Saving A Species From Extinction - Part one 5 images

[michali]

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As some may be aware, African wildlife is facing a poaching onslaught of unprecedented proportions. Particularly hard hit are Rhinos and Elephants.

 

On average we are losing 1 Elephant every 15 minutes and about 3 Rhinos a day. Elephants are being killed for their ivory which is

used for carving trinkets. Rhino are killed for their horn (which is made of keratin the same material as our fingernails). The horn is

powdered and used in dubious medicines in Asia or fashioned into ornaments and objects. Rhino horn trades on the black market for up to $180, 000- per kilogram.

 

We have now reached a tipping point where deaths outnumber births.

Part of the issue has to do with these animals’ long gestation periods: Elephants = 22 months and Rhinos = 16 to 18 months.

Basically these animals do not reproduce fast enough to replace the animals that are being slaughtered.

 

Rhinos have existed on Earth for over 13 million years; in the 1970s their numbers exceeded 400, 000 across Africa, today they number less than 28, 000 in total.

 

Since 2008 alone we have lost over 8, 000 Rhinos to poaching.

South Africa is home to about 80% of Africa’s remaining Rhinos. In order to counter poaching a number of strategies have been employed, some have proven more effective than others, yet the slaughter continues.

 

One of the strategies is to relocate Rhino from South Africa to more safe destinations such as Botswana’s Okavango Delta, which is remote and largely inaccessible.

 

Another strategy employed is that of dehorning Rhino. This is hardcore conservation, it’s an extreme measure of last resort.

Dehorning however seems to be working, and we are so far seeing a reduction in poaching pressure.

By removing the Rhino’s horn the incentive to poachers is significantly reduced while increasing the risk and difficulty

associated with poaching. Dehorning is a costly exercise involving

the use of helicopters to dart and track the Rhino, wildlife veterinarians and specialised field staff.

 

It is worth noting that there is no pain or suffering caused to the Rhino as a result of dehorning.

 

I recently hosted a group of 31 international journalists sponsored by HUAWEI (a Chinese technology company), who were all armed with HUAWEI’s just released Pro 20 smartphone which houses a Leica triple

camera system.

 

The objective was to test the smartphone’s Leica camera on safari and at the same to raise awareness of the Rhino’s plight and our efforts to save this iconic species from extinction.

 

Thanks for viewing,

Mike

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Edited May 16, 2018 by michali

[helged]

This and the following 'Thanks' are - without doubt - the most sad 'Thanks' I have ever given... Mindless loss of the big animals, or insects or amphibians or other representatives for Earth's large variety of ecosystems, will hurt us all, eventually.

 

A recommended reading (known by many, but nevertheless) is Elisabeth Kolbert's book The Sixth Extinction. 

Edited May 16, 2018 by helged

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Mike,

 

Nice photos.

 

It is too bad that people have to do this.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[stuny]

A wonderful set, a wonderful effort, and it's great to see you posting again.  I trust you're well?

 

When we were in SA not too long ago we had the pleasure of seeing an adult female and her calf, and observed their behavior for quite some time.  they came close enough we could hear them chewing the leaves.  I've not told anyone where we saw this pair just in case poachers are listening.

 

Years earlier on foot we got quite close to both black and white rhinos in Namibia, and a pair of Asian rhinos in Nepal.  What wondrous creatures.