WORLD RHINO DAY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.2013
Celebrate their beauty and sign these petitions below the photo essay to protect them.
Hang in there, Rhino Buddies!
World Rhino Day 2013: Why these creatures need our attention
Zoos, organizations and preserves around the world will mark World Rhino Day 2013 on Sunday, Sept. 22, with events in the U.S. and overseas. The idea is to raise awareness about protecting rhinoceros from deadly poaching that continues to threaten animals in Africa and Asia. Rhino horns are valued on the international black market for their purported "medicinal" values -- something rhino organizations work hard to combat. Here's a glimpse of these lovely and endangered creatures, including a baby rhino born in Chicago's zoo.
-- Mary Forgione
( Scott Olson / Getty Images )
King is a baby Eastern black rhinoceros born in Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo on Aug. 26. He made his public debut Sept. 17, with his mother, Kapuki.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Scott Olson / Getty Images )
King's father, Maku, 27, is on breeding loan from Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas, and his mother, 8, is on loan from the Brookfield Zoo in suburban Chicago.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Scott Olson / Getty Images )
The endangered Eastern black rhinos are a subspecies of black rhinos indigenous to eastern Africa. King weighed 60 pounds and measured 30 inches as a newborn.
World Rhino Day 2013
( &Beyond )
White rhinos are the second rhino species in Africa. South Africa, home to 75% of all rhinoceros in the world, lost 668 to poachers in 2012 -- a figure 50% higher than 2011. Even parks and private game reserves report casualties.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Roger de la Harpe / &Beyond )
Early this year, &Beyond, a luxury Safari company based in South Africa, funded transfer of six white rhinos from the Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa to Botswana.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Roger de la Harpe / &Beyond / January 23, 2013 )
The rhinoceros were kept in captivity for several weeks before being released into the wild in the Okavango Delta in Botswana this year.
World Rhino Day 2013
( &Beyond )
The team works on helping transport the endangered animals. The relocated rhinos are tracked regularly for research via collars and microchips.
World Rhino Day 2013
( &Beyond )
The transport team works on moving one of the rhinos. Since the animals were released into the wild, three females have become pregnant, according to &Beyond.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Anupam Nath / Associated Press )
The greater one-horned rhinoceros lives in forests and flood plains of India and Nepal. A rhino swims in early September flood waters at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India. Assam is home to the world's largest concentration of the rare rhino.
( Agence France-Presse/Getty Images )
Despite worldwide efforts to stop poaching, the practice continues. Indian forest officials found the body of a one-horned rhinoceros, which was killed and de-horned by poachers. It happened in Kaziranga National Park on Sept. 18.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Denis Farrell / Associated Press )
Volunteers across the globe work to raise awareness over the plight of rhinos worldwide. Zimbabwean artist Mathias Chirombo, who works in South Africa, paints a sculpture of a rhino. Chirombo and three other artists will have their works auctioned off next month to raise funds in the fight against rhino poaching.
World Rhino Day 2013
( Kristian Schmidt for Wildaid / European Pressphoto Agency )
Britain's Prince William, left, and soccer star David Beckham met in London on Sept. 12 to film public service messages on illegal wildlife products. The messages focus on reducing demand for rhino horn and ivory and will air globally, with targeted outreach in China and Vietnam, later this year. The campaigns have been undertaken by WildAid and the Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife collaboration.
Graca Machel/Mandela - please help us to save the rhino of South Africa!
Stop South African Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, from petitioning CITES to open the rhino horn trade
Help End Rhino Poaching in South Africa
( *Same petition as Avaaz, but included as it has attached a lot of good information about Rhinos. )
Rhino Poaching may be an African Tragedy, but it is a Global Responsibility ~Forever Wild - Save the Rhino Campaign
Petitioning Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Rhinoceros in South Africa need your help before their extinction
Save South Africa's Rhinos
Stop Rhino Poaching
Stop Illegal Chinese Trade in Black Rhino Horn
