Number Of Rhinos Research Articles

Rhino Horn: Are There Viable Alternatives?

The number of rhinos being poached on private and national game reserves in Africa annually is unsustainable. The demand for rhino horn is having a detrimental effect on rhino populations with extirpations occurring throughout Africa. Traditional Chinese medicine and commercial art material are at the forefront of the problem with large syndicates poaching rhino and selling this product on the illegal black market in Asia, with high sales being documented in Vietnam. Alternative methods need to be considered and implemented to prevent extinction of an iconic megafauna species which has the potential to alter the biodiversity system in the Savannah regions if this species disappears in situ. Dehorning, legalising the trade (both nationally and internationally) and education are key areas which need to be addressed. However, it is vital to note that these alternatives only have the potential to be successful if implemented together and with the support from the traders, the consumers, but also from the government. It is imperative that all governments enforce current legislation on the trade and provide monetary and conservation backing to those individuals protecting their current rhino populations.

An Appraisal Theory Approach to News Reports on Rhino Poaching in South Africa

South Africa is home to the world’s largest population of rhinoceroses. Over the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in the number of rhinos poached for their horns. These horns are smuggled out of South Africa and sold on the black markets of Southeast Asia, either as a party drug or as traditional medicine. The aim of this article is to analyse news reports on rhino poaching by using appraisal theory in order to establish whether emotive language is present in reporting on rhino poaching. Two corpus management tools, Sketch Engine and NewsBank, were used to select news reports on rhino poaching for analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that emotive language is present in the news reports. The article speculates that emotive language is used to influence the way in which readers perceive rhino poaching, in order to change their behaviour and involve them in the conservation effort.

On Competition between Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros Sondaicus) and Javan Bull (Bos Javanicus) at Ujung Kulon National Park with Allee Effect

In the last few decades, it has been reported that the population of Rhino (Rhinoceros Sondaicus) at the Ujung Kulon National Park has been reaching a stagnation at the number 50s, despite the existing territory can support a much larger number of Rhinos. Here, we construct a dynamical model representing the interaction between Rhino and Bull (Bos Javanicus) with Allee effect for the Javan rhinos population. This Allee effect may occur in the field, among others, due to the solitary behaviour of Rhino within large territory, imbalance of age structure and gender and difficulty of finding mates in Javan rhinos population which causes inbreeding in the population. In this paper, we follow the previous paper on the territorial competition between Javan rhino and Javan bull at Ujung Kulon National Park and add Allee effect factor on the Javan rhino's population. We give a proof on the boundedness of the solution and explanation on the bifurcations that occur in the model. One of these bifurcations plays an important role in the system. Some simulations and suggestion on how to improve the survival of Javan rhino is also included.

Can synthetic horns and tusks offer hope against poachers?

Growing on a plastic dish, the stem cells don’t look like much. Widely spaced, with jagged borders, they resemble distantly separated islands under the bright light of a microscope. But Garrett Vygantas believes cells like these could save the rhinoceros from extinction. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have the ability to mature into any type of cell in the body. Vygantas’s company, Ceratotech, is experimenting with growing rhino horns from iPS cells. He’s among a handful of scientists who are biofabricating mimics of rhino horn and elephant ivory to drive down the black market price of these animal parts and discourage poaching. Many conservation groups oppose this approach, however, concerned that it may worsen the illegal hunting of rhinos and elephants. For instance, they worry that poachers will try to escape law enforcement by claiming that the horns they harvested from butchered rhinos are biofabricated mimics. The number of rhinos

Live by the gun, die by the gun: An Analysis of Botswana’s ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy as an anti-poaching strategy

Notwithstanding the adoption of various anti-poaching strategies, rhino and elephant poaching levels are increasingly growing in Southern African. To protect wildlife, the government of Botswana has devised and implemented controversial ‘shoot to kill’ policy against poachers. This strategy appears to be working in reducing poaching which is thought to be ‘virtually non-existent’ in Botswana. Thus the neighbouring countries have resorted to relocate their rhino populations to Botswana. This paper discusses the militarisation of conservation generally as a policy alternative. It makes an in-depth assessment of Botswana’s shoot-to-kill policy. This article adopts an exploratory research method to review the relevant literature in investigating the effectiveness of Botswana’s shoot-to-kill policy. It investigates whether this policy can be adopted by other countries particularly South Africa to combat poaching. This policy analysis is important for South Africa as it has been forced to transfer or migrate a substantial number of rhinos to Botswana.

