savingrhinos.org blog

When will the world hold China accountable for these atrocities? With all the media focused on Beijing, why not examine some of the "other" cultural wonders of China? Like the fact this culture continues to create a demand and a market for rhino horn and is responsible for murders such as this one:

A recent poaching incident in Zimbabwe so horrifying and so cruel ...

"The game scouts looking for a black rhinoceros wounded by poachers in Zimbabwe’s Save Valley Conservancy could hear her snoring but could not see her through the long grass.

Eventually, by making a lot of noise, they forced the rhino to stand up and were greeted by a sight so appalling that it took them a few moments to realise what they were looking at.

The whole face of the 16-month-old calf had been removed, including her eyes, in an attempt by the poachers to take off her small horns.

The “snoring” was coming through a hole in the nasal bone. She was very weak and lay down again. One of the scouts crept forward and darted her with M99 tranquillising agent, but the dart bounced off her hide and she did not get a full dose.

She was so dehydrated that the wound on her face was not even bleeding. The decision was taken to give her another dose of M99 in the hope that she would succumb. After a short while she died.

A closer inspection revealed a snare wound on her left lower leg and a deep infected cut above it. There were also slashes from a panga on her back.

The nature of the wounds to her face suggested that the poachers had thought the young rhino was dead and proceeded to remove the horns when she suddenly revived. Perhaps that was when they had slashed her with the pangas. In any case, another of Zimbabwe’s black rhinos had fallen victim to poaching."

What punishment could possible fit this senseless crime?

I have been working on the "Stamp Out Poaching" design for awhile, and got the kick in the butt I needed to finish it with the devastating news regarding the Northern White Rhino:

The last four Northern White Rhinos have reportedly been killed by poachers - making them extinct in the wild.

As you may recall, the West African Black Rhino was declared extinct in the wild in 2006.

We must do everything we can to educate people, raise awareness and stamp out poaching!

I am saddened to learn that the Northern White Rhino was reported extinct in the wild today. Poachers have killed the last four individuals.

It was in 2006 that the Western African Black Rhino was declared extinct.

We must do a better job of protecting the creatures that share the planet with us.

Wow - we have now sold our rhino shirts, mugs, and hats to 4 different countries! (Including the US.)

Hooray - rhinos have friends all over the world!!

Each rhino species - Javan, Sumatran, Indian (Greater One-Honred), Black and White - now has a new design for shirts, sweatshirts, hats, mugs, tote bags, BBQ aprons and other products!

Check out the new rhino species designs!

I learned through my analytics reports that someone arrived at the Saving Rhinos website using the keywords "where to buy rhino horn." Here is what I think:

• If they were doing research, they would have visited a few pages. Since they immediately clicked away from the home page, then this indicates they were *not* interested in helping rhinos

So, YOU, if you were really trying to do *that*, you deserve to be rotting in jail for the rest of your life!

Hi everyone -

This morning I was both stunned and thrilled to see Javan Rhino footage from a camera trap on NBC's "Today Show", covered for a few seconds by Ann Curry.

I am thinking that NBC will continue to cover the Javan Rhinos if the piece generates interest and responses - so I immediately sent an email to NBC.

I am asking that if others have a few moments to please send an email to NBC about the Javan Rhino crisis and let's hope to bring media attention to this most critical situation.

The email address is simply today (at) nbc (dot) com. Please include "Javan Rhino" in the subject line.

BTW, today there was a significant spike in new visitors to the savingrhinos.org website using the keywords "javan rhino" and "javan rhinos." Today was the first time that our Javan Rhino species page surpassed even the home page for visits. I think this is directly related to the brief news piece on the Javan Rhinos - let's grab this moment in the spotlight for the Javan Rhinos and bring them some much-needed attention.

Thank you everyone for your time!

Hello Today Show -

My name is Rhishja Larson and I am working to save rhinos from extinction with my organization, Saving Rhinos LLC (http://www.savingrhinos.org). I am contacting you regarding the brief Javan Rhino footage that aired this morning. I have been watching The Today Show for nearly 20 years and this is the first time I have ever considered writing in to the show.  I am asking that The Today Show make a difference by digging deeper into the extinction crisis facing rhinos and help educate the public about how rhinos can indeed be saved from extinction. This is indeed a global emergency: The world's rhino population has decreased by 90% since 1970.

The Javan Rhino is critically endangered and is considered the rarest mammal on earth. Sadly, this is mostly due to ruthless poaching, and it is estimated that fewer than 60 individual Javan Rhinos are surviving today.  Approximately 4 of these are a distinct subspecies, the Vietnamese Javan Rhino and the others are of the Indonesian subspecies. The Indian subspecies is now extinct.

Unfortunately, poaching to extinction remains a threat to all rhinos. As recently as 2006, the subspecies West African Black Rhino was declared extinct. And currently, only four individuals of the Northern White Rhino subspecies are left.

Why are rhinos murdered? Trade in rhino products continues to flourish in China and Taiwan; unfortunately, these countries, despite being CITES signatories, refuse to follow international law.

I am asking that The Today Show consider bringing attention to this extremely serious global wildlife crisis.  The Today Show is one of the most influential news shows in the country and the allotment of a small amount of air time would make a difference by inspiring viewers to contribute to rhino conservation.

Conservation has a history of success in saving rhinos - indeed, Indian and Southern White Rhinos were once at the brink of extinction, but are now breeding in captivity and in rhino sanctuaries. Black Rhinos are very slowly recovering from a massacre resulting in a 96% decline in population. Recently, 3 Sumatran Rhinos (worldwide population: 275 rhinos) have been born in captivity. We need to educate the public about the extinction crisis facing rhinos, and bring attention to the plight of the Javan Rhino before it is too late.

I sincerely request that The Today Show seriously consider placing this global wildlife crisis in the spotlight, even briefly. It would take comparatively little of your time and resources to make the kind of difference that could save a species.

Thank you for your time and consideration. My contact information is below should you have any further questions.

Kind regards,

Rhishja Larson



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Rhishja Larson
Saving Rhinos LLC
135 Keller Street, Suite C
Petaluma, CA 94952
707.765.9999
http://www.savingrhinos.org
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I am thrilled to report a flurry of hat sales! This prompted me to make some user-friendly changes to our rhino store - for example, moving those cool hats to a new section called "Hats, mugs, totes, etc." ... and creating the following new products (in addition to hats):

• Mugs
• Totes
• BBQ Aprons

Let's keep these sales coming in - the more we sell, the more we can give to rhinos!!

I finally created our new "Species Downloads" so visitors can download a printer-friendly pdf of each rhino species.

The new downloads went up late last night ... and already the Javan Rhino Species pdf has been downloaded!