Rhinoceros Eyes

According to the World Conservation Union (WCU), “The West African black rhino is now feared extinct,” the Switzerland-based environmental group said, and Africa’s northern white rhino could soon follow.

Northern Cameroon has been combed extensively by air to try to locate this sub-species’ last known natural habitat and no critters of this group were found. This is the third sub-species of rhino that has now become extinct!

The two rhino species native to Africa, the black and white rhinos, are divided into six subspecies: the northern and southern white rhino and four black rhino subspecies.

“[…] they didn’t find anything to indicate a continued presence in the area. They did, however, come across lots of evidence of poaching, and that’s the disconcerting thing.” Disconcerting indeed! The poaches export the Rhino horn (which is made of the same material as finger-and-toe nails) to markets in Yemen and the greater Asian region.

Ground and aerial surveys of the animal’s last known habitat for the Northern White Rhino, in the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, turned up just four animals. This means this sub-species could be the fourth to bite the dust since the conservation efforts have been enacted. Rhino conservation consists of animal activists (which are citizens of African nations, or even citizens of other countries that reach out to the African communities), park rangers and others that are directly involved with maintaining confined habitats and fenced in Rhino herds which can be found in various African countries.

In southern Africa the southern white rhino has turned into a striking conservation success story, rebounding from fewer than 50 animals a century ago to over 14,000 today.

And the three other black rhino subspecies have increased in number, particularly in South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.

The continent’s total black rhino population gained from a record low of 2,410 in 1995 to 3,725 animals today.