Since this is my first civil issues post, I will take this chance to briefly explain my plan for this blog. The topic of my civil issues blog will focus on animal endangerment and extinction due to industrialization and conservation efforts. Each post, I would like to focus on a different animal that is “high profile” when it comes to discussion of animal endangerment. For this post, I will be focusing on the black rhinoceros.
Here is a little background information on the black rhino (source: National Geographic). The black rhinoceros, also known as Diceros bicornis, is a herbivore. They are solitary animals (making them prime targets for poachers) and the only long term relationship rhinos have is between a female rhino and her calf for the first three years of the calf’s life. They have two horns that they use for protection their young, themselves, and their territory.
A black rhino photographed by Martin Harvey
According to the Smithsonian, within the last one hundred years, the population of rhinos worldwide has decreased from 500,000 to 30,000; only 4,000 of these remaining rhinos are of the black rhino species.
Their horns are what has caused them to become a critically endangered species. With black market prices up to $60,000 according to National Geographic, the rhino horn is an luxury in many eastern countries such as China and Vietnam. It is believed by traditional Chinese medicine that the rhino horn is key to the cure of many ailments such as hangovers, rheumatism, and even cancer (in reality there is no scientific backing to support this). Even with penalties from the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong of up to $5 million and seven years imprisonment for importing these horns, poachers are not deterred from hunting the black rhino.
Rhino horns and ivory chopsticks and bracelets seized by Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department
The poaching of the black rhino can have extreme consequences both environmentally and economically.
Even though I am no expert on specific ecosystems, my basic knowledge allows me to understand problems that may arise with the extinction of the black rhino. Firstly, with the rhino’s role as a herbivore, it helps keep vegetation under control. Certain vegetation has the ability to become invasive, meaning it has the ability to cause harm to local species. Herbivores play a key role in keeping plant invasive species under control and allowing local plants to flourish. The presence of rhinos can even enhance plant life according to a study discussed by the Smithsonian. From a different perspective, the extinction of the black rhino may lead to the endangerment of other animal species. Even though, due to its size, the black rhino is not preyed on by many animals, certain animals, such as the lion, may lose a source of food if the rhino becomes extinct. This could lead to animal such as the lion to prey solely on animals of another species and drive that animal to extinction thus further worsening the environmental status of that area.
Economically, the active poaching and underground distribution of rhino horns is leading to lose of federal revenue. According to a National Geographic article, the trafficking of rhino horns is a $20 billion-a-year industry. Because of the illegal and underground nature of this trafficking, none of those $20 billion are being taxed, so the government is losing a lot of potential revenue that could be put else where. This is not to say that rhino horn trafficking should be made legal and be taxed. Instead, this industry should be tracked down and abolished so that money could be spent elsewhere where it could potentially benefit society.
On the opposite side of the poacher and distributes are those who work to save the black rhino from extinction.
Those who work to conserve the black rhino species have developed many innovative ways to do so. Some, as described in a National Geographic article, use traditional K9 units to hunt down poachers. Others turn to more scientific methods. The Smithsonian describes several of there methods. One method includes the possible 3D printing of horns that are genetically similar to those of a real rhino. These horns would be put into the black market and, with so many available, would decrease the incentive to kill rhinos, giving them a chance to repopulate. Another method includes injecting a drug (that is non-harmful to the animal) and dye into rhino’s horns, making them undesirable for decoration and harmful to humans if used to make medicine.
Dyeing a rhino's horn photographed by Shannon Benson
Conserving the black rhino, despite having obvious ecological benefits, will benefit the economy. Many tourists wish to see the “big 5” of African wildlife (the rhino being one of the five). Saving the rhino would attract more tourism to the country, which benefits the economy. It would also suppress the black market, even if only slightly, and allow some of it revenue to go to other, not illegal, sources.
The black rhino is a critically endangered species whose conservation would benefit both the environment and the economy. Although steps are being taken to stop the illegal poaching of rhinos, stricter laws on shipping inspections, which is how most horn smugglers transfer their products, and more active pursuit of poachers would greatly benefit conservation efforts.
I personally hope to see a black rhino in the wild someday without having to worry that the one I am looking at may be the last one on Earth.