Live by the gun, die by the gun: An Analysis of Botswana’s ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy as an anti-poaching strategy

Notwithstanding the adoption of various anti-poaching strategies, rhino and elephant poaching levels are increasingly growing in Southern African. To protect wildlife, the government of Botswana has devised and implemented controversial ‘shoot to kill’ policy against poachers. This strategy appears to be working in reducing poaching which is thought to be ‘virtually non-existent’ in Botswana. Thus the neighbouring countries have resorted to relocate their rhino populations to Botswana. This paper discusses the militarisation of conservation generally as a policy alternative. It makes an in-depth assessment of Botswana’s shoot-to-kill policy. This article adopts an exploratory research method to review the relevant literature in investigating the effectiveness of Botswana’s shoot-to-kill policy. It investigates whether this policy can be adopted by other countries particularly South Africa to combat poaching. This policy analysis is important for South Africa as it has been forced to transfer or migrate a substantial number of rhinos to Botswana.

Rhino horn trade in China: An analysis of the art and antiques market

Poaching is an imminent threat to African rhinos. International media and conservationists often attribute poaching to demand for rhino horns because of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Consequently, conservation efforts are allocated to addressing this issue. Our study gives novel information on a critical, yet presently underestimated driver of rhino horn consumption in China—the art and antiques market. A media content analysis of Chinese (n=332) and western newspapers (n=166) from 2000 to 2014 revealed significant differences between perceptions of rhino horn consumption. In Chinese media, rhino horn product acquisition was most frequently reported for investment and collectible value (75%), artistic value (40%), and medical value (29%). In contrast, western media alleged consumption of rhino horn in China was mostly for their medical value (84%). Additionally, Chinese rhino horn auction records (n=7,042, 2000–2011) showed a significant positive correlation between the volume of rhino horn auctioned in China and the number of rhinos poached in South Africa. Carved containers procured the highest price per gram (USD 490). A fitted general model identified the weight of the item and its historical era of origin as two significant factors in determining inflation-adjusted price, while the year of sale was not a significant predictor. The auction market has stalled since 2012, but interest in the collection and investment of rhino horn antiques and crafts remains. We offer recommendations to improve rhino conservation.

Social and spatial relationships in captive southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Although critical to the conservation of white rhinoceros, captive breeding has proven challenging because of the poor and irregular reproductive health of many captive rhinos, and social interactions may play a significant role. This research investigated the social and spatial relationships of two captive groups of southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) by examining the frequency of companion changes, the number of space maintenance vocalizations made per hour by each reproductively mature female, and dominant/subordinate interactions. The observed captive rhinos did not change their companionships during the study. They exhibited space maintenance vocalizations and display greater than once per hour, particularly when feeding. Females housed with four calves on 0.033 km(2) exhibited space maintenance vocalizations more frequently (X+/-SE = 6.19+/-0.199/hr) than females housed with one calf and more space (0.06 km(2), X+/-SE = 0.55+/-0.182/hr) and females housed without calves and more space (0.65 km(2), X+/-SE = 1.90+/-0.086/hr). Wider separation of food piles and of females with young calves is suggested to reduce the interpreted spatial stress. The presence of a large number of rhinos in restricted captive space resulted in the formation of herds with dominance hierarchies that were enforced during competition for food and shade. The most subordinate rhino in each of the herds exhibited unusual behaviors such as dung-kicking and nonestrus urine squirting, and neither has ever reproduced. Suppression of subordinate rhinos might lead to social stress that could negatively impact reproductive success. Zoo Biol 26:487-502, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Economic Incentives and Poaching of the One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros in Nepal: Poaching of the One-Horned Indian Rhinoceros in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal - A Retrospective Econometric Analysis

