TheCity

Tag: poaching

  • Western black rhino is no more

    Western black rhino is no more

    Last week, the western black rhinoceros was officially declared extinct by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

    The organisation, which is the world’s largest conservation network, maintains a “red list” of animals which are in danger of becoming extinct. The western black rhino is a subspecies of the black rhino, which is currently listed as “critically endangered”.

    The official declaration of extinction of the western black rhino comes just weeks after a Texas hunting group announced its intention to auction off a permit to hunt a black rhino, drawing harsh criticism from conservation groups.

    The western black rhino was last seen in 2006 in western Africa. It is estimated that there are as few as 4,000 black rhinos alive today. Reasons for the extinction of the species have been cited as poaching and a lack of conservation.

    The horn of a rhino is fabled to hold a range of mystic properties, from fertility to having the ability cure cancer. As such, the species is extremely popular with poachers and hunters.

    A picture of 2 rhino horns, taken by the uk home office
    A picture of 2 rhino horns, taken by the uk home office

    A favourite pastime of the wealthy and power elite, safari hunting is a cruel and violent practice which has contributed to the endangerment and indeed extinction of hundreds of different types of animals.

    Last week, a bizarre case involving rhinos which has its roots in Ireland came before the courts in New York. Irishman Michael Slattery pled guilty to charges he used forged documents to sell horns from endangered black rhinos to a New York collector for more than €35,000.

    Rhino horns are sought after for their alleged medicinal properties, as trophies, and are even used to make dagger handles in Yemen. The demand for Rhino horns has only increased as the size of the species has dwindled.

    It’s a sad but true fact that animals are needlessly killed every day for the amusement or gratification of “hunters”. The extinction of the Western black rhino is not surprising, but it is a tragedy nonetheless.

  • Five animals our kids may never see

    Five animals our kids may never see

    I’ll never meet a mammoth, and I don’t know any dinosaurs. Extinct animals are mysterious creatures which we must accept we can only ever know so much about. But species are still going extinct today. Between poaching, competition and habitat loss, new species are constantly being added to the “critically endangered” list.

    If current trends continue, many of the animals we are so familiar with today may be completely wiped out in a matter of decades. Here is a list of animals our children may never see.

    Rhino

    Photo of a Rhino by Jay Aremac
    Photo of a Rhino by Jay Aremac

    Almost every species of rhino is currently classified as endangered or critically endangered. One subspecies, the Western black rhino was recently officially declared extinct.

    Antelope

    A subspecies of the majestic antelope is one of the top 100 most endangered species in the world. It is estimated there are currently less than 1000 left.

    Gorilla

    Photo credit: Dave Stokes
    Photo credit: Dave Stokes

    In recent decades gorilla populations have been affected by habitat loss, disease and poaching. All species of gorillas have been classified as endangered.

    Pygmy three-toed sloth

    This slow moving species is listed as critically endangered and there is believed to be less than 5000 individuals left.

    Giant panda

    A Giant panda sits in a tree. By Brian Snelson
    A Giant panda sits in a tree. By Brian Snelson

    A native of China, the giant panda is threatened by low birth rates and habitat loss. The mating season of the giant panda lasts for just two or three days and only occurs once a year.