Save rhinos
Amid growing threat to the existence of rhinoceros species in rhino
range countries, including in Africa and Asia, Indonesia has declared
2012 as International Rhino Year.
Indonesia is among 11 countries supporting the declaration. Other supporters of Rhino Year include Nepal, India, Bhutan, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, Indonesian President President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made such a declaration at the request of International Union for Conservation of Nature and other conservation organisations. Following the declaration, it is hoped that all rhino range countries in Asia and Africa will join Indonesia and give
priority to saving rhinos though effective conservation efforts.
Welcoming the declaration, Krishna Prasad Acharya, director general at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, said, “With this declaration, we will put heightened collaborative efforts for rhino protection and their habitat conservation.” He said even though Nepal is winning battle against rhino poaching, threats remain high as the outlawed rhino horn trade is burgeoning.
In the last decade, two rhino subspecies, in Cameroon and in Vietnam, became extinct and the populations of two more subspecies are perilously close to extinction because of an increased illegal hunting and non-traditional use of rhino horn. Nepal is home for 534 one-horned rhinoceros. Last year, no rhino death was reported in the country.
Hailing the declaration, Anil Manandhar, country representative of WWF Nepal, said this initiative taken by the Indonesian government will definitely help motivate Nepal and all countries concerned to take necessary actions towards rhino conservation.
Indonesia is among 11 countries supporting the declaration. Other supporters of Rhino Year include Nepal, India, Bhutan, Malaysia, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, Indonesian President President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made such a declaration at the request of International Union for Conservation of Nature and other conservation organisations. Following the declaration, it is hoped that all rhino range countries in Asia and Africa will join Indonesia and give
priority to saving rhinos though effective conservation efforts.
Welcoming the declaration, Krishna Prasad Acharya, director general at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, said, “With this declaration, we will put heightened collaborative efforts for rhino protection and their habitat conservation.” He said even though Nepal is winning battle against rhino poaching, threats remain high as the outlawed rhino horn trade is burgeoning.
In the last decade, two rhino subspecies, in Cameroon and in Vietnam, became extinct and the populations of two more subspecies are perilously close to extinction because of an increased illegal hunting and non-traditional use of rhino horn. Nepal is home for 534 one-horned rhinoceros. Last year, no rhino death was reported in the country.
Hailing the declaration, Anil Manandhar, country representative of WWF Nepal, said this initiative taken by the Indonesian government will definitely help motivate Nepal and all countries concerned to take necessary actions towards rhino conservation.
Posts
0 comments