# ENDWILDLIFECRIMEB a c k i n g R h i n o s t o S u r v i e

BASIC FACTS ABOUT RHINO CEROSES

Rhinoceroses are the largest land mammals after the elephant. The word “rhinoceros” comes from the Greek “rhino” (nose) and “ceros” (horn).

Fast Facts

Size: Rhinos range from 6 to 12 feet long, and 4 to 6.5 feet tall.

Weight: The five species range in weight from 1,300 to 7,000 pounds. Lifespan: Rhinos live up to 35 years in the wild.

Top Speed: 30 miles per hour.

Did You Know?

Rhino horns are made of keratin – the

same substance that makes up human hair and fingernails.

T H E 5 SPE C I E S OF R H I NO S

White Rhinoceroses(Ceratotherium simum)

There are five species of rhinos, two African and three Asian.

African Rhinos

Black Rhinoceroses(Diceros bicornis)

Horn: Two Horned

Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savan-nas and Shrublands.

Current Range: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Na-mibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Uganda.

Population: 20,405

Horn: Two Horned

Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savan-nas, and Shrublands; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands.

Current Range: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi.

Population: 5,055

Population figures are according to numbers published 31 December by the IUCN for African rhino species and results of a 2012 / 2013 census for Asian rhino populations.

Asian RhinosGreat one-horned Rhinoceros

(Rhinoceros unicornis)Javan Rhinoceros

(Rhinoceros sondaicus)

Sumatran Rhinoceros(Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

Horn: One Horned

Current Range: India and Nepal.

Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands.

Population: 3,333

Horn: One Horned

Current Range: Java (Indonesia)

Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests.

Population: 58 - 61

Horn: Two Horned

Current Range: Sumatra (Indonesia) and Sabah (Malaysia)

Habitat: Dense highland and lowland tropical and sub-tropical forests

Population: <100

Po aching : The StatisticsRhinos were once abundant throughout Africa and Asia with an approximated worldwide population of 500 000. However, poaching of this iconic species is dramatically increasing, pushing the remain-ing rhinos closer towards extinction. In fact, all five remaining rhinos species are listed on the IUCN

Redlist of threatened species, with three out of five species classified as critically endangered.

Rhino poaching has reached a crisis point, and if the killing continues at this rate, we could see rhino deaths overtaking births in 2016-2018, meaning rhinos could go extinct

in the very near future.

Data published by South African Department of Environmental Affairs (2015)

Nepal has a different story towards poaching

On World Wildlife Day, March 3 2013, Nepal celebrated 365 days with zero poaching. It’s the sec-ond year of such success in Nepal. In 2011 the country also had none, and in 2012 it lost just one

rhino to poaching.

Good News for Animals in Nepal: A Full Year Without Poaching

2005

375

2011

534

2015

64521%

This achievement is particularly notable in the face of increased poaching in Af-rica. Nepal’s record stands out.

Nepal continues its successful fight against poaching. No rhinos, tigers, or elephants were killed.

T h re at s for R h i n o s

Poaching for Rhino Horns

1.Traditional Chinese Medicine

Rhino horn has been used in Chinese medicine for more than 2000 and is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, and other disorders.

2. For Jambiya Handles

Made into ornamental handles for daggers (jambiyas).

3. Aphrodisiac

There is a belief in the West that rhino horn is used as an aphrodisiac and sexual stimulant but this is not correct and seems to have been misunderstood or misinterpreted by Western media.

Habitat LossHabitat loss is a major threat to rhino popu-lations. There are several ways in which this is manifested including clearance of land for

human settlement and agricultural production, logging, authorised and illegal.

In the case of the Sumatran rhino habitat loss has been a major factor in rhino numbers de-clining. Sumatran rhinos are now highly frag-mented from each other, declining the chances of breeding and recovering their numbers even

more.

Political Conflict

It has become much easier for the poachers to kill rhinos and other endangered species

where there is political instability.

REASONS TO SAVE RHINOS

At the turn of the 19th century, there were approximately one million rhinos. In 1970, there were around 70,000. Today, there are only around 28,000 rhinos surviving in the wild.

40 Million YearRhinos have been around for 40 million years. Rhinos have been an important part of a wide range of ecosystems.

Humans are the cause of the drastic drop in rhino popula-

tions, therefore we have a moral obligation to stop their demise and ensure the survival of this

species.

Umberlla SpeicesWhen protecting and managing a rhino population, rangers and sci-entists take in account all the other species interacting with rhinos and

those sharing the same habitat.

We all have an opportunity to get involved!Many people don’t know that rhinos are critically endangered. We can help raise awareness of the plight of the rhino! The

more we do all together, the more people will learn about rhinos and the more field projects we will be able to support.

If people do not know about these amazing animals and the problems they are facing, how can we expect them to want to do something to help save rhinos?

Illegal Trade in Rhino Horn

Rhinos are being killed in record numbers for their horns. To find and kill them, poachers are using a variety of tools and techniques. But so are the

people fighting to save them.

BACKING RHINOS TO SURvIve

www.nepalvisiontreks.com977-1-4424762, 977-1-4423297

info@nepalvisiontreks.com

The Slide is produced by Nepal Vision Treks & Expedition, an Adventure-travel specialist in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India.

“An initiative for ethical tourism.”

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