Last Female Rhino In SA's Kruger National Park Bled To Death After Poachers Hacked Off Horn

[hatrack]

South African wildlife experts are calling for urgent action against poachers after the last female rhinoceros in a popular game reserve near Johannesburg bled to death after having its horn hacked off.

Wildlife officials say poaching for the prized horns has now reached an all-time high. "Last year, 129 rhinos were killed for their horns in South Africa. This year, we have already had 136 deaths," said Japie Mostert, chief game ranger at the 1,500-hectare Krugersdorp game reserve.

The gang used tranquilliser guns and a helicopter to bring down the nine-year-old rhino cow. Her distraught calf was moved to a nearby estate where it was introduced to two other orphaned white rhinos.

Wanda Mkutshulwa, a spokeswoman for South African National Parks, said investigations into the growing number of incidents had been shifted to the country's organised crime unit. "We are dealing with very focused criminals. Police need to help game reserves because they are not at all equipped to handle crime on such an organised level,'' she said. Rhino horn consists of compressed keratin fibre – similar to hair – and in many Asian cultures it is a fundamental ingredient in traditional medicines. Mkutshulwa said poaching was also rife in the Kruger Park. Five men were arrested there in the past week alone – four of whom were caught with two bloodied rhino horns, AK-47 assault rifles, bolt-action rifles and an axe.

EDIT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/18/poachers-kill-last-female-rhino

[gateley]

1. K&R (I couldn't even read the article.) nt

[postulater]

2. These guys are terrorists too.

[pscot]

9. Environmental vandals

They're everywhere.

[Submariner]

3. I'm not a death penalty advocate when it's human against human

But I would have no problem putting these slaughterers to death, including the buyers in the distribution chain.

[stuntcat]

4. .

nothing I can say. but k & r.

[provis99]

5. rhinos dying so that Chinese guys can get a hard on.

Some cultures I despise, and the Chinese male quest for aphrodisiacs is one of these cultures.

[jxnmsdemguy65]

6. does the rhino horn even work?

Now why can't the drug pushers like Viagra and Cialis (sp?) perform a public service and dump product in China, with the aim of reducing demand for rhino horn. That would be great pr for them!

[happyslug]

8. Rhino Horn was NEVER considered a very good sex drug even in China

This old line is dragged out all the time, I suspect so NOT to offend what many consider the REAL cause, the demand for Rhino horn to use in daggers in Yemen. Among certain Yemeni men it is considered a status symbol to have a dagger made out of Rhino horn. They give such daggers to their sons as part of their tradition as coming of age. Many Yemeni men work in Saudi Arabia and it is from the Saud they get most of their money, part of which they use to buy Rhino Horn Daggers (The blade is steel, but the handle is Rhino Horn). This has been the main area of demand for Rhino Horn since at least the 1960s (And may have been the main area of demand for the last 2000 years).

Just making a point that this is NOT a problem with Chinese Medicine (Black bear poaching in the US is another story for the bladders of Black Bear is considered a very good sex drug) but a problem tied in with out addiction to oil, for that is how the House of Saud gets the money to pay Yemeni men to work in the construction field in Arabia (remember bin Laden is of Yemeni extraction, I have NOT heard that he had any connection with Rhino Horn, for Yemen is a wider culture then just one, but his history so the devolution the Yemeni have to tradition and thus why Rhino Horn is still in demand.

More on Rhino Horn and Yemen, Most plays down the role of Yemen and up plays the traditional Chinese Medication, but all at least mention the Yemeni Connection:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/rhinoceros/rhino-horn-use-fact-vs-fiction/1178/
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2010/07/rhino-horn-and-traditional-chinese-medicine-facts.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p53219417n03m041/
http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref_files/1175859017.pdf
http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=1212&p=health&a=1
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/08/world/la-fg-rhino-dagger8-2009dec08
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/white_rhinoceros.htm

[Canuckistanian]

11. I thought they were killed to make ornamental knives in Yemen

Jambiya, or jambia (Arabic script جمبية or جنبية), is the Arabic term for dagger, but it is generally used to describe a specific type of dagger with a short curved blade that is worn on a belt. Although the term jambiya is also used in other Arab countries, it is mostly associated with people of Yemen. Men typically above the age of 14 wear it as an accessory to their clothing.

~

The hilt or handle

The most significant part of a jambiya is its hilt. In fact, the price of a jambiya is in most cases determined by its hilt. The saifani handle is known to be the most famous and is found on the daggers of higher class citizens. The saifani handle is made of rhinoceros' horns, which can cost up to $1500 USD per kilogram. Different versions of saifani handles can be distinguished by their colour. Most other jambiya handles are made of different types of horns or wood. Apart from the material used for the handle, the design and detail on the handle describe its value and the status of its owner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambiya

[Odin2005]

7. And the Alt-Med nuts wonder why I tell them that their woo is EVIL?

This shit pisses me off! :grr:

[Canuckistanian]

10. We are so fucked as a species

We'd kill off the last member of a species just to get enough money for next week.

We know how to use weapons - but we have NO CLUE about their effect and impact on the world around us. Or even any desire to learn.

We just figure that nature will provide for our barbarity in perpetuity.

Fuck.

[Nihil]

12. There are no words sufficient to express my disgust.

None.