September 22 was World Rhino Day. On World Rhino Day, wildlife conservationists and concerned individuals around the world use the opportunity to once again raise awareness about the endangered species, its vulnerability, and the threat of rhino poaching, by organising fund-raising activities and campaigns. It is seen as a day to help the rhino make its final stand.

World Rhino Day was started by the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF) in 2010, but has since grown into a successful international phenomenon. It is celebrated in September in various countries around the world. WWF’s cause has unified NGOs, celebrities, organisations, and individuals that have the rhinos’ interests at heart.

This year, World Rhino Day was marked by mixed feelings. It celebrates and mourns Sudan, the last living White male rhino on earth. Sudan, who resides at the Ol Pejeta reserve in Kenya, is 42 years. At 42, he is very close to the end of the life expectancy of white rhinos, which is 40 to 50 years. He is under 24-hour ranger guard to protect him from poachers. He has been ‘dehorned’ to reduce the risks of him being attacked.

According to the Save The Rhino organisation, 749 cases of rhino poaching have been recorded in 2015. The number of rhinos poached in 2014 was 1,215 (one rhino every eight hours), a rate that has been increasing steadily since 2007. Rhinos are being poached for their horns, so as to sustain a global illegal horn trade.

Vietnam and China are regarded as the epicentre of rhino horn trade. This year, the KwaZulu Natal Project Rhino organisation will sending five young South Africans to Vietnam in October to plead the rhino’s case and change Vietnamese perceptions. The notion is that a change in Vietnamese perceptions will have a significant impact on the trade and use of rhino horn in the region, and ultimately preserve the rhinos.

Ventures Africa spoke with Dr. Philip Muruthi of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) in Nairobi, Kenya to talk about World Rhino Day, rhino poaching, and the steps that can be taken t save the rhinos.

AWF was first established in 1961 as African Wildlife Leadership Foundation, Inc.  It focuses on Africa’s unique conservation needs.

Ventures Africa (VA): What exactly is World Rhino Day celebrating?

Philip Muruthi (PM): Its celebrating the species, and highlighting their plight, which is very important. The rhino population is experiencing a huge decline because of poaching and the need for traffic to feed the [horn] market. So, we’re celebrating the species but being very cautious about its possible extinction, like the present cases in Cameroon and Chad in the last 10 years.

VA: Last year your foundation established a $10 million Urgent Respond Fund to support anti-poaching projects. Please, tell us more.

PM: The Urgent Respond Fund is AWF’s response to the poaching crisis. With the resources, we can change this trend, stop the killing and trafficking, and we can stop the demand. it is very important that the rangers and the scouts who are protecting the species upon the ground are well equipped. We’re looking into detection at airports, and working with the judiciaries of various countries on the policies regarding the crime of poaching, and punishments.

On demand for horns, we are working with partners to highlight this issue in China and Vietnam, as well as to create the African voice. Because we’re not just targeting China, Vietnam, and other countries and forgetting that there is a market in Africa, and Africans need to be involved in this.

VA: What do you think about the proposition to legalise the horn trade?

PM: We’re in a crisis. I think it is a mistake to even talk about legalising a trade for a species that is nearing extinction due to human activity. It would confuse the message. At African Wildlife Foundation we’re asking that there be a ban on any rhino trade until these species can be given a chance at recovery and proper measures have been put in place to regulate the such a trade.

VA: Is it possible to dehorn the rhinos while they are still alive, and would that be a solution to poaching?

PM: First of all, there is no value. The rhino horn is keratin, just like your hair. One could as well use their hair. It would just create confusion. I don’t support that idea at all, I simply don’t see how you would make the distinction in the consumer markets between illegally trafficked rhino horn, and rhino horn that has been removed by rangers. It is a product that you don’t need. We need to strengthen our laws, and educate both our citizens and that of consumer countries, such as China and then change will come. During this crisis, I don’t see how we can justify the trade.

VA: Does the AWF have any suggestions to offer for the security of rhinos?

PM: I think what we need to do is really work together. We also need the various agencies — traditional and non-traditional, such as the police and investigators — to work together. This issue is all about intelligence and we have to anticipate, not just react. The wildlife authorities and rangers need to be trained in use of technology and combining traditional ways of protecting wild life with modern ways of security in different situations. The ways of poaching and trafficking are changing and therefore the law enforcement agencies need to be ahead.

VA: Do you think more documentaries like AWF’s “Milking the Rhinoceros” can help to promote World Rhino Day, and generally promote the preservation of the species?

PM: Yes indeed. I think education is very very important. Even education of Africa, I don’t think that there is great association with wildlife in Africa. We need people to really like their heritage. Is it really our priority? Have we spoken to our politicians enough? Are we getting them to realize that our heritage is at stake? And are they passing down that heritage to people who care about the environment and wildlife?
Documentaries like that show that putting wildlife on the development table of Africa is very important.

I guess World Rhino Day reminds me of the importance to conserve nature, to conform the Africa’s wild land and animals, especially with the services and the food that they bring to human well-being. It is not just about saving the rhinos, which is very important, it is about the ‘circle of life’ generally.

Interesting Rhino Facts
– A group of rhinos is called a “Crash”.
– There are only 29,000 rhinos left in the wild today.
– Rhinos are herbivores.
– White rhinos are the second largest land mammal after the elephant.
– Rhinos can run very fast, despite their size — reaching speeds of up to 35 mph
– The black and white rhino species are native to Africa.
– South Africa has 75 percent of the entire population of rhinos in the world.
– Black rhinos are actually grey in colour.
– Rhino horns contain keratin, the same protein that makes human hair. They are often used as antipyretics (fever reducers) in countries like Viet Nam, but they have been shown to have no medical effect.
– Rhino horns can grow back overtime.
– Rhinos need to drink water once a day.
– Rhinos have bad eyesight, but their senses of hearing and smell are excellent.