6%+ Of Endangered Indian Rhinos In Nepal's Royal Chitwan Park Poached Since 2008

[hatrack]

The rare Indian rhinoceros is not safe from poachers even in national parks. In Nepal's world renowned Royal Chitwan National Park, twenty-four Indian rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) have been poached since the last census was taken in 2008. The most recent one was killed last Thursday. Approximately 372 Indian rhinos survive in the park, and the population is in decline.

The world's largest population of Indian rhinos (just under 2,000) survive in Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam. But Kaziranga has lost five rhinos to poachers just this year.Last year fourteen rhinos were killed by poachers.

Across the world, poaching continues unabated in Africa. Kruger National Park lost eight white rhinos recently, totaling 93 rhinos poached in a three-year-period.

The Indian rhino is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. The primary threat to Indian rhinos is poaching, while the second most pressing issue is habitat degradation.

EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2010/0302-hance_indianrhinos.html

[guardian]

1. stopping the poaching

I wonder if some sort of global public service announcement program could be used to help change the mindset in cultures that use endangered animal body parts. Something along the lines of "viagra works...rhino horn doesn't" or similar. Reduce demand, reduce the profit, reduce the poaching.

You'd think the UN or some NGO could spearhead something like this.