Africa has a secret… a filthy secret, that is in fact not so secret at all… rhino poaching!
- In 1970 there were 70,000 rhinos in Africa.
- Currently, there are fewer than 30,000 rhinos left.
- That decline is largely due to rhino poaching.
- In 2013 alone, more than 1,000 rhinos were killed by poachers!
Rhinos are magnificent animals that have inhabited our planet for about 50 million years. Now, humans are threatening to wipe them out.
If something is not done to stop rhino poaching, rhinos will be gone in another 30 years!
Why Rhino Poaching?
The short answer to why rhinos are being poached at such an alarming rate, is money.
There is a huge demand for rhino horns in the East, particularly in Vietnam, where people believe that rhino horn has medicinal properties. The demand for rhino horn is so big that it sells for about $45,000 per pound on the black market. The average horn weighs about 15 pounds.
This belief in medical properties of course absolute nonsense. Rhino horn is made of keratin, the same material found in hair and fingernails. There is not a single scientific study that even remotely supports any kind of claim that rhino horn has medicinal properties.
So, all of these rhinos are being killed for absolutely no good reason at all!
How To Stop Rhino Poaching
There are a handful of organizations that actively fight rhino poaching.
One such organization is Rhinos Without Borders. It is an anti-poaching organization that has arrested more rhino poachers than any other organization. Rhinos Without Borders is also a leader in ground support and education in the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa.
To be able to function effectively, these organizations need money. They have equipment to purchase, and staff to train and pay. One of the best ways that you and I can support the fight to save the rhino, is by supporting these anti-poaching organizations with donations. It keeps them functioning!
Here in the US, two South Africans, Clint Weimann and Graham McDonald, have created an organization called Project Rhino Charleston, based in Charleston, South Carolina. Project Rhino Charleston‘s mission is to raise funds to support Rhinos Without Borders.
In 2013, Project Rhino Charleston exceeded their fundraising goals more than 4 times! In 2014, their goal is to raise $36,000 to support the wonderful work of Rhinos Without Borders.
This year’s fundraiser will be a massive “Save the Rhino Party” on November 8 from 1 pm – 6 pm. The party will include live music, a South African “potjiekos” competition, kids’ activities, and much more.
If you would like to make a contribution to the fight, here is how you can help…
- Attend the Save The Rhino Party (that will be a lot of fun!)
- Make a Donation if you can’t attend the party.
Fighting rhino poaching is a very worthy cause! It needs to be stopped! If we fail in this, rhinos will be gone in 30 years!