[Birdnuts]

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?202074


This unique sub-species of the already critically endangered Javan Rhino is gone for ever. Primarily due to Vietnams shocking record on conservation that will soon account for its remaining large mammals. This country is also second only to China as a player in the worldwide trade in illegal wildlife products(rhino horn, tiger bone etc.) that is driving species extinction everywhere from Africa to India. Shame on a country that is no third world back water but considers itself one of the Asian tiger economies, yet appears unable or unwilling to provide the type of basic protection for legally protected species, even in National Parks. Even certain war-torn third-world countries manage to do a better job in this area eg, Virunga NP in the Congo etc.

[Mickeroo]

Thanks for that Birdnuts. Thats awful news made all the worse by the fact it was shot. It just makes my blood boil. Unfortunately there's not very much that can be done in cases like this as no-one really has the power to intervene and force places like China or Vietnam to change their policies.

[steddyeddy]

The closest thing I could do to express my anger towards this result is write to the vietnamese embassy in London conveying my disgust at their countrys attitudes towards endangered species.

[Baron de Robeck]

This is the second sub-species of Javan Rhino to be declared extinct, the first was found in Burma (as it was called then). More poached rhino horn is now heading for Vietnam than it is to China after some cabinet minister claimed it was a cure for cancer. Rhino horn of course has no medicinal properties and extensive analysis has proven this, you would get the same results as grinding up and ingesting your own finger nails!!

The 40-50 surviving Javan Rhinos are in one park in Indonesia and are still breeding but they need to have their territory increased to help boost numbers and a project is on-going to achieve this. Having only one population is very risky as a natural disaster or disease could wipe it out.

[Mickeroo]

More sad news, a siberian tiger which was spotted in China a few days ago was found dead. The body was intact but they're still not ruling out poachers, autopsy is ongoing. Such a shame.





I'll never understand what can make people do things like that(assuming it was indeed poachers). Such a senseless waste. I would understand if an animal was being killed to feed a family but something like a tiger is surely only being killed for its fur or because a few deluded people think some of its body parts might cure diseases.

[steddyeddy]

Humans have been responsible for the sixth mass extinction event (holocene extinction). Its sad that the most intelligent species on earth are a species with no foresight.

[Galvasean]

[Birdnuts]

http://www.birdlife.org/community/20...ker-1956-film/

Another example of humanities ignorance, greed and cruelty - this time taking out one of the most magnificient species of woodpecker that ever lived

[Birdnuts]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

The closest thing I could do to express my anger towards this result is write to the vietnamese embassy in London conveying my disgust at their countrys attitudes towards endangered species.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7738364.stm

It appears the rot is at all levels - I hope this **** gets sent home in a diplomatic bag

[Birdnuts]

Originally Posted by Baron de Robeck

This is the second sub-species of Javan Rhino to be declared extinct, the first was found in Burma (as it was called then). More poached rhino horn is now heading for Vietnam than it is to China after some cabinet minister claimed it was a cure for cancer. Rhino horn of course has no medicinal properties and extensive analysis has proven this, you would get the same results as grinding up and ingesting your own finger nails!!

The 40-50 surviving Javan Rhinos are in one park in Indonesia and are still breeding but they need to have their territory increased to help boost numbers and a project is on-going to achieve this. Having only one population is very risky as a natural disaster or disease could wipe it out.

Going on the blog below its clear this species never stood a chance is such a dysfunctional country - its also clear the species was only being kept going by the efforts of foreign NGO's. Its also apparent that the last individual lead a very distressing and lonely life


http://rhinomania.blogspot.com/

[Baron de Robeck]

Yes indeed, the blogspot above sums it up the rhinos were doomed in Vietnam. There just wasn't any serious will to save them. In Indonesia the government seem to be taking the situation far more seriously and hopefully the regained area of the park will allow a second population to build. Javan rhinos and their lifestyles are the least known of all rhinos as their habitat is difficult to negotiate around and none are in captivity. They are generally regarded as solitary in nature apart from females with a calf but could well have small social groups. One bit of trivia is that they are the only rhinos known to drink salt water.

[Mickeroo]

Originally Posted by Birdnuts

http://www.birdlife.org/community/20...ker-1956-film/

Another example of humanities ignorance, greed and cruelty - this time taking out one of the most magnificient species of woodpecker that ever lived

Thought this might be at home in this thread too.

There's a very eerie quality to the footage knowing it was the only ever taken.

[Birdnuts]

The extinction of this unique Rhino means that in the past 5 years alone we have lost 3 unique sub-species. The Western Black, Northern White and this animal. Truelly shocking stuff - and the only reason we still have some of the others is thanx to 24 hr armed security in many cases. Despite this the likes of SA continues to lose a Rhino nearly every day thanx to the increasingly ruthless nature of international sydicates using high-powered weapons, helicopters etc. to feed demand for Rhino horn in Asia

[steddyeddy]

A lot more people are killed by anti poaching units than people think. Theres a ranger in africa who wants to introduce small amounts of poison to rhino horn so the demand for the horn would decrease.

[Birdnuts]

Originally Posted by steddyeddy

A lot more people are killed by anti poaching units than people think. Theres a ranger in africa who wants to introduce small amounts of poison to rhino horn so the demand for the horn would decrease.

The situation is getting so bad that desperate times called for desperate measures - the army is now being used in Tanzania, SA and Kenya to halt the escalation in this war for Africas wildlife. Similiar measures were used in the 80's when an explosion in the price of Ivory nearly did for elephants. Sadly it appears we are back to those dark days.