Today, there are perhaps 5,000 black rhinos and 20,000 white rhinos left on the continent, but even these numbers must be considered optimistic; the killing has reached such a frenzied pitch that the only thing that's certain is that the populations are in free-fall.
The root causes for the slaughter remain the same -- demand for rhino horn in traditional Asian medicine, and to a lesser degree, the use of the horns for handles on heirloom-quality Yemeni daggers. But one big thing has changed: Asia has money now. Formerly impoverished factory workers and farmers are, by the metrics of the past, rich. Many can afford to buy rhino horn, even at the currently stratospheric price of $66,000 a kilo. Supposedly, interest in the horn is slackening in China and picking up in Vietnam; but by any measure, the demand continues to climb.
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Jeffrey Bennett
 Jeffrey Bennett, Ph.D. and an M.S. in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado, has joined Earth Protect as a Featured Blogger. He is a leading author of bestselling college textbooks in astronomy, astrobiology, mathematics, and statistics.
His award-winning book for children, focused on global warming, The Wizard Who Saved the World, published by Big Kid Science is now available, courtesy of Jeffery, at a 66% discount, only $5, plus shipping and handling.
Jeffrey’s first blog article, Letter to your Grandkids is featured on the Earth Protect Featured Articles on the home page.
 “Wizard” is about Diego, a young boy who daydreams of being a wizard and imagines using his powers to make the world a better place, and in particular to fight global warming.
Free copies of the book are available for schools with paid shipping and handling.
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to arrange for your school to receive a free book.
Check out the other great books Earth Protect is discounting!
World Rhino Day
How to Save the Rhino
 The holocaust of the African rhinoceros is accelerating, with the very real possibility that both the continent's species -- white and black rhinos -- could be extinct outside zoos in a matter of years. At the beginning of the 20th century, there were several hundred thousand rhinos in East and southern Africa. European settlers described the bush immediately outside Nairobi as stiff with black rhino.
 All in for Rhinos: World Rhino Day 2011 Highlights
On 22 September, people around the world stood up for rhinos and shared the message: Rhino horn is NOT medicine. This video features World Rhino Day events and activities in Zimbabwe, South Africa, the UK, Nepal, Australia, the US, Malaysia, Kenya and Vietnam.
 Rhino Horn is Not Medicine
The world's rhino population has decreased by over 90% in the last 40 years. Why? The illegal trade in rhino horn.
G2 Gallery Winners Announced
 The winners of the amazing Antarctic photos donated by The G2 Gallery to Earth Protect members have been drawn, and the winners are: msotelo and msbaribaby. Congratulations to you both and thank you for being members of Earth Protect! And thank you to The G2 Gallery for this generous contribution and for the good they do to encourage the love of and conservation of wildlife. They are environmental heros! See the G2Gallery in "businesses" section to learn more about them. |
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