SOS
Rhino Review
January 2006
Welcome to the SOS Rhino Review, a newsletter about rhinos from
SOS Rhino. You’ll find links to interesting articles here
as well as updates on our efforts to save rhinos all over the world.
Let us know if you’d rather not receive this newsletter.
And now, let's go to the rhino news.
1. Feature Stories
2. World Rhino News
3. Donor Appreciation
4. Find It On Our Web Site
5. Trivia Questions
6. How You Can Help
7. Trivia Answers
8. About Us
Full Stories Are Available Via Web Links
1. Feature Stories
MONTHLY FIELD REPORT
November 2005
By: Dr. Edwin Bosi
November 1st was Deepavali holiday in Malaysia. A multiracial
country, Indians represent about 15% of the Malaysian population.
Deepavali means the festival of lights. On 3rd was the beginning
of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, to mark the end of the month-long Muslim
fasting month or Ramadan. For three days, Muslims in Malaysia open
their home to friends and relatives. I made a special trip to Dagat
on 3rd November to join in the predominantly Muslims community
there to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. SOS Rhino (Borneo) field
team members and I had the opportunity to visit several homes.
UNC senior wins Rhodes Scholarship
(CHAPEL HILL) - Kate Harris, a senior at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill, has won a 2006 Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford
University in England.
Note: Kate Harris was one of SOS Rhino’s first
volunteers at the start of the program in
2002. