Dehorning Black Rhinos
Dehorning black rhinos helped save them from extinction in the early 1990s from poachers because the armed guards patrolling the National Parks did not prove to be effective. Another way to preserve the rhino is to find substitutes for the horns.
Black rhinos, also known as the hooked-lip rhino, were poached mainly for their horns in the early 1990s, which led to the rhinos near extinction. The black rhino once roamed the extent of Africa’s sub-continent. Now the rhinos are primarily found in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nimibia and Zimbabwe because of the demand for the horns. The rhino population has declined in those countries from 65,000 in the 1960s to 25,000 today (Rhino, Internet).
Rhino horns
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The country of Yemen imports 1,500 kilograms of horn each year, about half of which is used to fashion the dagger handles. Dagger handles would not seem to be a practical use because the horns are composed of hard protein and keratin compounded by hair, but when the horns are polished, they look like grained, dark, translucent, amber (Tudge, 1991, 34).
Dehorning is one method to prevent poachers from shooting a rhino. Dehorning, the process of removing the front and rear horns of a rhino (Wright, 1991, 36), is a simple procedure, although only trained professionals are allowed to practice it because of the safety for both the rhino and veterinarian. If the safety of both the rhino and the veterinarian is low, it is pointless to dehorn if the species is harmed (Atkinson, Internet). For maximum safety, veterinarians tranquilize the rhino with a tranquilizer dart fired from a rifle with the correct dosage for the size and weight of the rhino. Two veterinarians then use a handsaw or a chainsaw to cut just above the rhino’s snout to remove the horns. The veterinarians coat the remainder of the horn with tar to prevent infection. After the dehorning process there is a regrowth of the horn, so the process has to be repeated every 12-18 months (Atkinson, Internet).
The rhino is not harmed during or afterwards and no side effects have been reported (Atkinson, Internet). Rhinos were even reported to attack film crews with their broad snouts and also protected their young from
Elephant populations suffered a drop in numbers that carried the species into the endangered animals list. At the beginning of the twentieth century, about ten million elephants lived in Africa. Presently, the ten million is reduced to half a million because of illegal hunting and habitat loss. Studies of the population show twenty-two thousand were killed in 2012 and twenty-five thousand in 2011. When comparing the death rate to the natural population growth, there is a possibility the largest mammal on Earth could be extinct soon (Vaughan 1). Because the elephant is the largest animal to walk on land, the greatly increasing human population affects the elephant population first. They live in some regions of the world that have the densest human population which continues to grow, which therefore continuously decreases their own population (Bryner 1). As the human population swiftly increases, the elephant population in turn, decreases. This is so because they cannot cohabitate the same living space. Elephants and humans cannot cohabitate because they would kill each other due to the inability to communicate. About population recovery, the Animal wildlife foundation states, “Populations of elephants- especially in Southern and Eastern Africa- that once showed promising signs of recovery could be at risk due to the recent surge in poaching for the illegal ivory trade”(1). Poaching presents one of the main issues that make recovery so difficult for these animals.
Because of the poaching of game like the elephant, the number of species will start to diminish. What hunters brought to the villages of Botswana was the money and the meat from the animals to feed the many people that go hungry everyday. Hunters that would take animals such as an elephant wouldn’t take any of the meat for themselves but rather they give all of the meat to the villages in the area. However, when poaching starts to take over, there will be zero meat or money that will be put back into the community. Poachers that kill elephants are only after one thing and that is the ivory from the elephant tusks. After taking the tusks, the elephant is left to rot. Another animal that is sought after by poachers in Botswana is the rhino. The rhino is poached for their horns, which are supposedly an aphrodisiac in China so the demand is high. Because of these effects, groups like SCI are so important to different places around the world. The money brought in by the hunters is used to hire conservation officers to protect the rhinos and elephants and to buy land that will be put into game preserves so the numbers of these species will increase because there aren’t any pressures from hunting or
Since the European colonization of eastern Africa, trophy hunting has been a highly debatable topic. During the early days of trophy hunting, dwindling numbers of some of the world’s most unique and prized wildlife was not a problem like it is today. Wildlife conservationists and hunters continue to debate the merits of legalized hunting on the economy and on the environment. However, not all hunters value the economic benefits and have passion for the outdoors. In fact, some of these hunters are conservationists themselves, who believe that it will allow for better conservation efforts in the long run. In another perspective, trophy hunters tend to downplay the reality of the killing part. To kill is to put to death, extinguish, nullify, cancel, or destroy. There is a fine line between conservation, and senseless killing of animals involved in trophy hunting.
