Cinthya Luna
The Paw Print
According to the latest review of animals, conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN,) on November 6, 2013 it was declared that the African black rhinoceros is officially extinct. The western black rhino species were last seen in western Africa in 2006. A huge belief for why the western black rhino has gone extinct is due to the fact of poaching going widespread. When poachers were caught, they were never sentenced and any punishment; efforts to stop poachers were lack lustered.
Now many people are fearful that the subspecies of the black rhino are also on the brink of extinction. The IUCN is advising words of precaution that the African’s northern white rhino is also very near to follow the black rhino’s footsteps. Asia’s Javan rhino is also giving its last struggle to stay alive as they are continued to be poached and the lack of conservation.
The problem is the huge amount of hunting while any protection efforts keep getting denied. An example pertaining to the western black rhino is in 1980, the population was in the hundreds, and by 2000 there was an estimated guess that 10 western black rhinos remained. In a last attempt, the habitat was searched in hopes of finding a remaining rhino, but the search came up negative.
A chair of the IUCN species survival communion has stated, “In the case of the western black rhino and the northern white rhino the situation could have had different results if the suggested conservation measures had been implemented. These measures must be strengthen now, specifically managing habitats in order to improve performance, preventing other rhinos from fading into extinction.”
The IUCN has informed several conservation efforts that have paid off for the southern white rhino subspecies. The efforts have demonstrated that the white rhino have had population increase from the 19th century only containing less than 100 white rhinos. Today there is an estimation of 20,000 thriving today. Another success of conservation efforts can be seen with the Prezewalski’s Horse. The Prezewalski’s Horse had been listed as extinct in the wild in 1996, however as of today the number has been estimated to 300 that are doing well. Director of the IUCN’s global species program also stated, “We have the knowledge that conservation works if executed in a timely manner, yet, without strong political will in combination with targeted efforts and resources, the wonders of nature and the services it provides can be lost forever.”
If people do no encourage for animals to be conserved and protected then many more animals will follow the same fate. It seems people fear that animals are too savage to tame when in reality humans are the one presenting these “animal behaviors.” It takes one person to speak up to stop poachers. The question is who will do it?
What’s Been Said…