Poachers Threaten Endangered African Rhino Population

Even though the international trade in rhino horns is banned throughout the world, the decline of certain species of rhino is on the rise, causing some environmental groups and conservationists to fear possible extinction of the animal. According to an article by Anna Medeva for Reuters, crime gangs who poach the rhino for their horns is becoming the number one reason for the decline in the rhino population in Africa. Throughout Asia and the Middle East rhino horns are a greatly desired commodity, with horns selling at an astronomically high price. In parts of Asia the horns of the rhino are considered to be a powerfully potent medicine and an aphrodisiac.

The demand for horns in China and places like Yemen, is driving the illegal trade in Africa, and in the countries of Zimbabwe and the Congo records for poaching and the seizure of illegal shipments is rising rapidly, claims the Wildlife Trade Monitor or TRAFFIC, as it is known, says Medeva's article.
In the Congo 60% of the rhino population was illegally poached in the years between 2003 and 2005. According to TRAFFIC data in Zimbabwe the illegal killing of 2/3 of all animals resulting in 1 in 8 of all animal deaths. In Yemen the rhino horn is known as a status symbol and a man is respected for owning a rhino horn dagger. Officials in Zimbabwe have resorted to actually removing rhino horns from the animals in an attempt to thwart poaching.

Poaching in the 1970's and the 1980's nearly drove the world rhino population into extinction. The Black rhino declined up to 98%, because of the smugglers to supply the Far East medicine trade. Rhino populations began to come back and then began to stabilize due to stringent world bans on the sale of the horns. There are currently four or five species which are in danger due to current demands from other cultures. Horn demands have have started rising again in the years between 2000 and 2006 along with advances in technology that make it easier to catch the animals and get away with exporting them. Some crime syndicates that specializes in poaching endangered animals are also involved in other lucrative trade including the selling of abalone, ivory, live exotic game and diamond smuggling. You can also read more about poaching and endangered species in the following A.C. article.

China historically uses rhino horn in medicines that control fever and to make horn buttons, belt buckles, hair-pins and talismans. People are asked to refuse buying products made from exotic animals and to report any such sales to authorities.

Sources used in this article are as follows:

Reuters, Crime gangs, horns demand threaten African rhinos, http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070606/sc_nm/cites_rhinos_dc_1
Associated Content, Nearly Extinct Amur Leopard Killed by Hunters, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/224788/nearly_extinct_amur_leopard_killed.html
Associated Content, Ebay Ivory Trade Blamed for Elephant Extinction, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/245659/ebay_ivory_trade_blamed_for_elephant.html