On International Rhino Day, we celebrate these magnificent creatures and mourn those we have lost to
If you know someone who uses rhino horn, you have a moral obligation to speak up. You need to let them know that what they are doing is wrong.
If you don't speak up, you are complicit in their crimes. You are helping to kill rhinos. So what are you waiting for? Talk to your friend, family member, or colleague. Tell them to stop using rhino horns. If they don't listen, then disassociate yourself from them. You don't want to be associated with someone who is so cruel and selfish.
As of 2023, there are an estimated 27,000 rhinos left in the wild. The black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos are all critically endangered, with fewer than 6,000 individuals left of each species. The greater one-horned rhino is vulnerable, with around 3,700 individuals left. The white rhino is the only rhino species that is not endangered, with around 18,000 individuals left.
The last rhino to go extinct was the western black rhinoceros. The last known individual was a female who was shot and killed in Cameroon in 2006. The western black rhinoceros was once widespread in West Africa, but its population declined rapidly due to poaching and habitat loss.
Other rhino subspecies that have gone extinct in recent years include the Indian Javan rhinoceros (extinct in 1920) and the Vietnamese Javan rhinoceros (extinct in 2011). The northern white rhinoceros is also functionally extinct, with only two females remaining in captivity.
There are five species of rhinos: black, white, greater one-horned, Javan, and Sumatran. Rhinos are the second-largest land mammals in the world, after elephants. They are known for their thick skin, large horns, and massive size.
A report by the Wildlife Justice Commission in 2019 found that the average price for raw rhino horn in Africa is around $2,460 per ounce. However, the price for high-quality rhino horn in Asia can be much higher, with some reports suggesting that it can fetch up to $5,000 per ounce.
The high price of rhino horn is driven by the demand for it in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including cancer, hangovers, and impotence. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims. Rhino horns are also used as status symbols in some parts of Asia.
Do not tolerate or turn a blind eye to this atrocity. Speak up. Rhinos cannot defend themselves; they rely on us to be their voice. Be a force for change and break the chains of ignorance that perpetuate this vile trade.
Some of my Photos, If you would like a catalogue of my Rhino artworks to view, DM or contact me via my website.