Endangered Rhinos

Rhinos are the second largest land mammals from elephants. There are two sub species of the: the White and the Black Rhino. The blacks’ species is found in Africa and derives its name from the dark – colored soil that often covers its skin after wallowing in mud. It has a hooked up upper lip and is adapted for browsing. The hooked lip enables it to grasp and hold branches of shrubs. It can live for 30 to 35 years in the wild and over 40 when in captivity. This is the endangered of the two.

Rhinos i.e. the black species are a native of Eastern and Central areas of Africa found in: Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Cameroon. An adult weighs between 1.8 -3 tonnes. Females are slightly smaller. Blacks are being pushed to extinction due to habitat loss due to human encroachment. As man clears more bush to satisfy his ego of food production the more he is pushing them to extinction. Available markets in Asian countries and organized poaching gangs have really endangered their existence. According to International Rhino Foundation report of 2003their population has slightly recovered to over 3,600comparing their population back in 1993when their population was around 2300.

Rhino’s horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine by herbalists. They claim it cures fevers, revive comatose patients and boost male sexual stamina and fertility. No purported effectiveness in its cure for any of the above has been confirmed by medical science field. The White rhino is the least endangered species. Its upon every body to stop buying or receiving anything purported to be made of ivory. Save rhinos save the future.