Save the Rhino June 2010 E-zine

This month

Rhinos have definitely been on the move this month! In addition to our amazing Comrades team traversing the South African landscape, rhino projects in both Zambia and Tanzania have seen the arrival of new rhinos (real rather than costumes!) from South Africa. Check out the stories below for details of these immense projects.   There's also just a few weeks left to bid for our beautiful elephant being exhibited in Green Park as park of Elephant Parade 2010. The online auction for our elephant concludes on 2 July with its final sale at the live auction being held 3 July. Click here to bid!       Finally this month, we have an exciting opportunity in Save the Rhino's London HQ for a Senior Events Fundraiser. The application deadline 6pm on Tuesday 15 June so, if you think you are suitable for this role, you'd better hurry! See below for details. In the rest of RhiNEWS we have the usual news roundup....

Announcements

Job vacancy - Senior Events Fundraiser (Events Manager) The Senior Events Fundraiser is responsible for approximately 8 events a year ranging from marathons and overseas challenges to lectures and special events such as fundraising dinners. Being part of a small charity and working across such a range of events means that this role is a fabulous opportunity to enhance your experience across all sections of charity fundraising events. Application deadline 6pm on Tuesday 15 June. Click here for details. CONGRATULATIONS!!! A huge congratulations to our Comrades marathon team who took part in the Comrades Marathon in South Africa on 30 May. Eight out of ten completed the 89km distance in under 12 hours (along with two 12kg rhino costumes!). A big thank you to all of them for their hard work training and fundraising and to those who sponsored them. To read the race diary click here and to read an interview with one of the runners click here. To sponsor the team click here. Score Big With Argos Argos have come up with a unique World Cup Themed initiative for charities. The initiative is very simple. On offer is £5,000 worth of goods which will be donated to the charity who has received the most votes by the closing date of the 13 July 2010. To give Save the Rhino a chance of winning the truck load of goodies, please nominate us via the World Truck website: www.worldtruck.co.uk.

Rhino Crisis Zimbabwe Appeal

Crisis Zimbabwe Final Update To read a full update please click here Last year, in partnership with International Rhino Foundation, an appeal was launched to raise emergency funds and to increase awareness of the work of the Lowveld Rhino Trust (LRT) in Zimbabwe. Through this appeal, Save the Rhino raised £14,974 in donations as well as an additional £10,858 from Trusts & Foundations and International Rhino Foundation raised over $90,000. The good news is that it looks like the level of poaching has started to decrease. There have been no incidents of rhino poaching in the Lowveld region the last few months! And the number of poacher arrests in the last six months has increased which will hopefully act as a useful deterrent.    Even though it looks like the tide may be turning, LRT cannot let its guard down. While continuing rhino monitoring and protection, LRT will begin to expand its work including implementing a broad-based community outreach and awareness programme. Thank you once again to everyone who supported the appeal and made a donation.   This year we are planning to launch an appeal to raise awareness and much needed funds for the most threatened large mammal on earth, the Javan rhino - so watch this space!

