LIFS 4301 ProjectRhino Poaching

Ken LeungGeorge TsangVico Pat

Approximately 17 rhino were killed for these horns…

http://dailynews.sina.com/bg/chn/chnpolitics/mingpao/20111115/12402919052.html

Rhino Poacher Lost Their Life!!!

Why we mention conservation of Rhino?

• All Rhinos are threatened by poachers

• Both human and rhinos suffer

• Ecological, social and international problem

Table of content

1. Introduction of Rhinoceros

2. Threat to rhino

3. Solutions and measures

4. Conclusion

5. Q&A

Rhinoceros

• Rhinoceros : Rhino (nose) and ceros (horn)

• Nick name : rhino

• Horn-like appendages on noses

• Five living species of rhinos

• Ungulates, with three toes on each foot

• Herbivorous mammal

Javan rhino

Rhinoceros

• Lifespan : 35 to 40 years

• Range : Africa and South Asia

• Habitat: savannas, dense forests in tropical and sub-tropical regions

• Behavior : fight for territories, use horn for defense

Rhino extant species

Asia1. Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) –VU

2. Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)– CR

3. Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)- CR

Africa

4. White rhino (Ceratotherium simum) –NT

5. Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) –CR

One of the subspecies of black rhino,Western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 (ICUN)

Rhino size

Global distribution of rhinos

Source: http://www.savetherhino.org/assets/0001/0745/Rhino_pop_map_large.jpg

At the beginning of the 20th Recent population- 500000 rhinos - around 29000 in wild across South Asia and Africa

Global distribution of rhinosSources:

1. http://www.savingrhinos.org/rhino-species-downloads.html (2011)

2. http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/rhino_population_figures (unknown)

3. Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora

http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/16/inf/E-CoP16i-51.pdf (2012)

*0 means no data

Javan Sumatran Black Indian White0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

48 200

4860

3000

20600

40

100

5055

3333

20405

0 0

5055

0

20405

123

Some myths about of Rhino

• Rhino horn is not bone, but composed of keratin

• Horns can be regenerated

• No natural predator in wild for adult rhino

• But human…are their real predator !!!

Rhino extant species comparison

Species IUCN status No. Of horns

Horns length

Indian rhino Vulnerable 1 20 to 100 cm

Javan rhino Critically endangered

1 26 cm, absent in female

Sumatran rhino

Critically endangered

2 Front horn : 25-79cmSecond horn : 10 cm

White rhino Near extinction ->Near threatened

2 Front horn : averages 90 cm, maximum 150 cm

Black rhino Critically endangered

2 Front horn : averages 50 cm, maximum to 140 cm

Let’s make a guess…

African rhinosWhite rhino Black rhino

Larger Smaller

Grazers Browsers

Flat broad mouth Pointed mouth

Do not use skin color to distinguish…

Main threat : Poaching

• Why?

• How?

• Current situation

Why poach?

• For the horns as cure for

Hangover (Vietnam)

Aphrodisiac / impotence (Chinese)

Cancer (TCM)

• Dagger (Jambiya) handle (Yemen)

Value of rhino horn

• *Reported: $65,000 - $100,000 / kg

• High value → incentive for crime syndicates and poachers

*Source:

1. http://www.voanews.com/content/south-africa-legal-auction-rhino-horn/1698120.html

2. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/05/why-does-a-rhino-horn-cost-300-000-because-vietnam-thinks-it-cures-cancer-and-hangovers/275881/

3. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11477508

Horns hunting

• Rude, bleeding and painful

• Poachers cut near

the germinative layer

• Ride helicopters

Changes in numbers black rhino in Africa 1991-2012 with fitted fourth order polynomial trend lines

Source: IUCN SSC AfRSG data

Changes in numbers white rhino in Africa 1991-2012 with fitted fourth order polynomial trend lines

Source: IUCN SSC AfRSG data

Source: South African Department of Environmental Affairs (2013)

Rhino poaching per day in South Africa by year and by quarter since January 2010

Source: South African National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit & Dept. of Environmental Affairs

What countries are doing??

.

Anti-smuggling

• Put more effort on security checking

• Stop smuggling

Training of Guards

• As Rhino Poachers has more advance equipment

• Train specialized ranger • For example:Protrack anti-poaching unit in South Africa Authorized to enforce the law

Formation of anti-poaching organization

• Giving advice and support to private reserve

• Provide equipment's for Rhino tracking, survey

• Raise Fund through public events

Click icon to add picture

Source: South African Department of Environmental affairs (2013)

Increase by 68%

Measures

Pros:

Largely reduce Rhino Poaching

Protect Rhino population

More resources for conservation organization to investigate on Rhino

Cons:

X Make the prize of Rhino horn in underground market even higher

X Rhino Poacher can use more sophisticated methods

X Ethical issue- Is the value of Rhino even higher than human?

New approach!!!!!Rhino Horn-farming

Rhino Horn-farming

• Started in South Africa and China in small scale

• Unlike elephant, Rhino horn can be removed without harming the animals

• Rhino horn can be re-grow

• Ideally, we can periodically collect horn from Rhino

Rhino Horn-farming

Pros:

Lower the price of Rhino horn

Decrease the motivation of Rhino Poachers

Protect wild Rhino Population

Cons:

X Rhino horn is currently illegal for trading

X May increase the number of Rhino horn Consumers

X Difficult to estimate the market size

Other Extreme Methods !!

• Add potent poison to horn

• Harmless to Rhino

• Kill consumer!!!

• Not Ethical• How about the sharks fin

and Bluefin tuner?

What we suggest!!

Multiple Use Area Category VI

• For example, Samlaut Multiple Use Area in northwest Cambodia

• Game reserve in transition

area lead to better management

• Poachers are more difficult to enter reserve core Reserve

Core

Buffer zone

Transition area

Conclusion

Reference

• News http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20111116/15805972

• https://www.rhinos.org/25-things-you-didn-t-know-about-rhinos

• http://intlrhinofoundation.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/how-long-can-a-rhinos-horn-grow/

• “Medical” use

• http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/seanthomas/100246187/the-rhino-is-dying-thanks-to-tourists-from-china-and-vietnam-how-can-we-end-this-evil-trade/

• Horn value

• http://www.voanews.com/content/south-africa-legal-auction-rhino-horn/1698120.html

• http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/05/why-does-a-rhino-horn-cost-300-000-because-vietnam-thinks-it-cures-cancer-and-hangovers/275881/

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11477508

• Cambodia

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samlaut_Protected_Area

• http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/rhino-horn-poison.html#cr

• Pictures

Poacher: http://blog.africageographic.com/africa-geographic-blog/files/2012/11/1.jpg

Jambiya: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Jambiya.jpg

Rhino horn:http://www.rhinoconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/antique_rhino_horn.jpg

Dehorned rhino:

http://www.africa-wildlife-detective.com/images/rhino-poaching-3.jpg

Q&A

Subspecies of rhino

Two sub species for White rhino

- the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)

- the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)

Four subspecies of black rhino

- South-central (Diceros bicornis minor)

- South-western (Diceros bicornis bicornis)

- East African (Diceros bicornis michaeli)

- West African (Diceros bicornis longipes) -declared extinct in 2011

Rhino and Oxpeckers

-feed exclusively on the backs of large mammals-ticks and other insects-helps rhino to create commotion, make rhino alerts