In this week’s Round Up: Namibia, Swaziland, and Vietnam.
Namibia may be joining the long list of countries hit by the illegal rhino horn trade, as authorities investigate the suspicious discovery of a dead rhino at a game lodge.
Still in shock after the first rhino murder in nearly 20 years, Swaziland receives more sad news.
And, some “bad medicine” in Vietnam sends a woman to the hospital.
Investigation in Namibia
An investigation is ongoing in Namibia to determine if the carcass of a white rhino found earlier this month was indeed killed for the horns, or if the horns were taken by someone who found the rhino already dead.
The discovery was made at the Wabi Game Lodge, near Waterberg Plateau in the Otjozondjupa Region.
If it is found that the rhino has fallen victim to the illegal rhino horn trade, then it will be the first this year for Namibia.
Namibia also recently launched a rhino SMS hotline. The public is asked to call 55555 to report any suspicious activity.
Tragic update from Swaziland
Already heartbroken after its first rhino murder in nearly 20 years, Swaziland now mourns its second loss.
The young calf that was left orphaned by the killing of a female rhino on World Environment Day in Hlane Royal Park was found dead.
According to a media release on the Big Game Parks website, the baby rhino succumbed to cold weather and lack of mother’s milk.
Unfortunately, orphaned baby rhinos are frequent victims of the rhino killing epidemic. Read their stories at The Littlest Victims: Orphaned Baby Rhinos.
Woman uses rhino horn ‘medicine’ – ends up in hospital
A woman was admitted to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi following the use of rhino horn to treat a rash around her mouth.
After ingesting the rhino horn mixture, her symptoms became considerably worse. The rash turned painful and then spread from her face to her arms, and she developed a slight fever.
A physician at the Center for Clinical Immunology at Bach Mai Hospital, Dr.Nguyen Huu Truong, explained that rhino horn has not been proven as a medicine.
He warned that “rhino horn is quite likely to cause allergic reactions and toxicity” and recommended that patients seek actual medical treatment, instead of consuming rhino horn.
The patient had reportedly paid “a large amount of money” for the rhino horn, which is illegal to buy and sell.
Medicinal myths about rhino horn
The demand for rhino horn has already claimed the lives of nearly 200 rhinos worldwide since the beginning of 2011- and it’s all because of medicinal myths about rhino horn. (And greed.)
Learn more about the rhino crisis and help educate others:
- How does rhino horn get from South Africa to Vietnam? Find out at Mules Hunting Rhinos? Sinister Scam Unfolds in South Africa.
- For a cringe-inducing (but hilarious) campaign to stop the killing of rhinos, check out Cheeky Campaign Points Finger (nails) at Rhino Crisis {Video}
- What about China, anyway? Get the dirty details at Suspicions Confirmed: China Investing Millions in Rhino Horn Scheme
- And just in case you missed it last week, get caught up at Rhino Crisis Round Up: Belgian Bust, China Clams Up & Make Way for DNA
Image #1, #2, #3 © iStockphoto.com; #4 © Saving Rhinos LLC