Africa news stories

Africa - Interpol operation nets $1 million worth of rhino horn and elephant ivory from shops and markets in southern Africa; 41 people arrested Click here to read the full story Police seized $1 million worth of rhino horns and ivory and shut down an illegal ivory factory in a sweep across southern Africa. The operation, which Interpol coordinated earlier this month, included the arrests of 41 people. "Taking these illegal items off the market is just the first step," said Peter Younger, manager of Interpol's Africa wildlife programme. "Information gathered as part of this operation will also enable law enforcement, both in Africa and abroad, to identify smuggling routes and eventually to further arrests."   Kenya - Black rhinos in the Maasai Mara to be fitted with horn transmitters and ear-notched for easier ID and better security Click here to read the full story Kenya Wildlife Service scientists will next week mark the ears of black rhinos and fit them with tracking gadgets. The operation, supported by the Narok County Council and the Frankfurt Zoological Society, will take place from 7-12 June 2010 at the Maasai Mara National Reserve.   Kenya - Update on the breeding efforts for the Northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy Click here to read the full story The Northern white rhinos, donated by the Czech government in December of last year, have now started to roam freely on the Ol Pejeta Conservancy after being released from their smaller bomas into the wider area.   Kenya - Tough times for the Predator Compensation Fund in the Chyulu Hills area Click here to read the full story Conservationists in Kenya have warned that the country's endangered population of lions could be wiped out unless the authorities start paying cattle herders in the area more money.   Kenya - Tsavo ecosystem under threat; four rhinos poached so far this year; Mombasa should pay for water from the Chyulus Click here to read the full story The Tsavo is timeless. It is one of Kenya’s most stunning national parks, unrivaled in its diversity of landscapes and wildlife. For administrative purposes, Tsavo is divided into two parts — Tsavo East (9,065 square kilometres) and Tsavo West (11,747 sq km) — and opened in April 1948. Uganda -  Country plans to become a stronghold for white and black rhinos once again Click here to read the full story A team belonging to the African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) that visited Uganda recently has certified the country’s suitability to host the Eastern black rhinos and the Northern white rhinos which once occurred in large populations in the northern part of the country.   Tanzania - Serengeti welcomes five new rhinos! Click here to learn more about the project The Serengeti National Park is overflowing with excitement after the relocation of five Eastern Black Rhinos (Diceros bicornis michaeli) arrived on 21 May from South Africa. The rhinos are the first five out of thirty-two that will be brought over a period of two to three years as part of the Serengeti Rhino Repatriation Project. These rhinos have the potential to create a stronghold population of Eastern Black Rhino in their native habitat and will be released into the wild later this year.   Zambia -  Five black rhinos arrive safely in North Luangwa National Park from South Africa Click here to read the full story The Government has said the arrival of the last batch of five black rhinos will help Zambia reclaim its rewarding tourism destination position in the southern Africa and make significant socio-economic contribution to the country.   Zimbabwe - Proposed gift of wildlife including baby elephants and rhinos from Mugabe to North Korea dictator sparks protests Click here to read the full story Two baby elephants intended as a gift to North Korea are unlikely to survive the journey by air, Zimbabwean conservationists have said. The independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said the 18-month-old elephants were being held in pens in the western Hwange National Park, along with pairs of most of the park's other animal species bound for North Korea.   Botswana - National Geographic documentary by Dereck and Beverly Joubert on the reintroduction of black rhinos to Botswana Click here to watch the film The black rhino is under threat in Botswana. After a pair of filmmakers witness the killing of the last of these creatures in the country, they lead a valiant effort to bring the black rhino back to the southern African nation.   South Africa - Article on the crime syndicates behind the poaching epidemic Click here to read the full story The poaching onslaught on South Africa's rhinos has reached new levels of brazen greed and sophistication, with horn syndicates hiring professional hunters, vets and helicopter pilots to hunt from the air with deadly doses of tranquillising drugs.   South Africa - National and private parks and reserves suffer a further rise in rhino poaching in 2010 Click here to read the full story Rhino poaching throughout South Africa has escalated at an alarming rate since the beginning of the year. To date South Africa has lost 92 rhinos, with the Kruger National Park (KNP) being the hardest hit in terms of numbers at 33, followed by the North West Province at 18 and 12 from the Gauteng Province. The least hit province has been the Eastern Cape Province with two rhinos.   South Africa - Outlook for rhinos in South Africa for 2010 doesn't look good as experts forecast more poaching Click here to read the full story David Mabunda, the chief executive officer for the South African National Parks (SANParks) said that rhinos are currently "under siege" from poachers. The horns can fetch more than gold on a per-weight basis, and are highly sought after in Asia for medicinal purposes. South Africa - Poachers kill a white rhino in the wilderness section of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Click here to read the full story Another rhino has been killed in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife have said that park officials spotted the tracks of a group of men in the Wilderness Area of the park. The tracks led to the carcass of a dehorned adult male white rhino.   South Africa - Game auction produces high prices for white rhinos Click here to read the full story Almost R400,000 (c. £35,500) was paid for a particularly long horned white rhino at the annual Eastern Cape Parks’ game auction near Grahamstown, South Africa.   South Africa - Scientists have cracked how to ID a rhino from the DNA in its horn Click here to read the full story Forensic DNA methods used to catch human offenders are also being used to save one of the world's most endangered species, the white rhino. Working at the University of Pretoria, Dr Cindy Harper and her colleagues have found a way to identify an individual rhinoceros horn, link it to rhino profiles and convict poachers.   South Africa - Green Scorpions help bust Vietnamese rhino poaching syndicate Click here to read the full story AN elite group of government and private environmental professionals have formed a task team to combat further rhino poaching amid fears that syndicates operating nationally are based in Port Elizabeth. The Green Scorpions, the National Wildlife Reaction Unit, the Port Elizabeth organised crime unit, SA National Parks and 12 private game reserves forming part of the Indalo Group are working together in an attempt to curb rhino poaching on reserves across the Eastern Cape.   South Africa - Poaching syndicate accused of killing 17 rhino arrested last week and assets confiscated Click here to read the full story The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has confiscated multi-million rand property belonging to members of a syndicate which allegedly hunted and smuggled rhinoceros horns.