When the stun is completed, the nose electrode retracts and the chin lifter returns to its normal position. The Operator will then release the head restraint which then retracts enabling the exit doors to open and the animal rolls out. 6. Ritual throat cut will be carried out within 10 seconds of animal rolling out. 7. The operator will push the immobilizer start button, which allows current to flow from the fixed electrodes through the animal's body to the head bars. 8. After the preset time (usuallyabout20 s)the immobilizer will switch off. Sticking, rodding and weasand tying can be carried out at this time. 9. The animal will then be hoisted, and the wash cycle will be
Whether we like it or not animals really make the world go around. Like cows who just by breathing create oxygen, to other animals who with their migrations that leave paths throughout are foothills. And yes even fertilizing the land with their discharge. Although these creatures who have been roaming the lands long before any of us , have been altered with our interference of hunger and need which has now made hunting a billion dollar company. Like most companies you would expect viewpoints to clash causing controversy. A podcast by the name of the Rhino Hunter brings this up showing how the auctioning off of rare animals is beneficial. They in fact action a “older Black Rhino, that with age was Hurting others”. This idea along with other
Trophy Hunters don’t always hunt the endangered species; they also hunt species that are overpopulated so the population of that species can stay under control. Dr. Michael H Knight and Dr. Richard Emslie, the chairman and the scientific officer of IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group state “the killing of two old white rhino in 2012 paid for 49% of a $377,000 high-tech security fence”(Knight, Emslie). The hunt helped the reserve pay for a fence that could save the animals on the reserve from many dangers like poachers. Also, the rhinos that were killed were old. Since the rhinos were old, they might not have been able to fend for themselves anymore so killing the old ones were the best choice and because the hunters took two of these rhinos lives, they caused all the other rhinos on the reserve to now have protection. According to Jada F. Smith, a news article writer for the New York Times says “we found many troubling examples of funds’ either being diverted from their purpose or not being dedicated to conservation in the first place”(Smith). This is why we have the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It makes sure that all the money from trophy hunting gets dedicated to a cause that helps protect endangered animals. Even if we didn’t have that organization and the hunters didn’t pay, then they wouldn’t be able to hunt the species they’re going after. Trophy hunting can help with many things concerning conservation and protection of an endangered species if it’s done the right
Poaching has been increasing for many years. The number of poaching cases throughout the decades have been increasing. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, the ivory demand grew drastically making poaching for ivory increase throughout these years (Stiles, 309). CITES recommended to use a system called Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) in which helped monitor the illegal killing of elephants (Stiles, 312). Also, to try and qualify the number of those elephants killed by poachers (Scriber). The system has been working well that now monitors between 30 and 40 percent of the elephant population
decreased to 70,000 by 1970 and further to just 29,000 in the wild today. Rhinoceros are now
Many people believe that these animals are milked and left be until needed again. Unfortunately this is far from the case. Workers have been known to viciously punch, kick, beat and even stab the animals. When they are on their way to be slaughtered they are shot in the head with a captive bolt meant to stun them. But because of poorly trained workers and large lines it often fails causing immense pain. In order to gather them together workers use electric prods and place them on their heads and rectum. According to Washington Post, Ramon Moreno (slaughterhouse worker) said he frequently has to cut the legs of completely conscious cows. “They blink and make noises,” he says. “the head moves, the eyes are wide and looking around.” Another interviewee named Martin Fuentes told Washington Post that many animals are still alive and conscious for as long as seven minutes after their throats have been
But most of the animals that are being killed are the rare one or the ones that are in danger of bing extinct. For example the elephants are being killed for their teeth, that some people use trophies or they use it make other things like jewelries furnitures, pianos and other things that people use to as entertainment (Ivory, 1). According to article called Black Ivory; poaching, “More than 200 elephants were killed in a single state of Cameroon in the first six weeks of 2012.” The number of elephants being killed are increasing, as well as the number of rhinos. The rhinos, they are being killed by the hundreds. According to an article by Humane Society “more than 1,004 rhinos were killed in South Africa alone and this year’s tally as of October 24th was 899 – that’s three rhinos poached each day. At this rate, the 2014 rhino poaching figure for South Africa will be 1,100, exceeding last year’s record-setting poaching level.” (Poachers and Trophy Hunters Conspiring to Hurt Endangered Rhinos). These are just some example of animals that are being poached, many other are killed and mistreated like lemurs, deers, tigers, lions,
The video showed “…downed cows shot in the head several times and still struggling and kicking as workers walked away. Workers appeared to be suffocating some downed cows by standing on their mouths and nostrils.” (Nidever) Cows are required to be stunned with a pneumatic gun before slaughter so they are rendered unconscious. However, there were many cows thrashing around while going to slaughter.
The book includes a clear outline of the history of conservation in Africa, coupled with stories of Africans involved in conservation management. The authors explain the issues around African conservation as well as including their own input and potential solutions. One of the main points presented is that the myth that Africans and wildlife being incompatible must be broken. It is evident that Africans are just as passionate about their wildlife like the rest of the world and the authors try to bring this across to the rest of the world. However, conservationists must make sure that rural people are acknowledged and that they engage in conservation efforts to make sure projects are successful. Due to the age of the book, several issues are more prominent than others, such as habitat loss and overpopulation, and that the solutions to these issues will have changed with the development of technology. Public awareness and the education of issues are now more achievable and effective due to the advancement in communication in the form of social media and the fact many Africans own a mobile phones. The involvement of local communities will always be important in conservation and most of the points brought across in the book about the past will remain relevant. An update or a companion book including discussions of new issues threats
The white rhinoceros and the Asian elephant possess many similar characteristics, including the way they look, yet also possess many differences such as the two continents they live on. There are five living species of rhino (black, white, Indian, Javan and Sumatran) and only two of the elephant (African and the Asian). All are in jeopardy of extinction with their slow rate of breeding, poaching and in the rhinoceroses, their territorial behavior.
“We are experiencing what is likely to be the greatest percentage loss of elephants in history,” said Richard G. Ruggiero, an official with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Ney York Times; December 3, 2012). The poaching of elephants started in the late 1800’s and is still happening today. People are slaughtering these majestic animals for their ivory tusks. Ivory has been sold on the black market for millions of dollars. Before the start of ivory poaching there were millions of elephants in the world in both Africa and India, but today because of the hunting for ivory, there are barely any of these giants left in the wild. Throughout history Europeans have been moving in on central African states to make
One of the primary reasons black rhinos have been hunted to extinction or near extinction is the demand for their horns, which are believed