Press Releases

Saving Endangered Rhinos with Award-Winning Art

Award-winning East Coast artist joins San Francisco Bay Area woman's efforts to combat the poaching for rhinos for illegal trade.

PETALUMA, CA July 10, 2008 -- As illegal trade in rhino horn products flourishes in Taiwan and China, poaching of African and Asian rhinos continues - even in protected areas. Additionally, South Asian rainforests, home to the extremely rare Sumatran Rhino, are being destroyed at an alarming rate, due to palm oil demand. While conservationists are helping rhinos slowly try to recover from a 90% decline in population due to poaching, they still face extinction in the wild.

Fortunately, this benevolent beast is making new friends.

Saving Rhinos, a company that raises money for rhino conservation by selling rhino-themed t-shirts and other merchandise, is now offering fine art reproductions of the award-winning "Black Rhinoceros" watercolor by acclaimed natural history artist, Rafael Soares. A portion of each print sale is contributed to rhino conservation.

The giclee prints will be numbered and signed by the artist, with only 150 being made available to the public. "We are thrilled to pair up with Rafael - his Black Rhinoceros is absolutely stunning," says Rhishja Larson, founder of Saving Rhinos.

The "Black Rhinoceros" print can be viewed and ordered online at http://www.savingrhinos.org

About Saving Rhinos

Saving Rhinos LLC raises money to help combat the poaching of rhinos for illegal trade by selling rhino t-shirts and other rhino-themed merchandise. You can learn about the five rhino species (Javan, Sumatran, Indian, Black and White) at the Saving Rhinos informational website (http://www.savingrhinos.org), and also help raise money for rhinos by shopping at the online store (http://www.cafepress.com/savingrhinos).

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http://www.savingrhinos.org

Saving Rhinos reacts to Northern White Rhino news with "Stamp Out Poaching" t-shirt design

With the reported extinction of the Northern White Rhino in the wild last week, San Francisco Bay Area business takes matters by the horn.

PETALUMA, CA June 26, 2008 -- With only 60 Javan Rhinos left on the planet, the reported extinction of the Northern White Rhino in the wild last week, the fact that the West African Black Rhino was declared extinct in the wild in 2006, and at least 10 Indian Rhinos killed by poachers so far this year, these majestic mammals find themselves struggling for survival due to poaching, and are facing an extinction crisis.

Saving Rhinos, a company that raises money for rhino conservation by selling rhino-themed t-shirts and other merchandise, has reacted to the devastating news about the Northern White Rhino.

"If poaching cannot be stopped, the rhino will continue to disappear in the wild," warns entrepreneur Rhishja Larson.

Larson created an anti-poaching message to add to the company's collection of rhino t-shirts and other merchandise. The new design features a rhino's hoof atop the message "Stamp Out Poaching."

The rhino's horn, comprised of keratin (skin and hair material), was once thought to contain medicinal properties, but modern science has shown there is no evidence to support that outdated belief. Despite this fact, rhinos continue to be slaughtered by poachers for the illegal trade in rhino horn.

Larson believes that education is key to generating support for rhino conservation. "Raising awareness is an important step - we are fighting against old cultural myths [about the rhino] that need to be dispelled once and for all."

About Saving Rhinos

Saving Rhinos LLC raises money to help combat the poaching of rhinos for illegal trade by selling rhino t-shirts and other rhino-themed merchandise. You can learn about the five rhino species (Javan, Sumatran, Indian, Black and White) at the Saving Rhinos informational website (http://www.savingrhinos.org). You can help raise money for rhino conservation projects by shopping at the online store (http://www.cafepress.com/savingrhinos).

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If you would like additional information, please contact Rhishja Larson at (707)765-9999 or visit http://www.savingrhinos.org

Saving Endangered Rhinos with T-shirts

San Francisco Bay Area woman launches online business to combat the poaching of rhinos for illegal trade.

PETALUMA, CA June 17, 2008 -- As the world's rhino population slowly tries to recover from a 90% decline in numbers since 1970, a San Francisco Bay Area woman has stepped forward to help these majestic, often misunderstood, pachyderms.

Saving Rhinos was launched as a way to raise money for rhino conservation by selling rhino-themed t-shirts and other merchandise. The website also helps increase awareness of the rhino extinction crisis by serving as a comprehensive resource for people who want to learn about rhinos. A generous portion of the sales proceeds is being contributed to rhino conservation efforts.

"In addition to raising money by selling our rhino t-shirts, savingrhinos.org offers information to help raise awareness about the five species of rhino," says entrepreneur Rhishja Larson. "Many of our website visitors come from schools, and are working on research projects about rhinos."

The bottom line is that saving a species is expensive: Conservation costs are enormous, poachers are often bankrolled by organized crime, and the areas inhabited by endangered animals are often also home to economically disadvantaged human populations (where the animals are sometimes worth more dead than alive).

Larson is optimistic that her efforts will increase the grassroots awareness so crucial to raising money, and notes, "Once people get to know rhinos, and learn about the extinction crisis, they will want to help save rhinos."