Asia news stories

Nepal - Chanda Rana receives award for documentary covering the problems caused by invasive species in Chitwan National Park Click here to read the full story The executive chairperson of Save the Environment Foundation, Chanda Rana has been recognized for her work at home and abroad for taking on an individual struggle and initiating international awareness on the impact of deadly mikkenia in Nepal’s forest regions.   Nepal - Nepalese court approves early release of poachers, in move that threatens to undermine rhino conservation plans Click here to read the full story In the wake of significant rise in rhino poaching through the month of April, the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has formed a committee to prepare a special plan for rhino conservation in Chitwan National Park. “The plan will specifically outline short and long term strategies to be implemented by the ministry and Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) immediately,” said Tulsi Ram Sharma, DNPWC.   Nepal - Four rhinos killed in Chitwan National Park in early May during a strike called by the Maoists Click here to read the full story The Parliamentary Natural Resource and Means Committee has asked the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to state reasons behind the death of four rhinoceros in Chitwan, death of 25 monkeys released in Shivapuri and excessive tree cutting in Chure region.   India - Immobilising drugs for rhino translocations in Assam finally reach Guwahati Click here to read the full story The Assam forest department will finally receive a consignment of ethorphine — the immobilising drug for rhinos — which eluded it for nearly two years. The drug was cleared by customs at Delhi airport and will be reaching Guwahati shortly.   India - Rain stops play in the rhino translocation programme's plans to move animals from Pobitora to Manas Click here to read the full story First it was official incompetence, now it is the weather. The already delayed rhino translocation programme could be further affected by frequent rains in the areas where the animals are located and their proposed destination in Manas National Park.   India - The killing fields of Kaziranga National Park - suggestion that all the licences issued for stone quarries on Park borders are partially responsible Click here to read the full story One more rhino fell prey to poachers at the Kaziranga National Park. This time a four-month pregnant female member of the species was brutally killed and the predators made good their escape after sawing off the horn leaving the rhino wreathing in pain to die. India - Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary to receive five male Greater one-horned rhinos after former population killed by poachers Click here to read the full story The five male rhinos to be sent to the sanctuary are now at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga and were rescued by the Wildlife Trust of India and state forest department under various circumstances. The oldest rhino is three-and-a-half years old and the youngest is eight months.   India - Four would-be rhino poachers killed in gunfight in Kaziranga National Park, Assam; two escape with weapons and are being chased Click here to read the full story Four poachers were killed in a gunfight with wildlife rangers at the famed Kaziranga National Park three days after seven poachers were arrested on the fringe of the sanctuary. A wildlife warden said a group of six poachers entered the park and fired at an adult rhino near the Mihimukh range, although they failed to hit the target.   India - Patna Zoo's Greater one-horned breeding programme doing well with three females pregnant Click here to read the full story The second largest rhino population among all the biological parks in the world exists in the Patna Zoo. There are at present six male and as many female rhinos at the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park. Next year three more are expected.   India - Retired forest guard implicated in rhino poaching gang in Kaziranga National Park Click here to read the full story A nexus between a section of forest guards and poachers involved in rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park has come to light with the arrest of seven persons, including a retired forest guard.   India - Bibhab Talukdar appointed Vice-Secretary of the Indonesian Rhino Task Force Click here to read the full story A wildlife conservationist from Assam, Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, has been appointed the vice-secretary of the Indonesian Rhino Task Force which has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring conservation of the critically-endangered Javan and Sumatran rhino in Indonesia.   India - Orang National Park visitor numbers down, and therefore park revenues Click here to read the full story The Orang National Park in Darrang district, the only natural habitat of the one-horned rhino on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, reportedly saw 172 foreign tourists visiting the park during the last tourist season from November to April.   India - Cattle grazing and changes to flooding patterns and silt deposits have reduced the alluvial grasslands that rhinos need in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Click here to read the full story Rhinos at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary are slowly but surely losing their most preferred habitat — moist alluvial grasslands. From 16.25 square km in 1977, the habitat, considered the best for rhinos, has shrunk to a mere 5.1 square km in 2009.   Vietnam - Stark evidence of the threats faced by any remaining Javan rhinos in Cat Tien National Park Click here to read the full story The Javan Rhino whose skeleton was found recently in Cat Tien National Park in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, may have been the same animal that the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) field workers were tracking for a conservation project, before it died possibly at the hands of poachers.   Vietnam - Poachers shoot dead one of the 3-5 Javan rhinos surviving in Cat Tien National Park Click here to read the full story Poachers killed one of the final few Javan rhinoceros left in Vietnam, conservationists said, calling it a major blow to attempts to save the world's rarest large mammal. The rhino was found shot dead and its horn removed late last week in Cat Tien National Park in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.   Vietnam - Report suggests that the dead Javan rhino died of natural causes, not poaching Click here to read the full story Experts firstly suspected that the rhino had been shot dead and its horn, which is used for traditional medicine, was removed by poachers. However, further research shows that this rhino died naturally around 3-5 months ago.   Malaysia - Sabah Wildlife Department plans to capture the pregnant Sumatran rhino to move to captive facility Click here to read the full story Malaysian wildlife officials have said they plan to trap a rare female Borneo rhino caught on camera to mate with a lone male rescued two years ago. "This particular female rhino is targeted for capture in order to provide a mate for our lone male rhino, Tam, who was captured in August 2008," Laurentius Ambu, wildlife director for Malaysia's Sabah state, said in a statement.   Indonesia - Population census to be taken of the Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park Click here to read the full story While the Central Statistics Bureau is busy administering a national census, the Ujung Kulong National Park is conducting a similar survey to determine the population of endangered Javanese rhinos in Pandeglang, which lies on the western tip of Java.   Indonesia - Javan rhino found dead of natural causes in Ujung Kulon National Park Click here to read the full story Javan rhinos persist in Ujung Kulon because they are carefully monitored and guarded by Rhino Protection Units, elite anti-poaching teams that patrol the park every day. While the loss of this rhino was tragic, it appears to have died from natural causes rather than poaching.

