{"id":26321,"date":"2011-11-10T15:22:50","date_gmt":"2011-11-10T20:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=26321"},"modified":"2011-11-10T15:22:50","modified_gmt":"2011-11-10T20:22:50","slug":"rhino-crisis-round-up-western-black-rhino-declared-extinct-rhino-killed-in-india-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/rhino-crisis-round-up-western-black-rhino-declared-extinct-rhino-killed-in-india-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Rhino Crisis Round Up: Western Black Rhino Declared Extinct, Rhino Killed in India & More"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another rhinoceros subspecies gone forever: The IUCN has confirmed that the Western black rhino (Diceros bicornis longipes<\/em>) is indeed extinct.<\/p>\n

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Just like the recent extinction<\/a> of the Vietnamese Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus<\/em>), “lack of political will” is cited as a contributing factor.<\/p>\n

The Diceros bicornis longipes<\/em> page on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species<\/a>TM<\/sup> notes the following:<\/p>\n

Given the wildlife poaching taking place, lack of political will and conservation effort by Cameroon conservation authorities in the past, and increasing illegal demand for rhino horn and associated increased commercial rhino poaching in other range states, it is highly probable that this subspecies is now extinct.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Simon Stuart, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, explains<\/a> that the tragedies like the Western black rhino could be prevented, if only those responsible would take sufficient action.<\/p>\n

Human beings are stewards of the earth and we are responsible for protecting the species that share our environment.<\/p>\n

In the case of both the Western Black Rhino and the Northern White Rhino the situation could have had very different results if the suggested conservation measures had been implemented. These measures must be strengthened now, specifically managing habitats in order to improve breeding performance, preventing other rhinos from fading into extinction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Another rhino subspecies, the Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni<\/em>), is teetering at the edge of extinction, with just seven<\/a> known individuals left on Earth.<\/p>\n

Screenshot illustrating the grim assessment of Diceros bicornis longipes<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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Three subspecies of black rhinoceros are still surviving.<\/p>\n