animals should be slaughtered and go extinct for the price of out-dated practices. Theo Allofs has seen progress in places like Namibia when it comes to saving rhinos and rhino habitat conservation.
Here are some statistics from their page at WWF. We are not without hope for the other two rhino species. There are 57 Javan rhinos in a single park in Indonesia, yet their numbers have doubled since monitoring began in There are possibly fewer than Sumatran rhinos, yet their populations, too, could recover given the right management interventions and continued protection; something that a partnership of conservation organizations are working on together.
Namibia, Namibia Desert, aerial view of mountains and dry creek beds near Messum Crater, sunrise; image taken from a powered para-glider. Namibia; Namibia Desert, Skeleton Coast, desert elephants Loxodonta africana walking through a canyon in a dry river bed.
Namibia; Namibia Desert, Skeleton Coast, Hoarusib River, desert elephant Loxodonta africana walking in river bed in front of large sand dune. Photographer Theo Allofs took to the sky in a power paraglider when he wanted a new perspective. Here's the story behind this niche and the remarkable tales of some of Theo's most stunning images! GEO, American Photo. He is a regular speaker at international nature conventions.
Theo lives with his wife and photographer Jami Tarris her article on baby orangutans is coming soon and their little Westie Gershwin near Santa Fe, New Mexico. These are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They also lead photography tours all over the world that sound extraordinary.
No doubt their personal connections in some breathtaking places and remarkable skills would make for an amazing journey of a lifetime. Polar bear crossing a frozen fjord, June; Svalbard, Norway. Even better, subscribe below to receive the latest from EWC right to your inbox! Theo Allofs has been a full-time professional photographer since Ten years later he started specializing in wildlife and landscape photography with an emphasis on endangered species and habitats.
Get the Ever Widening Circles App! Feeling better about the world is as easy as tapping our app on your phone. It turns out, the animals that call our cities home have a lot to teach us! Live cams can take us on small journeys we might never imagine.
Today we point you to a place where you can get lost in the wonder of nature, up close and personal, in real time! Did you know we have an app? Get our latest awe-inspiring, politics-free, and wonder- full article sent to you every other day and receive our weekly roundup of goodness right in your inbox. Saving Rhinos is just one of the many parts of the natural world he is advocating for. Meanwhile, stay open, curious and hopeful! Notes: Ghose, Tia. TechMedia Network, 26 June World Wildlife Fund, 22 Sept.
Share Share 1. Pin 1. Learn about the speeds of all 5 rhino species. Plus reasons why they charge, and how to avoid a rhino charge. And how to stay safe if it happens. Black rhinos run the fastest of all rhinos. How can such big creatures reach such speeds? Despite being built like tanks, their powerful hind legs propel them forward. When they reach top speeds, they will actually run on their toes! Rhinos live throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia.
As mentioned previously, rhinos have a tendency to run towards or charge at something it considers threatening. Black rhinos are considered to be the most aggressive, as they have the ability to turn tightly in the middle of a charge. For example, in , Usain Bolt got to almost List of Savanna Animals.
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