Despite a relatively successful conservation programme for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros in the National Parks of the Terai region, poaching remains one of the major threats to its survival in Nepal. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in the number of rhinos poached; over 100 rhinos were taken in and around the Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) between 1998 and 2003. Although rhino poaching levels are influenced by the price of rhino horn on the international black market (amongst a host of other socio-economic factors), there have not been any attempts to study the reasons behind poaching in Nepal using econometric models developed and applied elsewhere. This study uses econometric models to explain changes in the level of poaching in the RCNP over a 30-year period. Factors that are thought to influence the number of rhinos poached in the RCNP include: (i) rhino population; (ii) effectiveness of antipoaching measures; (iii) penalties for poaching; (iv) availability of alternative economic opportunities (i.e., opportunity costs of poaching); and (v) the price of rhino horn. The results indicate that anti-poaching units (APUs), in their original organisational and operational form were highly successful in controlling the level of poaching in the RCNP. Furthermore, the availability of local economic opportunities seemed to reduce the level of poaching significantly. However, the penalties imposed on the convicted poachers were found to have little or no effect on the level of rhino poaching in the RCNP. The results also indicate a sharp rise in the number of rhinos poached during the years of the Maoist insurgency in the country, compared to the years before. Although the analysis is still very simplistic, it provides valuable insights into the factors that have affected the level of poaching in the RCNP over the years. It is hoped that these insights will be helpful in formulating effective policies to tackle rhino poaching, especially in and around the RCNP where Nepal’s largest population of one-horned rhinoceros is found.

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Peninsular Malaysia

Distribution and status of the Sumatran rhinoceros Dicerorhinus sumatrensis in Peninsular Malaysia were studied from 1975 to 1981. We compiled information collected from field surveys, interviews with people living near rhino areas, and the literature. Most potential rhino areas were surveyed on the ground to confirm the presence of animals, estimate numbers, and evaluate the status of the habitat. We confirmed that rhinos presently occur in ten isolated areas scattered throughout the Malay Peninsula. The number of rhinos is estimated at 50 to 75 animals with the Endau-Rompin (20–25), Taman Negara (8–12), and Sungai Dusun (4–6) areas containing the largest contiguous populations. The Sumatran rhino appears threatened with immediate extinction in Peninsular Malaysia. Excessive killing of rhinos because of the high commercial value of their body parts has greatly reduced numbers. Habitat destruction from logging and forest clearance has separated and isolated already small populations. We recommend that conservation efforts for this species in Malaysia be concentrated in the Endau-Rompin region because this population has the best chances for survival.

Rhinos Increase in Nepal

The Chitawan Wildlife Sanctuary in the Rapti River valley in Nepal together with the Mahendra National Park are the home of die great Indian rhinoceros, one of the world's endangered species. In 1959 and 1963 Mr. E. P. Gee, noted Indian conservationist, made surveys of the area, the second one at the request of the FPS; his reports published in ORYX (1959, V, 57, and 1963, VII, 67) drew attention to the decrease in the number of rhinos, due to poaching, from about 300 animals in 1959 to 160 in 1961, and the large amount of illegal settlement in the National Park. Mr. Willan, who is Chief Conservator of Forests in Nepal, continues the story since then with the encouraging news of the clearing of all illegal settlement from the park and also from the extension, the latter on the orders of HM King Mahendra, and the proper demarcation and accurate mapping of the sanctuary, which it is hoped will be created a National Park. Rhinos are now quite frequently seen, and between January and September this year 35 rhino calves were reported.