Northern White Rhino Months Away From Extinction - 22 Left In Congo

[hatrack]

"One of the world's rarest rhinos has been hunted almost to extinction by rebel troops in Congo. There are now only 22 northern white rhino alive in their last remaining wild refuge - down from 30 last year.

Unless urgent action is taken, the rhino will be extinct within months, conservationists say.

The Northern White (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a sub-species of the white rhino that used to be found across central Africa, is being killed by rebel troops for their horns, which they sell for more than 4,500 (pounds) a pair to Yemeni craftsmen, who use them to make traditional daggers. The troops use the proceeds to buy guns, rocket launchers and grenades for their war against the government and rival factions.

EDIT

The Northern White was once found in Chad, Uganda, Sudana and the Central African Republic; the only known wild population remaining is in Garamba. Ten more rhinos live in captivity in zoos in the Czech Republic and San Diego, California. Only one Northern White rhino has been successfully bred in captivity in the past 10 years and the sub-species will be unable to reproduce in sustainable if the number of rhinos in the wild falls below 15."

EDIT

Telegraph

"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving, how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension, how like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals!" - Hamlet, Act II, Scene II

[kwolf68]

1. Maybe we can import them to hunt them..to save them

http://policy.fws.gov/library/03-20941.pdf

The Endangered Species Act has long prohibited the import of wild animals not indigenous to the US unless it was for scientific purposes or to conserve the species from extinction.

The USFWS has now decided to re-interpret this method to allow the import for “consumptive” practices that they claim can ensure the species survival.

This program will allow “MORE” importing instead of less, less regulation of endangered animals imported. There is no doubt this is buoyed by the hunting lobby as they have longed the desire to test their “manhood” by shooting a Cheetah.

[hatrack]

2. Yeah, I'm sure the Safari Club will love that interpretation of the law

So that Poppy, "Stormin' Norman" and Ted Nugent can continue to get their little rocks off on the macho act of blowing holes in endangered predators.

Shame that interpretation holds no water in the case of the northern white rhino. One successful captive breeding in ten years doesn't exactly speak of a thriving recovery plan.

Add to that the almost total news blackout on the disintegration of the Congo. Apparently, the deaths of literally milions of human beings isn't enough to make the evening news (Ooh! Look! Kobe Bryant!). And if we can't care about millions of people, what makes anyone think we're going to care about an endangered rhino?

Kiss this subspecies goodbye.

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. BUsh

Bush: (blam) 21

[NickB79]

3. Capture and import to Texas

Seriously. Much of Texas is quite similar to the savanna of Africa, and many different species of African wildlife have already been imported and released to populate large hunting reserves there. In a few decades, the rhino population should increase to the point where they can be re-introduced to African countries stable enough to guarantee their survival.

If not possible, I've read they are tranquilizing rhinos in many wildlife preserves in Africa and using chainsaws to cut off their horns. When the animals awaken, they are hornless but survive, and are worthless to poachers then. They also seem to survive just fine without their horns. I mean, horn or no, what predator will mess with a 1-ton pissed off rhino?

This is just so sad though.

[blindpig]

4. I'm afraid this taxa is toast

50 breeders is considered the minimum to maintain genepool diversity, although that bullet has been dodged a few times(so far). but with a species that breeds sooo slowly...........any informed person who does not feel intense shame & regret and vows "never again!" does not deserve the appelation "sapiens" imo.

[amazona]

5. i was told only 2 left of breeding age

At a recent visit to San Diego Wild Animal Park I was told that only two No. White Rhinos were still young enough to breed. I am not clear on whether she was counting this Congo population -- she said "worldwide" but perhaps she did not have stats from this war torn area.

While captive breeding worked very well for So. White Rhino, with thousands of these animals bred from a stock of 50, this guide stated that there was not enough genetic diversity or land left for the No. White Rhino and that their extinction was inevitable. She said they would be storing their DNA in their "frozen zoo," but to what real purpose, I do not know.


sad