World news stories

Misc - Good discussion of Groves' paper arguing that Northern & Southern white rhinos are separate species (not sub-species) Click here to read the full story It's official: there's a new, living species of African rhino, bringing the recognised number of living rhino species to six. But before you get too excited I should point out that the taxon concerned is not exactly new.   Misc - Detailed article on replacing animal-based products with plants for traditional Chinese medicine remedies Click here to read the full story Zootherapy, the use of animals and products derived from them in healing, has been practiced by most ancient cultures throughout the world, and it continues to be prevalent within many contemporary societies.   UK - 18-month old Samir, the Greater one-horned rhino, arrives safely in Edinburgh Zoo, all the way from Stuttgart Click here to read the full story A new rhinoceros has been lifted by crane into his new enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo. The 18-month-old greater one-horned Indian rhino, who could grow to weigh up to 2.5 tonnes, arrived by lorry from Stuttgart in Germany.   UK - Elle MacPherson apparently admits to taking powdered rhino horn Click here to read the full story The world’s fastest interview — 140 characters max per answer. The supermodel-turned-lingerie entrepreneur talks about knickers and rhino horn, and appears to be unaware that rhino trade is strictly illegal.    UK - Baby white rhino let out into summer paddock at Blair Drummond Safari Park Click here to read the full story With the summer sun making more appearances at the park, the staff can now let more of the animals out into the larger areas of the park. It’s a big day for baby rhino Elisa as she makes her debut from the rhino compound into pastures new, at the drive through section.   UK - Alice's final piece in the Independent on running the London Marathon Click here to read the full story So, I did it! I ran the marathon and I raised the money. Neither of which, in all honestly, I thought I could. I'm built like bookworm, not an athlete – and I have two years worth of columns to document my inability to save money.   USA - Runaway rhino Archie escapes from his paddock at Jacksonville Zoo in Florida Click here to read the full story A wayward rhinoceros caused quite a stir at the Jacksonville Zoo. Archie the rhino got out his barn somehow and it took 30 workers to get him back.   USA - Rhino conservationist and Fort Worth Zoo director Ramona S Bass wins BRIT award Click here to read the full story Botanical Research Institute of Texas to present 2010 International Award of Excellence in Conservation to Ramona S. Bass for her accomplishments in wildlife conservation as the transformational leader of the Fort Worth Zoo and for her work to save the critically endangered black rhinoceros.   USA - San Diego Wild Animal Park enjoys a baby boom and has a great record of breeding rhinos Click here to read the full story The Wild Animal Park has become the world's leading breeding authority on rhinos, thanks to the temperate climate, the large rhino habitats and a staff that knows the nuances of rhino husbandry.   Mexico - 72-million-year-old rhino-sized horned dinosaur remains found Click here to read the full story A new species of horned dinosaur unearthed in Mexico has larger horns that any other species - up to 4 feet long - and has given scientists fresh insights into the ancient history of western North America, according to a research team led by paleontologists from the Utah Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah.   Australia - Taronga Western Plains Zoo black rhino calf named Kufara - a Shona word meaning happiness Click here to read the full story A black rhinoceros calf that has been stealing hearts since her birth at Taronga Western Plains Zoo 10 weeks ago has been named Kufara. The name, which means happiness in the African language Shona, was voted the most popular out of a pool of six in a naming competition run by the zoo in Dubbo.

