Rhinos are hefty mammals, second in size to the elephant, with limited eye sight, with dire temper but outstanding to look at. Unfortunately there aren't too many left these days due to poaching. Rhino horns are used for a mythical medicinal purposes, is much prized in the Middle East and the Far East whereas it’s seen as valuable as gold.
The WWF's African Rhino Programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Until the mid-1990s, many feared that the animals were staring extinction in the face as a result of extensive hunting. Since 1995, the population of the critically endangered black rhino has grown, on average, by 4.5% each year.
Factsheet: African Rhinoceros
08 Mar 2006
Just 150 years ago, Africa's savannas teemed with rhinos and other wildlife. However, relentless hunting by European settlers saw rhino numbers and distribution quickly decline. The southern white rhino particularly suffered from this colonization, and in the late 19th century was actually thought to be extinct.
18/03/08 @ 20:35