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The importance of Rhinoceros Conservation
Rhino populations are declining due to poaching for their horns and reduction of habitats from logging and deforestation. The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) works to prevent poaching, restore habitats, displace invasive species, reduce demand for horns, and invest in scientific organizations.
Rhino populations have declined at an alarming rate, bringing these mammals to the brink of extinction. Among the causes that have led to this are:
1. Poaching
The ruthless hunting of rhinos is the main cause of the decline of rhino populations worldwide. They are hunted to use their horns for commercial purposes, selling them directly as luxury items.
The powder produced from grinding the horns is used as a traditional medicinal product, as a drug, and even as a hangover cure. In the countries where the horns are smuggled, there is even the belief that this powder can cure cancer.
The main countries to which these products are sold are Vietnam and China, where the law is weak and there is a demand for these products illegally.
African Rhinos Poached Over the Last Decade (Source: 2022 State of the Rhino Report)
2. Reduction of rhinoceros habitats
Rhinos are totally herbivorous mammals, so their species depends directly on the plant life present in their habitats. The decrease in agriculture and vegetation due to logging and deforestation is causing a decrease in rhino populations.
This decline causes rhinos to congregate in habitats, which makes them more vulnerable to hunting and disease.
In turn, the decline of their habitats is directly caused by the growth of human populations, which displaces natural life.
Benefits of Rhinos
- Increase of Tourism: They contribute to the economy of the localities near the rhino populations that attract tourism and generate economic benefits to these localities through the generation of jobs.
- Favor plant diversity: Because they are megaherbivores, the existence of rhinos favors the diversity of vegetation, which in turn favors other species that depend on these vegetations. Among the species that are favored by the presence of rhinos are elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and some carnivores.
How the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) works to protect rhinos
The main cause of death of rhinos is poaching, so their preservation is based on strengthening activities for the prevention of hunting, accompanied by careful monitoring and active management of populations of all types of rhinos. Doing all this hand in hand with the localities close to these protected animals.
Protection and monitoring is a key part of the actions for the preservation of rhinos. The IRF extends its activities to the main areas where there are rhino populations: India, Indonesia, and southern Africa.
One-Horned Rhino Population (Source: 2022 State of the Rhino Report)
The second most important cause of the reduction of rhino populations is a reduction in the quality of their habitats.
For their conservation, IRF works in Indonesia, Nepal, and India working with local people to restore habitats and displace invasive species that inhabit them.
The IRF actively works in partnership with surrounding communities that have been affected by rhino declines. By including them in their activities, they become an active part of wildlife protection. The IRF supports areas in South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, and Indonesia with education and financial aid.
To increase the rhino population, the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary was built in 1996 in conjunction with the NGO Yayasan Badak Indonesia. This 250-acre sanctuary is located in the Way Kambas National Park on the island of Sumatra and aims to increase rhino populations by breeding.
Battling against horn trafficking networks
If there is no demand for rhino horns, there will be no poaching of the rhinos. The IRF supports local programs to reduce the demand for horns in China and Vietnam, which use them as a luxury or for medicinal purposes.
It also promotes medicinal education to avoid and reduce misconceptions about the medicinal qualities of horns and promotes education and reporting of rhino crimes.
The IRF also invests in scientific organizations that help rhino conservation. So far it has invested more than US$2 Million.
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