{"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 <\/a><\/p>\n 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 <\/a><\/p>\n Three subspecies of black rhinoceros are still surviving.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Between 1970 and 1993, the demand for rhino horn decimated the black rhino population from around 65,000 to fewer than 2,500.<\/p>\n Thanks to conservation efforts and the ban on rhino horn trade, there are now around 4,860 black rhinos. <\/a><\/p>\n Rhino killed in India<\/strong><\/p>\n Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was struck for the third time.<\/p>\n According to India’s IBN Live<\/em><\/a>, a rhino killing gang shot a male rhino near the Jagtol forest camp, and escaped with his horn.<\/p>\n Prior to this year, there had not been a rhino killing incident in Pobitora since 2006.<\/p>\n Rhino horn stolen in Vienna<\/strong><\/p>\n The Austrian Times<\/a><\/em> reported that a rhino horn was stolen from a taxidermist in Margareten. Two men apparently grabbed the horn and ran while the shopkeeper was on the phone.<\/p>\n This was the second theft in Vienna, as another rhino horn was taken<\/a> from an auction house just a few days earlier.<\/p>\n Rhinos in the sky<\/strong><\/p>\n The WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project has successfully moved a group of critically endangered black rhinos from the Eastern Cape to a new home in Limpopo Province.<\/p>\n The rhinos were anesthetized and transported by helicopter while they slept, dangling in midair as they were secured at the ankles.<\/p>\n Watch the amazing video of this modern translocation technique here:<\/p>\n\n
\nThe IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM<\/sup> classifies<\/a> the black rhino as Critically Endangered.<\/p>\n