Conservation methods used to protect the black rhino

July 21, 2014 admin Protecting Rhinos, Tunde Folawiyo, tunde folawiyo executive, tunde folawiyo london, tunde folawiyo profile, Uncategorized

Due to its dwindling numbers, the black rhino has been classified as a critically endangered species. Between the seventies and early nineties, more than 96% of the entire population was killed by poachers, and recent estimates from the WWF suggest that there are now approximately 4,800 left living in the wild. With one black rhino being lost to poachers every 11 hours, this already-small number is beginning to drop rapidly.

As a conservation enthusiast, Tunde Folawiyo may be aware that Namibia is home to more than 1,750 black rhinos. However poaching is a serious issue in this country’s national parks; in the last seven months alone, poachers have killed 10 rhinos in Kuneen, Zambezi and Kavango. As a result of this, the government is now taking drastic action to protect what is left of this species.

The authorities have deployed a large group of soldiers around the country’s parks, in a bid to ward off potential poachers. The unit has been ordered to patrol the stretch of Namibian land which borders Botswana and Angola. Increasing the level of security in parks in this manner has been proven to be an effective method of deterring poachers; statistics from the Game Rangers Association of Africa show that between January and April of 2014, newly-deployed security teams arrested 96 rhino poachers.

Those interested in conservation, like Tunde Folawiyo, might have heard that a number of celebrities around the world are also doing their part to raise awareness of black rhino poaching. Recently, Yao Ming, David Beckham and Prince William collaborated with Wild-Aid, and created a collection of PSAs (public service announcements) which are to be aired in both Vietnam and China – two countries where rhino horn is often used for medicinal purposes. In these PSAs, the stars encourage people to avoid purchasing this product, as by doing so, they are supporting the illegal wildlife trade.

In addition to raising awareness of the plight of this animal, conservation groups are also looking for ways to increase the existing population, and have begun to set up breeding programs. Abilene Zoo has agreed to give one of its black rhinos, named ‘Ru’ to the Glen Rose Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre, so that he can live and mate with the centre’s female rhinos. Whilst Ru himself was born in captivity, his father was a wild rhino from Africa; because of this, Ru is considered to have the ideal genetic profile for a breeding program. It is hoped that he will help the species to avoid extinction.

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