Rhino Decrease In Population In South Africa
Poaching
Since 2008 at least 5,940 African Rhinos have been killed from pouching
Motives for poachers to kill the rhinos include the price on the black market for the horn
The horn of the rhino is used to create Jambiya Handles which are considered as nice as a Rolex.
The horn is also used in traditional medicine in the Far East
in 2007 only 13 rhinos were killed from poaching but in 2015 1175 rhinos were sadly killed from poaching
Where there is political instability, the laws on poaching are not as strictly forced as other areas. Poachers take advantage of that
Poachers go to great lengths to avoid being detected by law enforcement. Some of the tactics they use include the usage of helicopters to track the animals, the use of night vision goggles, and the use of veterinarian drugs to knock them out.
If areas such as Namibia reach an annual quota they are legally allowed to kill five surplus rhinoceroses to better themselves financially
Habitat Loss
The clearance of land for human population
The land for agricultural products
Logging, both legal and illegal
The Horn
The price per kilogram of the horn is estimated to be $20,000
each horn is approximately 10 kilograms which means each horn is about $200,000
one of the main causes for poaching
Vietnam's Role
Vietnam is the world largest consumer of the illegal rhino horn
The trade of the horn is directly linked to the economic growth of the economy in Vietnam
The rhino horn is viewed as a symbol of power and respect among business man and women in Vietnam
Vietnam helps fund the illegal killing of rhino in both Africa and Asia
Poverty
when there is poverty near rhino conservation parks people around them will see the opportunity of poaching as an easy way to make money fast
Natural Causes
Old age is a natural cause of death for some rhinos. they are expected to live up to 50 years old
Another source says the life span is 35-40 years(seems more accurate)
Species
Black Rhinoceroses
there is estimated to be over 5,000 black rhinoceroses in the world today
About 95% of black rhinos were lost to poaching between 1970 and 1992.
have a hooked lip
Grey in color
Population down 97.6% since 1960
White Rhinoceroses
Grey in color
have a square lip
bigger than black rhinos
a population of less than 100 was found in 1985 but now the population is estimated to be over 20,000
Currently there are three of the four Black rhinoceros subspecies and one of the two White rhinoceros sub-species are listed as Critically Endangered on the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Technology
as poaching becomes more modern so does the technology used in it
drug syndicates and big cartels have caught onto the problem and are capitalizing