May 2008 Archives
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!
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
--
Rhishja Larson
Saving Rhinos LLC
135 Keller Street, Suite C
Petaluma, CA 94952
707.765.9999
http://www.savingrhinos.org
--
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
--
Rhishja Larson
Saving Rhinos LLC
135 Keller Street, Suite C
Petaluma, CA 94952
707.765.9999
http://www.savingrhinos.org
--
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):
Let's keep these sales coming in - the more we sell, the more we can give to rhinos!!
- 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!
The new downloads went up late last night ... and already the Javan Rhino Species pdf has been downloaded!
"The Soul of the Rhino" by Hemanta Mishra is, in my opinion, the most important book about the Indian Rhino to date. The book is full of cultural and political complexities and the effect on Indian Rhino conservation efforts.The author has a gift for writing a compelling, intelligent book - while simultaneously telling a life story from the heart. This book brought me to tears many times, for many reasons.
If you are serious about rhinos, then I encourage you to read this wonderful and important book.
I know the photo on the Rhino Extinction Crisis page is so awful. I thought about whether or not to include it for quite some time. Many of the visitors to Saving Rhinos are kids.
However, I decided to post the photo. I think it is necessary to educate people of all ages about the seriousness of the rhino extinction crisis.
However, I decided to post the photo. I think it is necessary to educate people of all ages about the seriousness of the rhino extinction crisis.
Yikes, I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post. I had quite a bit of catching up to do after the whole back injury episode ...
Anyway, there is lots of new stuff happening at Saving Rhinos:
Anyway, there is lots of new stuff happening at Saving Rhinos:
- School mailings are going out at last! 80 elementary schools are receiving posters and an invitation to savingrhinos.org!
- We are now offering 14K gold and sterling silver rhino jewelry designed by Merry Rosenthal of The Magic Zoo!
- As an Amazon.com Affiliate, rhino books and posters are now available via savingrhinos.org
- Two new rhino shirt designs were added yesterday!