I find this article to be very informative about the hunting of the black rhino, especially since I feel like I personally do not pay enough attention to endangered species. Reading how a rhinoceros horn can cost up to $60,000 really surprised me in particular because I never knew how profitable these horns actually are. That being said, I found it even more eye-opening to see how this black market industry makes $20 billion per year, especially since these individuals who participate do not pay any taxes on their profits. I wonder how many people who profit from this industry are from the United States as opposed to other countries around the world, particularly in comparison to those of Asian countries who like to use the horn as a form of alternative medicine. The potential methods of protecting the black rhino seem to be very expensive, and it made me wonder how much our country spends on protecting endangered wildlife. I looked it up and found that the United States government spends $1.7 billion under the Endangered Species Act, and I believe this applies to domestic endangered species, as opposed to participating in international programs to protect wildlife in other countries. Considering how many African countries tend to be less developed, I’m skeptical as to whether they can sustain a program like the United States’s to protect the black rhino. Of course, it’s worth considering that they probably also rely on many private donations to protect this endangered species.
Great first post on an issue that seems to have been lost in the cloudiness of other major issues around the world. Environmental protection is an issue, and you’ve been able to shed some more light on it with this post.
I was especially interested in how you were able to display this issue in multiple ways. It’s not only an issue of environmental protection, but also an issue plaguing African economics. I never would have had the capacity to imagine how protection for rhinos against poachers would boost the federal economy. I do think that, in this world where we’re all concerned about money, adding this aspect of the issue makes it seem a lot more relatable to readers.
You also used a lot of great links early on in the blog to allow readers to research the issue further. I would have liked to seen some more later on as well (especially about the “big five” of African Wildlife), but overall, your inclusions of links made your post all the more credible.
I also love how you included the solutions that people are coming up with to prevent the issues. I had never even heard of the dyeing of the rhino horns, which I think is absolutely brilliant. It’s amazing what people can come up when they put their minds to an issue, and you portrayed that well here.
Protection of these animals is a major issue, and I’m glad to see more discussion on it. If you wanted to include a historical aspect to your blog, you could include animals that have gone extinct (such as the monk seal or the Tasmanian wolf) or animals that were thought to be extinct but suddenly re-emerged at some point. You have a lot of wiggle room with a topic this wide, and I’m expecting this to be a great blog about a seriously under-discussed issue.
While an unpleasant experience with Rhinos in a zoo has slightly tainted my view of rhinos, I definitely agree that they need to be protected. Large animals have such large effects on their ecosystems, no matter whether they are a predator or not. Especially with large herbivores and omnivores, such as elephants, hippos, and rhinos, their grazing impacts and the role they play in soil formation and compaction plays a huge ecological role.
I would be interested to see if there are better ways we as a society could fight the ivory at the root or consumer level. Would providing increased information about the price of these “luxury” items decrease their demand? And in places with incorrect scientific and medicinal views, would sending outreach teams to help provide actual information and remedies help? Unfortunately, these are very expensive and difficult to test ideas. In the mean time, we must find more effective ways to deter and stop poachers.
Marta, this was really interesting (in a sad way) to read about, and afterwards, I got really frustrated and I just wish people had more faith in science rather than superstition or old wives’ tales. Like Yasmin, I also had no idea how lucrative this black market was. I also was intrigued to hear about the idea of dying the horns and/or inputting 3D printed horns into the market. Would there be any legal implications of doing those things? And, if you were to 3D print the horns, what material would they be made of? I suppose technology is advancing every minute…
I was doubly shocked to realize how much money is being spent on horns that don’t even have medicinal properties that could be going to the government to benefit societies and even the environment. What if government agencies, like the CIA, sent officials to these black markets to investigate into any illegal activity? If this black market is accessible, maybe we could actively search for it and take action immediately.
In addition to the two fascinating solutions you described about the 3D printing and the dyeing of the horns, I have read many articles that warmed my heart about dogs essentially hunting the poachers. They are trained to track the poachers before they can make the kill. These anti-poaching dogs have actually succeeded in reducing poaching at Mkomazi National Park, according to animalssavinganimals.org.
I really hope environmentalists and activists are able to keep brainstorming ideas about how to save these rhinos, because it is such a shame that they are being murdered for such an insignificant part of their body. I’m really looking forward to this blog!