What's the Problem? Before 1900, hundreds of thousands of rhinos roamed over huge areas of Africa and Asia. (And they were perfectly happy doing that for 50 million years!) Since 1970, more than 90% of the world's rhinoceros have disappeared! Only about 27,431 rhinos remain in the wild today. All five species of rhinos - the Black (or hooked lip) rhino, the White (or square lip) rhino, the Indian rhino, the Sumatran rhino, and the Javan rhino - are all threatened with extinction. What's been happening to the rhinos? The usual things that put animals on the Endangered Species List: Poaching - Humans are illegally hunting rhinos. Habitat Loss - Humans are getting on rhino's turf. Low Reproductivity - It takes a long time to make a baby rhino (calf). Poaching: The word rhinoceros means "horn-nosed," and that horn is a very valuable thing (for the rhino, that is). Rhinos use their horns for: shoveling the ground for mineral salt fighting over territory or during courtship defending themselves and their young against lions, tigers and hyenas Unfortunately, humans find rhino horns very valuable too. In Yemen, they're carved into fancy dagger handles, which sell for $500 to $12,000! Many Asians believe that powdered rhino horn cures everything from nose bleeds to food poisoning. Some think that powdered rhino horn can keep a person young and increase sexual energy. As a result, poachers kill rhinos, cut off their horns and sell them for big bucks! As if killing rhinos for their horns wasn't bad enough, other parts of the rhino (skins and hooves) are also bought and sold illegally throughout the world. In 1970 there were about 65,000 Black rhinos in the wild. In 1995, there were only about 2,400. That's the fastest decline of any large mammal in recorded history! Habitat Loss: In India, where the rhino is considered a hungry "pest," rhino grazing grounds have been converted to rice paddies to feed an ever-growing human population. In Java, the rhino's forest habit has shrunk because humans have chopped down trees to use the wood for building homes. Low Reproductivity: Rhinos are slow breeders, meaning they don't mate very often. Once a female rhino gets pregnant, it takes (15-16 months) before the baby (called a calf) is born and that only happens once every 2 to 4 years! This makes it very hard for the rhino to rebound from its low numbers and avoid extinction. (Photo: Courtesy AAZK:Bowling for Rhinos) It's The Law! The rhino is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement signed by over 120 nations (including the United States) to eliminate illegal trade in certain live animals and their body parts and associated products. Currently, some countries are threatening to impose trade sanctions against Yemen, South Korea, China and Taiwan for allegedly violating the CITES agreement. The United States imposed wildlife trade sanctions on Taiwan in 1994 for that country's illegal trade in rhino as well as tiger parts and products. This is the first time the United States has taken such action to penalize another country because of illegal trade in endangered wildlife. In 1994, the United States Congress passed the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act to provide resources to conservation programs focused on saving these endangered species. What You Can Do To Help! While rhinos might not be the cutest, sweetest animals on the planet, they are unique and fascinating creatures that deserve our help. You know what they say: "Extinct is forever!" As long as the demand for rhino horns remains high, all five species of rhinos are in trouble. We must take strong measures to protect not only this animal but every species and their habitat. So get involved in the solution! 1. Write to President Obama and Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior expressing your concern about the fate of rhinos and your desire that they be saved: Write The President at: President Obama 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500 Email The President: president@whitehouse.gov Write The Secretary at: Ken Salazar Secretary of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 Email The Secretary: click here 2. Write your United States Senator and Congressional Representative. Tell them how important rhinos are to you and ask them to continue to support protection for rhinos and their habitat. 3. Adopt-A-Rhino through the World Wildlife Fund. Without your help and contributions, rhinos will go the way of the dodo. 4. Check out these websites and find out what these organizations are doing to help save the rhino. Find out what you can do to work with them!

(Photo: Courtesy AAZK:Bowling for Rhinos)

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