The Rhinoceros is a large, herbivorous land mammal native to Central and Southern Africa as well as parts of South East Asia. There are five species in the world, three in Asia, the Indian, Javan and Sumatran Rhinos, and two in Africa, the White Rhino and the Black Rhino. The Rhino has a typical lifespan of around 35 years, living up to 40 years in captivity. Their habitat is mostly confined to the savanna; however they also occupy areas of dense forests around the tropical and subtropical latitudes. Rhinos are solitary animals, with both male and females establishing territories which they defend violently. Males and females are known to fight during courtship and have a gestation period of around 14-18 months.



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Rhinos have long since been prized for the ivory which their horns are made of (the same ivory elephant tusks are composed of). For example, in the Middle Eastern country of Yemen, the horn is coveted by Muslim men for the role it plays in the cultural traditions. The ivory from the horn is used in the handles of daggers known as “jambiya” which are presented to boys at the age of 12. The dagger is a sign of manhood and devotion to their religion and is greatly prized by the Yemeni men. Ancient civilizations also valued ivory highly. Greek mythology states that ivory has the ability to purify water. The Ancient Persians believed that vessels carved from the horn could detect poison, a belief that persisted into the 18^th and 19^th century royal courts of Europe. The Traditional Asian Medicine market also prizes the rhino horn for tis ivory. Believed to be a cure to ailments such as nosebleeds, strokes, fever and convulsions, the greatest demand for ivory is in Vietnam. However, scientists have proven that ivory holds no medical properties. Ivory is actually similar to horse hooves, turtle shells and cockatoo bills as it is made of keratin, the same compound found in our fingernails. This market has driven the demand for rhino horn in recent centuries and as a result rhino populations are declining due to illegal poaching.

Rhinos are now ranked as one of the most endangered species on earth. This is due to habitat loss, political conflict, but most significantly, poaching. The following information focuses on the African Rhino and the consequences of illegal poaching.

The demand for rhino horn has given rise to highly profitable organized international crime syndicated which make use of advanced technology to harvest the ivory from rhinos. Due to the illegal nature of poaching, there is intermittent availability of ivory which only increased the demand. As Dr. Joseph Okori, head of WWF’s African Rhino Program states, recent years have seen a drastic rise in rhino poaching: "The African rhino is under serious threat from poachers who have intensified their search of rhino for their horns since 2007, driven by growing market demands in Asia.” Although many efforts are being made to fight poaching and the illegal trade of ivory, it is very difficult to mitigate the issue due to the violence of poachers and the fact that many rhinos reside in areas where political turmoil makes intervention even more dangerous.

Source: savetherhino.org

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The process of retrieving a rhino’s horn is extremely violent and painful, often resulting in death. Poachers will sedate the rhinos with dart guns, sometimes fatally wounding their necks. Once sedated, even if only partially, the poachers will literally hack the horn from the rhino’s skull. If the rhino survives this process, it is often left to wake up alone and bleed to death. This illegal poaching has contributed to a drastic decline in rhino populations worldwide. At the beginning of the 20^th century, it was estimated that 500,000 rhinos occupied the earth. In 1970, that number fell to 70,000. It now stands at a concerning 29,000. However, there has been a recent increase in rhino populations due to conservation efforts. For example, the Black Rhino has doubled from a low of 2,300 in 1993 to 5,055 in the present day. The Southern White Rhino has become a poster child for successful conservation efforts, increasing their population from as low as 50 in the early 1900s to an astonishing 20,000 in the present day. 

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Source: animalethicsri.weebly.com

Despite these conservation efforts, in 2008 there was a sudden increase in poaching which if not stopped soon, threatens to bring rhino populations back to their lowest points. Unfortunately, the Western Black Rhino, a subspecies of the Black Rhino, was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2011. 

Apart from its intrinsic value, the Rhino is very important to the African people for indirect reasons. Tourism contributed approximately 7.9% of South Africa’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and supports approximately 1 in every 12 jobs. Eco-tourism is a very large part of this industry and Rhinos are closely linked to the longevity of the savannah ecosystem. This is because the rhino is a megaherbivore, meaning it is a terrestrial plant-feeding mammal that exceeds 1000kg. The rhino is also a keystone species, which means they have a relatively large impact on the environment considering their actual population numbers. It is easy to think of the Rhino as a selective lawnmower, assisting in maintain the diverse African grasslands. They do this by selectively grazing on certain grass species, allowing for other species which could otherwise not compete to occupy those areas. This promotes the diversity of edible plants which encourages further fauna diversity in the area. Without the rhino, the entire ecosystem’s health is put at risk which impacts the locals who depend on the surrounding environment.

 

It is difficult to predict what a savannah without the rhino would mean for the many rural tribes which practice subsistence farming, but past experience has shown that the extinction of megaherbivores has devastating effects on the diversity and population of plant and animal communities. For example, it is understood that the extinction of the mammoth 10,000 years ago led to a significant decline in ecosystem diversity. This is important as approximately 40% of Africans identify with a tribal community. These communities depend heavily on their surrounding environment with people in Botswana relying on game meat consumption for 60% of their diet. In Ghana, 75% of the population relies on wildlife protein sources. The loss of the rhino could spell disaster for these communities and their food sources, not to mention the impacts it would have on the other fauna inhabiting the area.

 

References 

Rhino poaching. Digital image. Update of Rhino Poaching in Africa. Wordpress, 4 Apr. 2013. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

Poached rhino. Digital image. Swazi Trails Adventure. Admin, 5 June 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

"People of Africa." PEOPLE OF AFRICA. Africa Facts, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

"SouthAfrica.info." South Africa's Tourism Industry. South Africa Tourism, 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

"African Rhino Poaching Crisis." WWF. WWF, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2015.

"Rhino Horn Use: Fact vs. Fiction." PBS. PBS, 20 Aug. 2010. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

"Poaching: The Statistics." Poaching Statistics. Save the Rhino, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

"Rhinoceros Poaching." Animal Ethics RI. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.