Save the Rhinos, a campaign to protect the last prehistoric giants on Earth

Johannesburg, November 18, 2005

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) launched its fifth conservation campaign, "Save the Rhinos. The official launch took place at the annual EAZA conference in Bath, UK. At the conference, some 500 representatives from more than 100 member zoos and aquaria met to exchange news and knowledge and to learn about the Save the Rhinos Campaign. The Johannesburg Zoo was part of this exciting conference.

The Johannesburg Zoo is proud to be associated with the Save the Rhinos Campaign, when the Save the Rhino International (SRI) invited international participation of the initiative, we were the first Zoo in Africa participate. This was mainly because of their two major objectives; firstly to raise international awareness of the threats rhino face and to promote protection of these endangered animals and, secondly, to raise money, which will directly, supports selected rhino conservation projects in the wild in Asia and Africa.

The prehistoric-looking rhinos used to be relatively abundant, as recently as only 50 years ago but in recent decades tens of thousands of animals have been slaughtered for their horn (some species have two). In some East Asian countries this horn is in high demand and still used in traditional Chinese medicine. In other countries the rhino horn is carved to make traditional ornamental daggers.

Five rhinoceros species survive. The black and white rhinoceros occur in Africa, south of the Sahara; the other three species, the Greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros are found in Asia. Four of these rhino species are critically endangered. Only the white rhino still exists in reasonable numbers (except for the northern white rhino); nonetheless even this species is still considered vulnerable. Two of the four critically endangered rhino species, the Javan and Sumatran rhinos, are close to extinction with fewer than 400 animals remaining in total. The current rhino population (all five species) numbers only 18000 animals.

If it had not been for significant efforts to protect rhinos by various governments and organisations in recent years, rhinos would be facing extinction or even have disappeared completely in most range countries by now. Despite these efforts the struggle is not over yet. All species are still being poached for their horn, and habitat losses as well as human encroachment are prime concerns for the future of these charismatic animals.

As rhinos have survived for the past 50 million years we should all become aware that this species faces a dark future if we do not take action soon. For this reason, rhinos were chosen as the focus for the fifth annual EAZA conservation campaign and Save the Rhinos was set up by EAZA, supported by SRI. A fundraising target of 350.000 Euros, to be collected during the year-long campaign, has been set. This money (and hopefully more) will go directly to a number of selected projects, which will contribute to the conservation of all rhinoceros species in the wild.

For more information on the “Save the Rhinos” campaign, please contact Michelle Barrows on 646 2000 Ext 239.

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