fade blue dot: rhino

Friday, August 12, 2011

Rhino Crisis Round Up: Death Toll Hits 250, Rhino Horn Smugglers Enjoy ‘Drunken Orgies’ in South Africa and More | Planetsave

There are now at least 250 fewer rhinos in South Africa than there were at the beginning of the year, thanks to the continuing menace of international rhino horn smuggling syndicates.

And if one counts the rhinos killed “legally” for “trophies”, that number could be much higher.
Death toll rises
While WWF praised the South African judiciary for handing out maximum prison sentences to two rhino horn traffickers from Vietnam, the NGO also reported that at least 250 rhinos have been massacred in the country this year.
Most of the killings have occurred in the country’s flagship tourist destination: Kruger National Park.
Another museum heist
Two rhino horns were stolen from a museum in Belgium this week, and authorities suspect this is yet another incident tied to an Irish rhino horn trafficking gang.
At least 20 rhino horn robberies have been reported in Europe during the last six months.

‘Drunken orgies’
Investigative journalist Julian Rademeyer uncovered disturbing new details about the Steyl syndicate, during an interview with whistleblower Johnny Olivier.

Matters finally came to a head between Olivier and Chumchom over the drunken orgies the syndicate members frequently held at the house they rented when the kingpin was out of town. Olivier, a teetotaler, describes them as a “bunch of drunkards”
South African Marnus Steyl and his Thai accomplice, Chumlong Lemtongthai, allegedly laundered rhino horn for the illegal market under the cover of Steyl’s safari hunting business.
The pair is said to have trafficked female “sex workers” from Thailand to pose as “rhino hunters” on Steyl’s property.
World Rhino Day

The Second Annual World Rhino Day is charging ahead!
On September 22^nd, people all over the world will be holding events to celebrate rhinos and debunk the medicinal myths about rhino horn.
So far, celebrations are planned in Zimbabwe, Nepal, the US, South Africa, and Malaysia.
Participants include schools, NGOs, zoos, businesses and the public.
Find out more at Mark Your Calendar: World Rhino Day is September 22 {Videos}.
You can also download the World Rhino Day poster (above) from World Rhino Day 2011 Posters.
Image #1 &amp; #2 © iStockphoto.com; #3 © Saving Rhinos LLC

Related posts:

Rhino Crisis Round Up: Antique Rhino Horn Cups Fuel the Fire, Thai ‘Hookers’ Weep &amp; More

Rhino Crisis Round Up: ‘Eco-Clubs’ in Nepal, New Arrivals in India &amp; Groenewald Makes a Deal in South Africa

Rhino Crisis Round Up: 200 Rhinos Slaughtered in South Africa, Irish Gangs (&amp; More)

via planetsave.com

Posted via email from brexians posterous

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Mark Your Calendar: World Rhino Day is September 22

The Planet’s remaining rhinos will soon have their day, thanks to an international campaign launched to celebrate these magnificent pachyderms.

As you know from reading my “Rhino Crisis Round Up” series here on Planetsave, these ancient mammals are under siege – all because of misguided beliefs about rhino horn’s alleged usefulness.
The Second Annual World Rhino Day is working towards eliminating the demand for rhino horn by highlighting efforts to debunk these medicinal myths.
Global scourge
The demand for rhino horn is indeed a global scourge:

In 2010, the illegal trade in rhino horn claimed the lives of 333 rhinos in South Africa. More than 200 rhinos have already been killed this year.

During the last six months, at least 20 European museums have been robbed by organized criminal gangs who specialize in the trafficking of antique rhino horns.

Loopholes in South Africa’s trophy hunting laws are being exploited to “source” rhino horn legally. Rhino horn syndicates are working with professional hunters to run rhino horn from South Africa to the illegal rhino horn market in Southeast Asia.

Instead of adhering to its obligation as a CITES signatory, it was confirmed that China is pumping millions of dollars into a “rhino horn scheme” and encouraging the consumption of rhino horn. Besides undermining decades of rhino conservation efforts, this scheme endangers the lives of people who are in need of actual medical attention.

Four of the five living rhino species, clockwise from upper left: Greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino, black rhino, white rhino.
The fifth rhino species, the Javan rhino, is seen in the video below:
The total population of all five rhino species is now estimated to be just over 28,000. Javan rhinos are the least numerous, with only 48 individuals surviving.
International campaign
The World Rhino Day tradition was established last year by WWF as an opportunity for people all over the world to take a stand against rhino poaching and the illegal trade in rhino horn.
Continuing the tradition, World Rhino Day 2011 is an international team effort, led by Zimbabwe-based Chishakwe Ranch and US-based Saving Rhinos LLC (that’s me).
Co-organizer Lisa-Jane Campbell of Chishakwe Ranch noted on the Saving Species blog that one of the main aims of this year’s World Rhino Day is to debunk the myths that fuel the demand for horn and the poaching of rhino.

Rhino horn has no medicinal value, despite the long held belief to the contrary. Rhino are dying for nobody’s benefit – except that of the criminals involved in the poaching rings.
The World Rhino Day 2011 page is already set up on Facebook® (thank you, Chishakwe!) as an online “venue” for everyone to join forces, stay informed, and share plans for the Big Day.
NGOs, zoos, educational institutions, and the public are encouraged to participate in celebrating World Rhino Day 2011.
While I know of various plans hatching in South Africa and the US, here are just a few of the activities in progress:

Nepal: PARC/Nepal is putting up World Rhino Day posters and engaging in public awareness activities with local communities in the Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone.

Zimbabwe: Chishakwe Ranch is working directly with village schools, getting the children involved with projects, such as creating rhino posters.

Southeast Asia: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia is featuring rhinos in September, as part of their “Twelve in Trouble” online awareness campaign.

World-renowned Save the Rhino International is announcing World Rhino Day to subscribers in the September edition of their ezine, RhiNews.

There is a comprehensive list of ideas at “Are you looking for a way to make a difference?” on the International Rhino Foundation website.
In addition, I put together some suggestions on my blog at “Cookies, Crafts and Cocktails: Fresh Ideas for World Rhino Day 2011.”
‘All in for Rhinos’
Putting it all together: A crowdsourced project called ““All in for Rhinos” is being created to commemorate World Rhino Day 2011!

“All in for Rhinos” will feature photo and poster submissions, and short video clips contributed by the public, NGOs, zoos, and other businesses promoting World Rhino Day.
For more information about World Rhino Day 2011, you can email Chishakwe Ranch at management (at) chishakwe (dot) com, or contact us via the World Rhino Day page.
You can contact me via Twitter (@savingrhinos) or email (info [at] savingrhinos [dot] org) regarding World Rhino Day and/or the “All in for Rhinos” project.
I’ll be posting more information about “All in for Rhinos” and World Rhino Day 2011 on my blog.
In the meantime, here’s to the rhinos!
Photo #1 (clockwise from upper left): Suman Bhattarai (PARC/Nepal); Bruce1ee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; black and white rhino © iStockphoto.com. Photo #2: © iStockphoto.com
Photo #3 courtesy and © Pam Krzyza

Related posts:

Rhino Crisis Round Up: ‘Eco-Clubs’ in Nepal, New Arrivals in India & Groenewald Makes a Deal in South Africa

Rhino Crisis Round Up: Namibia Hit (Maybe) & Rhino Horn ‘Treatment’ Sends Woman to Hospital in Vietnam

Rhino Crisis Round Up: Antique Rhino Horn Cups Fuel the Fire, Thai ‘Hookers’ Weep & More