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Most people are well aware that there are many animals, which are, in danger of becoming extinct. They are in danger for many different reasons, all of which are due to either man’s greed or need for pleasure. The goal of this article is to make people aware of one of those endangered animals, the Black Rhino.
The Black Rhino is the third largest land animal and one of the most endangered species on earth. Black Rhino’s are gray in color and blend in with their habitat. They range in size from five to six feet tall and ten to twelve feet long. Their weight is from one thousand to three thousand pounds. The Black Rhino eats bushes, leaves and shrubs. The Black Rhino is very near sighted; however their sense of smell is very good. The black rhino has two horns and a hooked upper lip. They are found mainly in Eastern and Southern Africa. The Black Rhino spend their time in the brush and in scattered open woodlands. If there is a mud wallow near more then likely there will be Black Rhino’s there also.
Black Rhino have no natural enemies. They are a very aggressive and have a fierce attitude. This combined with their size discourage any would be attackers. Even though Rhinos are aggressive there charge is simple a technique to ward off intruders to their territory. They live alone with the exception of mothers and their young. Baby Rhino’s stay with their mothers up to three years of age. The baby Rhino’s main dangers are predators such as the lions, hyenas or other large carnivores. Female rhinos are mature at the age of 4 and carry their young for fifteen months. Females are also slightly smaller than males. Males mature at the age of seven years old, and they live as long as forty years.
Black Rhino are on the endangered list mainly because of human greed. They are poached for their horns. The horn is made of dense fibers similar to fingernails. These horns may grow up to five feet in length. This horn is not really a horn in the truest sense of the word. A true horn extends from the skull, but the rhino horn grows out from the skin. The horns are believed to healing powers, however there are no proven facts on this belief. One horn is worth up to $40,000 on the black market. They use them for anything from handles on knives, to ashtrays and just a collection item. In some countries the horn is ground down into a powder and used as an aphrodisiac.
One of the prevention techniques that are used is dehorning the Rhino’s. This is done in order to discourage poaching and is an expensive venture because the horn grows back, and the process must be repeated every year. This method has proven to be highly unsuccessful as poachers still continue to kill the Black Rhino’s even with this preventive measure. In 1993 it was reported that poachers killed over 80 Black Rhinos even though they had no horns. This would seem to mean that the poachers are not killing purely for financial gain, but for the thrill of the hunt.
Another preventive measure is high voltage wires around some preserves; this has slowed down poachers somewhat. However all the protective measures have not stopped the poaching totally. The populations of Rhino’s have decreased from 65,000 twenty years ago to about 2,400 Rhino’s today. Though the law protects Black Rhino’s, many conservationists, transport Black Rhino’s to protected areas in order to insure the laws are followed. This is another way to preserve the Black Rhino existence, however this means that most of the remaining Black Rhinos are either on private farms or in conservancies.
The Black Rhino is truly a remarkable animal and deserves to be protected from thrill seekers and people trying to gain at the expense of an animal that is helpless against man’s inventions. Humans have been given great intelligence and along with that come a great responsibility. We have the responsibility to protect all animals. I believe that man has a right to hunt animals for food and clothing, but not for their own personal gain or for pure pleasure. When man starts to hunt for pleasure and personal gain he intrudes on the rights of the animal he is hunting. If we as humans were to use our intelligence properly we would think of more ways to protect all endangered species. If we do not figure out a way to protect these animals our children will never know of some of the greatest animals that ever lived. People in our generation have already lost many species that can never be replaced. Please do whatever you can to teach your children to protect other animals, and hunt for only what you will eat or use for clothing.
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