Save the Rhino events

Elephant Parade – May/June 2010 Currently located around London are 256 brightly coloured elephants, all part of Elephant Parade London. Each elephant has been decorated by a different artist or celebrity and Save the Rhino has adopted one of these elephants. Our elephant, Never Forget, is located in Green Park so if you're in the area, look out for it! For more information on the auction of our elephant and to see a short fun film, please visit our website.   PechaKucha Africa – Wednesday 20 October 2010 PechaKucha (ペチャクチャ,) meaning chit-chat in Japanese, is a new format sweeping the world – our night has 6 speakers, each with 20 slides and just 20 seconds per slide.... We invite you to join us for our African-themed PechaKucha evening at Kings Place in London. You will be served a delicious dinner and drinks, and entertained by a range of speakers including Sir Max Hastings and Tim Butcher. For further details visit our website.   DIY Runs If you’re not quite ready for a marathon yet then why not run your local 5km, 10km or half marathon and raise money for Save the Rhino. To find your local 5km Big Fun Run click here. We can help you with training tips, fundraising ideas and we'll also send you a Save the Rhino dry fit t-shirt to train and run in ....and if you fancy the ultimate challenge of running it in rhino costume then just let us know. Click here for details.

Corporate partners

Silver jungle Rhinos have inspired artists for many centuries, with many of these images dating back hundreds of years. Joanna Skipwith has written a book about rhinos, with lots of these pictures, to raise awareness of the plight of all five species. £5 from the sale of Rhino: Animals in Art, published by Silver Jungle, supports the Sumatran rhino and is available to buy from the online shop. The Silver Jungle website is a fun and informative website, click here to visit Silver Jungle. Victor Stationery www.victorstationery.com  Victor Stationery's flagship brand, RHINO is leading the way in a major awareness and fundraising campaign across the UK in support of Save the Rhino. The partnership continues to boost our conservation work through substantial financial support and by having added the slogan "Buying Rhinos Saves Rhinos" to every new product. Check out their great range today! Beasty Bags Beasty Bags™ are large, loveable animal beanbags - including rhino ones - with personalities all of their own. Designed and handmade in the UK, Beasty Bags are fun and versatile, for lounging or sitting, and suitable for both the big and small kids in your family! Highly practical with washable, removable covers, they are available in a range of high quality designer fabrics suitable for any contemporary living space. Go to www.beastybags.co.uk to see the full range of Beasty Bags, the slightly more rugged Beasty Bag™ Rhino is particularly good for the boys and our faux leather rhino has been spotted in the odd bachelor pad too!–Save the Rhino receives a donation from each rhino sold.

Programme grants in April

We received $1,000 from SCI Foundation for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in South Africa, to buy night-vision equipment. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, like other wildlife reserves in South Africa, has suffered from a rise in rhino poaching over the last two years, and we hope this equipment will help the Section Rangers and Anti-Poaching Units to track down and arrest would-be poachers. Our thanks to SCI Foundation. We also sent £2,197 to the Zambezi Society in Zimbabwe, for its rhino monitoring work in Matusadona National Park, leopard project, and general running costs.

Go to www.savetherhino.org for more information about Save the Rhino, and details of how you can support us. New readers can subscribe by emailing info@savetherhino.org. Unsubscribe by emailing the same address. Save the Rhino International 16 Winchester Walk London SE1 9AQ www.savetherhino.org Save the Rhino works to conserve viable populations of critically endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. We recognise that the future of wildlife is inextricably linked to the communities that share its habitat. By funding field projects and through education, our goal is to deliver material, long-lasting and widespread benefits to rhinos and other endangered species, ecosystems and to the people living in these areas. Disclaimer: Save the Rhino International's aim with this newsletter is to enhance access to information about rhino conservation around the world. The newsletter is produced in good faith and we hope that all information contained within it is timely and accurate. However, the charity accepts no responsibility or liability with regard to the content, and urges anyone reproducing information from it to contact the original sources before doing so.