WHITE RHINO- Species Spotlight
The Rhino is one Africa’s Big Five.
The white rhino is the largest of the remaining 5 species of rhinoceros.
They are divided into the southern and northern white rhinos. It is thought the northern rhino is extinct in the wild due to poaching, and only a handful remain in captivity.
Some research shows the southern wild population numbers around 11,000, but the IUCN red list list shows over 17,000.
At any rate, even though the white rhino has the largest numbers of any of the rhino species, it still is endangered and needs our help.
(On a side note-the IUCN recently took the Asian greater one horned rhino of the endangered red list, but I along with others feel it is still needs the protection given by that status)
There are over 700 white rhinos in captivity world wide. The rhino is one of the few larger animals that can be introduced into the wild. Meaning a captive born white or black rhino could make its way to Africa. Recently in October 2008, a white rhino was born via artificial insemination at the Budapest Zoo.
Even with protection they can still be legally trophy hunted in areas of South Africa. I find this to be counter productive with all the time and money going into increasing their numbers. I think we have to get it into our mind set that ALL rhinos need not to be killed. *They can also be green hunted in which a tranquilizer gun is used to and the hunter gets a picture next to their “kill.” These are less expensive, but not as popular as a regular hunt.
The rhino horn is still found on the billion dollar animal black market which is driven mostly by China and the US.
Please visit the following web sites for ways you can help save the rhino.
http://www.savetherhino.org
http://www.sosrhino.org
http://www.rhinos-irf.org
*All footage taken by me at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, Africa
(A great place for rhinos!)
http://www.lewa.org
Duration : 0:3:29
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
omg! i <3 rhinos! …
omg! i <3 rhinos! they are so cool and interesting
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
What awesome …
What awesome animals.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
A wonderful video …
A wonderful video you made….these are amazing animals…we can never allow these precious animals to disappear…great video thank you
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
The Rhino horn is …
The Rhino horn is made from the same material as a human fingernail and they are born with them, in fact I think that’s mentioned in this clip.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Thank you for …
Thank you for sharing your insight into the Rhino.
He is a most stunning creature.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Awesome!!!
Awesome!!!
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
This is the most …
This is the most amazing stuff Ive watched this week. 6000 lbs.!!!
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
its black….
its black….
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
briczar: excellent, …
briczar: excellent, excellent and informative video. Way to go, man. Good job spreading the word about these amazing creatures and how they deserve our respect and compassion, not our bullets for their horns. Keep up the great work!
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I love rhinos! …
I love rhinos! theyre so cutee!! <3
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
right!
right!
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
i found out that …
i found out that the horns are from hairs?as the hair grows the mud stick with it and it make’s shape and it sticks so it’ll harden and i’ll be looking like a horn
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
yes, that would be …
yes, that would be a big male. They do get vey large at times, and eat a whole lot of grass.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
wow, I had no idea …
wow, I had no idea they were so big, 6ft at the shoulder, is incredible, I’m actually having trouble believeing it, I suppose only some of them manage to get that big.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Rhino’s are awesome …
Save all animals!
Rhino’s are awesome
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
The animals are not …
The animals are not real xD pc
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
No, Elephants kill …
No, Elephants kill they “just for fun”…
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
wouldnt rhinoes be …
wouldnt rhinoes be the hardest aninmal ????
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Great question. …
Great question. Poachers want to get in and out and sell the horn to their dealers. So they usually shoot/kill the rhino and only chop off the horn. When they are legally killed by trophy hunters, the meat can be consumed.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
It’s sad that they …
It’s sad that they kill rhinos just for the horns, but do they eat the rhinoceros meat?
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Mendels experiments …
Mendels experiments showed that one species could not transmute into another one.A genetic barrier existed that could not be bridged.Mendels work laid the basis for modern genetics,and his discoveries effectively destroyed the basis for species evolution.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
That is true. I do …
That is true. I do sound hopeful. I have to remain positive about something these days. Hopefully soon mankind see the rhino horn as a part that needs to be on the Rhinos body, and nothing else, but as we know the illegal animal parts market is still strong. And also a stable Africa means a better chance for its wildlife. I hope that when we turn around the USA (great election last night) that we can do more as well. Thank you for watching the video.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Hey Brian, glad to …
Hey Brian, glad to see you enjoying the Rhino in its’ birthplace. I wish to share your view on the recovery and protection, but sadly I know that it will be a long time yet before we can realistically say so. Firstly the demand/mindset behind the healing properties etc for the horn must be corrected. Secondly, Africa, where the Rhino truly belongs, is politically unstable, Zimbabwe was about the most stable place, now look at it, and now look at what it has done to the Rhino population there.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Yeah, magnificent …
Yeah, magnificent but golly-gee-whiz are they every ugly!!
Mother Nature sure used her sense of humor when she invented the rhino. (Just like She did when she invented my hubby.)(;^)
Lovely video, especially the rear-view rhino shots. And the rainbow.
January 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Cool animal!
Cool animal!