The International Day of the Tiger is July 29, but there are still thousands of tigers living in captivity. The World Wildlife Fund has estimated there are about 8,000 living on farms, with only 3,900 living in the wild. Countries like Laos, Vietnam, China and Thailand may have about 200 tiger farms, and some of them
Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance has called upon the government to increase the share of renewable energy in power generation sector and move away from coal-based power technology. At a recent seminar, the Alliance called upon the Vietnamese government to increase development of renewable energy resources and improve energy security in the country. Nguyen Thu Trang,
If waves of cheap rhino horns 3D-printed with real rhino DNA are flooded onto the Asian markets, is this a form of rhino conservation or capitalistic exploitation? This critical question is gnawing at the root of a controversial business venture to use real rhino DNA in the commercial production of 3D-printed rhino horns. In a
On September 22, 2013, the fourth annual World Rhino Day will be celebrated with special events organized both online and offline by zoos, NGOs, conservancies, schools, businesses, and concerned citizens. This year, the big day falls on a Sunday, which has prompted some celebrants to include Saturday, September 21 — making it a weekend of sharing
During the first ten days of 2013, a total of seven rhinos have already been killed in South Africa and India, while arrests have been made in India, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. Unfortunately, South Africa’s final body count for 2012 was even higher than expected. The South African Department of Environmental Affairs announced on January
The number of rhinos killed in South Africa in 2012 has reached a staggering 618, according to a December 10th update from the Department of Environmental Affairs. There have been 257 arrests for rhino crimes this year in South Africa. Earlier this week, the much-anticipated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by South Africa’s Minister
At least 373 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South Africa during the first eight months of 2012, according to the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs. Of the total, 229 were massacred in the famed Kruger National Park. So far this year, 199 people have been arrested in South Africa for rhino crimes.
Although the latest figures from the South African government show the country’s rhino death toll at 281, sources outside the media cite a figure closer to 300. And sadly, that number increased yet again, with the killing of a young male rhino on a farm in Mossel Bay. The rhino was darted with a tranquilizer
There seems to be no end in sight to the continuing slaughter of South Africa’s iconic rhinos, as the Department of Environmental Affairs stated this week that 220 rhinos have been killed so far this year. 146 suspects have been arrested, and the majority (207) of the killings are concentrated in Kruger National Park, and
Here we are, not quite three months into 2012, and already more than 100 rhinos have been massacred in South Africa. The Independent Online says the 100-plus figure was verified by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). Earlier this week, South Africa National Parks (SANparks) announced that it would not be providing updates regarding the
Seeking Ban The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) reports that it is seeking a ban from weed and feed products which are using what has notoriously been known as “Agent Orange.” What? You mean after the flurry of reports for decades identifying agent orange as increasing the already know horror of war, it is not forever
© naturepl.com / Mark Carwardine / WWF An announcement made today by WWF confirms that 2011’s rhino death toll in South Africa reached a record-breaking 448. Of the 448 rhinos murdered for their horns, 19 were critically endangered black rhinos. 252 of the rhino killings occurred in Kruger National Park, where eight rhinos were found
2011 was a big year for the environment, in some good ways and some bad ways. Here’s a quick run-down of the top 10 stories of the year, in my opinion: 1. Tremendously high levels of carbon emissions continue to warm Earth. Despite efforts to switch to clean energy, increase energy efficiency, and use more
This is a must-watch, in my humble opinion. (via 350.org)
Earlier this week, more than 20 participants from diverse areas – including advertising, public health, and wildlife trade – met at a workshop in Hong Kong to discuss strategies for reducing the demand for products made from endangered species. The seemingly inescapable appetite for endangered species is driven by the economic boom in countries such
If you haven’t heard the news yet, the “New7Wonders of Nature” have been announced. First some background,.. then the new 7 Wonders,.. then 2 “Buts.” So, the New7Wonders of Nature project was stated in 2007 and led by Canadian-Swiss Bernard Weber, with organizational work done by the Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation. Through a global poll,
A sobering media release from WWF has confirmed that the number of rhinos killed in South Africa during the first 10 months of 2011 has already exceeded last year’s total of 333. © naturepl.com/Mark Carwardine/WWF South Africa’s rhino death toll now stands at a record 341. The total includes 16 critically endangered black rhinos. A
The conservation community mourns this week as the extinction of the Javan rhino subspecies (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) was confirmed. Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong DNA testing determined that a female rhino, found shot to death in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park in 2010 with her horn missing, was the very last of her kind. A report
EXTINCT: Vietnam’s last rhino was a victim of the illegal rhino horn trade. Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) have confirmed the extinction of the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) in Vietnam. DNA match On April 29th, 2010, the body of a female Javan rhino was found in Cat Tien
Customs officials in Thailand have rescued nearly 100 pangolins from certain death.
Clean-energy demonstrations in 175 countries, 2,000 of them, stimulated by 350.org were or are underway today. Here’s more, plus 10 great photos.
This week’s Round Up is an inspirational snapshot of both offline and online events undertaken by people all over the world to bring awareness to the plight of the planet’s remaining rhinos. The unifying message is one simple truth: “Rhino horn is NOT Medicine!”
There was encouraging news this week from South Africa, as efforts to crack down on the country’s trophy hunting debacle are moving forward. Meanwhile, antique rhino horn thefts continue – but there may be very unpleasant consequences for the end user.
This week, Namibia checks out a suspicious incident, Swaziland receives a heartbreaking update, and a woman in Vietnam becomes ill after ingesting rhino horn.
Thanks to trophy hunt loopholes in South Africa, rhino horn smugglers have found a way to acquire their contraband legally.
As part of the sinister organized crime network that is controlling the illegal rhino horn trade, these “mules” (often women) are actually using “hunting safaris” as a front for running rhino horn from South Africa to Vietnam.
A former fellow writer on EcoWorldly.com (which is now EcoLocalizer), Rhishja Larson is the leading rhino expert I’ve ever run across. She knows rhinos! And, unfortunately, that means she knows more about the current rhino crisis than most.
Now, she and Saving Rhinos LLC have started a new campaign to bring critical rhino information and rhino crisis awareness to more people: Bust the Myth – Save the Species.
