Soon, we might say rhinoceros the way we say dinosaur.
In South Africa, over 1,200 rhinos were killed in 2014 alone, feeding the illegal trade in rhino horn. The official number is pegged at 1215, which is a 21% increase over 2013, National Geographic reported.
High demand for rhino horn continues unabated in China and Vietnam, where the wildlife contraband is coveted by traditional medicine-makers as an ingredient in preparing aphrodisiacs. It’s another thing that there is nothing special or magical about the horns, scientifically speaking. They are composed of keratin, the same material that is found in human hair and nails.
South Africa is home to an estimated 18,000 white rhinos and about 1,800 black rhinos. The names black and white are misnomers, in fact, for the animals are distinguished by the shape of their upper lips. The white rhino might be better known as the square-lipped rhino and the black rhino as the hook-lipped rhino.
Tragically, most rhinos poached in South Africa in 2014 were killed in Kruger National Park, supposedly a fortress for wildlife. The reason for this, experts believe, is the porous border the park, in the north of the country, shares with Mozambique, a poorer nation than South Africa. From 10 to 15 animals killed every year in 2007, the clock is clearly ticking for the rhino.
These photos (credit: AFP) tell the tale of the rhino’s march to a grim future.
Kruger National Park staff walk near the carcass of a three-day-old rhinoceros killed by poachers at Houtboschrand in the southern part of Kruger National Park, northeastern South Africa, on November 27, 2013. South African conservation authorities on November 26 said they aim to reduce rhino poaching by 20 percent a year, insisting their strategy is working despite record levels of poaching. "The war against poaching is not yet won, but we can reduce the figures... it's an ongoing process," said Major General Johan Jooste, who heads the Kruger National Park anti-poaching task team.
Kobus De Wet, an environmental crime investigator, walks past the carcass of a three-day-old rhinoceros killed by poachers at Houtboschrand in the southern part of Kruger National Park, northeastern South Africa, on November 27, 2013. South African conservation authorities on November 26 said they aim to reduce rhino poaching by 20 percent a year, insisting their strategy is working despite record levels of poaching. "The war against poaching is not yet won, but we can reduce the figures... it's an ongoing process," said Major General Johan Jooste, who heads the Kruger National Park anti-poaching task team.
The carcass of a poached and mutilated white rhino lies on the banks of a river as a South African Police Services forensic investigator works on the crime scene on September 12, 2014 at Kruger National Park. As investigators comb a scene of a dehorned rhino in South Africa's Kruger National Park, its horn is likely to have already been smuggled out of the country to Asia, highlighting the extent of organised poaching cartels threatening the endangered species.
An helicopter takes off from as the carcass of a poached and mutilated white rhino is seen laying on the banks of a river at Kruger National Park during a forensic investigation on September 12, 2014. As investigators comb a scene of a dehorned rhino in South Africa's Kruger National Park, its horn is likely to have already been smuggled out of the country to Asia, highlighting the extent of organised poaching cartels threatening the endangered species.
An helicopter takes off from as the carcass of a poached and mutilated white rhino is seen laying on the banks of a river at Kruger National Park during a forensic investigation on September 12, 2014. As investigators comb a scene of a dehorned rhino in South Africa's Kruger National Park, its horn is likely to have already been smuggled out of the country to Asia, highlighting the extent of organised poaching cartels threatening the endangered species.
Dr Marius Kruger (C) and member of the Kruger National Park keeps the head of a rhino up during a white rhino relocation capture on October 17, 2014. The Kruger National Park relocated four rhinoceros from a high risk poaching area to a safer area as part of ongoing strategic rhinoceros management plan.
A male white rhinoceros shows off his territury to another male at a game farm in Malelane 30 September 2004. South Africa will ask the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at a meeting in Bangkok, starting 02 October 2004, to be granted an annual hunting quota of 10 black rhinoceros. There are about 3,600 wild black rhinos in the world.
A black male rhinoceros is seen at a game farm in Malelane 30 September 2004. South Africa will ask the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at a meeting that opened 02 October 2004 in Bangkok to be granted an annual hunting quota of 10 black rhinos. There are about 3,600 wild black rhinos in the world and South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia -- which will ask for permission to hunt five rhinos per year at CITES -- are home to most of them.
A black male rhinoceros is seen at a game farm in Malelane 30 September 2004. South Africa will ask the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at a meeting that opened 02 October 2004 in Bangkok to be granted an annual hunting quota of 10 black rhinos. There are about 3,600 wild black rhinos in the world and South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia -- which will ask for permission to hunt five rhinos per year at CITES -- are home to most of them.
A black male rhinoceros is seen at a game farm in Malelane 30 September 2004. South Africa will ask the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at a meeting that opened 02 October 2004 in Bangkok to be granted an annual hunting quota of 10 black rhinos. There are about 3,600 wild black rhinos in the world and South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia -- which will ask for permission to hunt five rhinos per year at CITES -- are home to most of them.
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