Rhino in peril: A tale of survival and hope

The titans of the animal kingdom, rhinos are characterised by their massive size and remarkable physical attributes.

These creatures are equipped with robust bodies covered in thick, armour-like skin.

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Their most distinctive feature, the horn, is composed of keratin, the same substance found in human hair and nails.

Contrary to popular belief, the horn is not ivory but is often poached for its perceived medicinal and ornamental value, driving these animals perilously close to extinction.

There are various species and sub-species of rhino.

First is the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), whose misleading name has nothing to do with color; it stems from the Dutch word ‘wijde’, which aptly describes its wide mouth.

This heavyweight comes in two subspecies: the southern white rhino, a conservation success story, and the northern white rhino, standing precariously on the brink of extinction.

Next is the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), famous for its solitary and occasionally cantankerous disposition. Sporting two distinctive horns, these enigmatic creatures roam various regions across Africa. However, poaching has relentlessly decimated their numbers, leading to a concerning decline.

Lastly, our journey takes us to Indonesia and the Indian subcontinent, where we encounter the Javan, Indian and Sumatran rhinoceros.

These elusive species are among the rarest of rhinos and find themselves on the precipice of extinction.

The Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), a true wilderness gem, and the shaggy Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), carry the weight of critical endangerment, making their conservation a pressing race against time.

Not to be forgotten is the Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), a formidable member of this rhino trio, also facing the challenges of a rapidly changing world, underscoring the urgency of global conservation efforts.

At the start of the 20th century, Africa and Asia were home to an estimated 500 000 rhinos. However, due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over several decades, the number dropped to 70 000 by 1970.

Only around 27 000 rhinos remain in the wild, with very few surviving outside national parks and reserves. Unfortunately, three species – the black, Javan and Sumatran – are critically endangered, while a subspecies of the Javan rhino was declared extinct in Vietnam in 2011.

On a positive note, greater one-horned (or Indian) rhinos have seen significant population increases, from around 200 at the turn of the 20th century to about 3 700 today.
Despite Africa’s success in reviving the dwindling population of the southern white rhino, the western black and northern white sub-species have recently gone extinct in the wild.

The remaining northern white rhinos are kept under 24-hour surveillance at a conservancy in Kenya.

Black rhinos have witnessed a doubling in their numbers over the last two decades, increasing from fewer than 2 500 individuals.

However, the total number of black rhinos is still a small fraction of what it used to be in the early 20th century, when they were estimated to be around 100 000.

Read the full story here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gl7Jn4P3ZejKxsNjkZ64BV5SxhC_luocdD43tUq4-y8/edit

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