STOP - Rhino Poaching

The Rhino is the most Endangered Species in Africa. They are darted and the horns get removed by chain saws which leaves the rhino alive and suffering the worst DEATH imaginable.
South Africa’s rhino death toll could top 600 before year’s end, as the figure has now reached 588 rhinos killed in 2012. In just 4 years rhino poaching has gone up by a massive 2500%. This huge increase is down to the new high tech methods poachers are currently using taking poaching to a new level. The sharp increase is also due to the growing black market street value of rhino horns in Asia. Currently, the street value of a rhino horn on the Asian black market averages $65,000 a kilogram—more than the price of gold, platinum, and even cocaine.
Rhino poachers even target dehorned rhinos because there is still a substantial piece of horn below the surface of the skin and by killing the rhino it increases the price of rhino horn as they become less the value of rhino horn increases. Bottom line the less rhinos there are the money per kilogram they are worth.

Rhino horn is widely used in Chinese culture as it is believed it can cure a wide variety of illnesses varying from flu to cancer and even impotence. The facts are it is just compressed hair or kerratin the same as you would find in your finger nails. Some Middle East cultures use rhino horn as a status symbol so if you have one as a sheath for your dagger you are seen as the elite and wealthy.

Together we can place pressure on the South African government and the governments of rhino horn destinations to put in place stricter and tighter anti-poaching laws and efforts, as well as huge fines and prison sentencing. We will also suggest educating the youth of these countries on this horrific trade as well as the scientific facts of rhino horn for medicinal purposes.

While this petition is aimed at the South Africa government and the governments that are the destinations for rhino products, the poaching pressure on rhino populations in Southern Africa is just as rampant. Majority of African countries have also reported a marked increase in poaching incidents, and even the endangered Indian, Javan and Sumatran rhinos have been slaughtered.
We need to take a hard line, zero tolerance approach to poaching in order to ensure the continued existence of many species, not only those currently on the endangered list.
The rhino that are left belong to our Earth. We are merely their custodians. - International participation and support on every level is an indispensable component to the fight against rhino poaching and the illegal trade of rhino horn to the Far East. This growing illegal horn trade and poaching crisis demands a stronger response from the South African government as well as commitment from countries involved to adhere to the ban of rhino products and the enforcement of harsher punishment to offenders and all those involved. Without a strong response, rhino numbers will continue to plummet until there simply are no more to hunt. Please sign below to express your concern to these governments.