Rhinos in Africa Facing a Poaching Crisis

April 7, 2011 - PRLog -- When poaching is mentioned many people think that we’ve made huge strides in getting to grips with the problem. However, when it comes to the rhino population in Africa this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Conservationists in Africa have said that we’re facing the “worst poaching crisis for decades”, with the problem having escalated massively over the past 3 years.

Over this 3 year period it’s estimated that gangs of poachers have killed around 300 rhinos, because of the value of their horns, which can cost over £20,000 per kilo when sold on the black market. 800 rhinos may not sound like a huge number but when you consider that less than 18,000 African rhinos are still alive today then the figure represents around 5% of their population - http://www.animaladoptions.org.uk/black-rhino

Over the past couple of years rhino populations have been increasing slightly due to the work of conservationists, but poaching is threatening to ruin this progress.

As Dr Emslie from the IUCN's Species Survival Commission's (SSC) says:

“Unless the rapid escalation in poaching in recent years can be halted, continental rhino numbers could once again start to decline.”

Organised gangs are increasingly entering the poaching field, because there is a huge amount of money to be made selling rhino horns to areas in South-East Asia. Although the market is illegal many wealthy individuals in this part of the world are happy to pay for rhino horns and their products, perhaps in part due to a lack of awareness of the issue.

At http://www.animaladoptions.org.uk we’ve been working to raise awareness of the threats facing rhinos but unfortunately more funding and help is needed on the ground out in Africa.

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Animal Adoptions is a site highlighting the plight of many of the world's most endangered animals, including polar bears, orangutans, tigers and leopards.