The rhinoceros is one of the most endangered animals in the world today. The black market trade of rhino horn has skyrocketed over the last decade. As a result, illegal poaching of rhinos is at an all time high. Rhinos are being poached in staggering and catastrophic numbers every year. With a long gestation period, single calf statistic, and a 3-5 year waiting period between calves, boosting rhino population numbers is a slow process. Poachers are decimating rhino population numbers faster than they can recover. Without serious and dramatic intervention, it is likely that the rhinoceros will disappear from the earth in less than 30 years. There are several organizations that are dedicated to combating this issue. Anti-poaching teams, private game reserves, public education, and breeding organizations are some of the endeavors that are currently underway. The collective effort of organizations, like Save the Rhino and The Rhino Protection Trust, have helped to safeguard the future of these magnificent animals, but they still have a long way to go. My Capstone Project will be focused on facts about the 5 species of rhinoceros, rhino horn myths and facts, poaching practices, and the efforts put in place to help stop the killing of rhinos. Using an infographic and a video compilation in combination with other (possibly graphic) images, text and related links, my hope is to shock, educate, and inform people about the current state of the rhinoceros and what can be done to help save them.
If the poaching of rhinos continues, it is possible that all rhinos will be extinct as soon as 2045. I've been lucky enough to encounter some of these amazing creatures in the wild. It's hard to imagine a world without them.#endpoaching #keepourrhinoshorny
— Alisha Papenfuse (@AlishaPapenfuse) October 25, 2018
According to National Geographic, there are only about 29,000 rhinos left in the wild today. That is a 94.2% decrease compared to the beginning of the 20th century. #savetherhino #endpoaching #rhinos
— Alisha Papenfuse (@AlishaPapenfuse) October 24, 2018
Did you know that rhino horn has ZERO effect on curing/preventing cancer, libido levels, or hangover intensity? It also has ZERO drug-like qualities? It is, however, absolutely vital to the rhino, who needs it to, you know… live?#savetherhino #endpoaching
— Alisha Papenfuse (@AlishaPapenfuse) October 24, 2018
According to https://t.co/Cyy3WBpHGX, as of September 21st, 2018, there have been 508 rhinos poached in South Africa. With an estimated 22,000 rhinos left in South Africa, this is a crushing statistic.#stoppoaching #savetherhinos #rhinos
— Alisha Papenfuse (@AlishaPapenfuse) October 24, 2018
According to https://t.co/inyucHjFBz, the poaching of African Rhinos showed a 9,000% increase from 2007 to 2014. While poaching numbers have shown a slight decrease since 2014, there were still 1028 rhinos poached in 2017. #rhinos #savetherhino #endpoaching
— Alisha Papenfuse (@AlishaPapenfuse) October 24, 2018