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Sign a petition to help stem the flow of rhino poaching

08/09/2011 11:35:27

Rhino poaching: Alarming facts and figures:

South Africa is home to 80% of the world's rhino population
In 2007, South Africa lost 13 rhinos to poaching. In 2010, this figure rose to 335
So far, more than 270 rhinos have been slaughtered in 2011
Should the current rate of rhino poaching continue, the rhino population growth rate could officially be in decline within a year
Rhino horn is falsely believed to have medicinal value in some countries - this is fuelling its increased demand
The onslaught of poaching in South Africa is being orchestrated by international criminal networks using helicopters and automatic weapons to wipe out rhinos in nearly every part of the country from both national and privately-owned game parks
The highly organised nature and frequency of these crimes makes efforts at intervention extremely difficult

Protecting South African rhinos: What you can do?

September 2011. Conservation bodies, private reserve owners and the public are coming together to wage war against the onslaught of rhino poaching that is taking place in South Africa. The Wilderness Foundation believes that one of the keys to saving the rhino is an international outcry and a change in laws regarding the importation of rhino horn into foreign countries.

"We need to capture the attention of international governments, particularly those who have influence over China. Through massive public and governmental pressure on the major importers of the horn, we have a chance to save these animals," says director of the Wilderness Foundation, Andrew Muir. "Escalating poaching figures and continuing brutal attacks on rhinos show that an inter-continental effort is needed to fight back."

More rhino poaching stories from this week

Petition
The Wilderness Foundation will be presenting a petition against rhino poaching to the US congress this September. "The petition will be presented to the highest governmental powers and is a vital part of the lobbying campaign which is needed to change the laws regarding the importation of rhino horn into foreign countries," says Muir.

It is crucial that the petition conveys a powerful message to international authorities. "We need as many signatures as possible to highlight the severity of the issue, and thus secure the full weight of support from the US in joining the fight to save the rhino," says Muir.

The Wilderness Foundation is a project-driven conservation and leadership organisation that encourages, plans and protects wild lands and wilderness, uplifts the knowledge and lives of citizens and stimulates an environmental ethos among current and future leaders. It envisages a world that has sufficient intact natural ecosystems and wilderness areas that are valued and effectively protected for the benefit of all species.

African tragedy - Global responsibilty
Rhino poaching may be an African tragedy but it is a global responsibility. Join the fight and help us gather signatures by encouraging people to sign up http://wildernessfoundation.co.za/savetherhinos/

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