2014 january : PLS read the updates .

Background =The rhinoceros is a large mammal that in fact dates from the Miocene era millions of years ago.

In recent decades rhinos have been relentlessly hunted to the point of near extinction. Since 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered.

Humans are  the cause of the demise of the rhinos.

Last very sad new on july 21 :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/18/poachers-kill-last-female-rhino

 In the wild, the adult black or white rhino has no true natural predators and, despite its size and antagonistic reputation, it is extremely easy for man to kill. A creature of habit that lives in a well-defined home range, it usually goes to water holes daily, where it is easily ambushed  and killed .

Africa’s rhinos are facing a constant threat due to poachers and trophy hunting.

 Poaching is on a general  increase whilst efforts to protect the rhinoceros are being considered increasingly ineffective.

The reports  found that 95% of rhino poaching in Africa since 2006 had occurred in Zimbabwe and South Africa : these two nations collectively form the epicentre of an unrelenting poaching crisis in southern Africa.

But they also found that poaching and illegal trading in rhino horn were on the increase in South Africa, between 2007 and 2009, the report listed 210 rhinos as being illegally killed in South Africa, with a further 235 being poached in Zimbabwe.

In " traditional chinese medecine "Rhino horn is considered to be particularly effective on fevers, on sex diseases  and even "life saving" by  chinese practitioners, which in turn provides a sales market.

This  increasing demand for rhino horn , especially in new markets such as Vietnam – but not only as  rhino horn is processed into pills, tablets, treatments, and tonics and sold worldwide!_is fueling an illegal and criminal  trade involving corruption and organized crime. 

Video here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWarnqcZoCc&feature=player_embedded

The worst estimate, that only 2% of poachers are successfully countered, is reported of Zimbabwe.

This  trade is extremely significant despite the introduction of several  of new anti-poaching measures as  Rhino horn is now worth more than gold: a kilo of rhino horn is worth approximately 60,000 dollars while gold is a little over 40,600 dollars!It is the reason why the cases of rhino poaching have escalated at an unprecedented rate throughout South Africa,.

So it is time to help the last rhinos before their extinction