Early European hunters caused the decline of black rhinos. Between 1970 and 1992, 96% of all the black rhinos remaining in Africa were killed. Illegal hunters collected their horns for great amount of money. Their horns are said to have medicinal properties and are very valuable.
The first laws put in place in effort to save the rhino population were in the 1980’s which were put in place by the Zimbabwean government. Their methods included “banning trade in rhino horn, dehorning live animals, forming anti-poaching units, and creating heavily patrolled areas called Intensive Protection Zones (IPZs).” (cei.org). These methods had very limited to no success.
The WWF, an international organization that helps save endangered or threatened animals, are rescuing black rhinos and with support from the government they are helping to relocate them. They helped the total number of black rhinos grow from 2,410 in 1995 to 4,880 in 2010. You can help conserve the Black Rhino by donating to WWF and not buying anything that contains Rhino horns or leather.
Below one can see a Black Rhino being shot with a tranquilizer dart.
This image is courtesy of Mashable.com
This image is from theengangeredspace.wordpress.com
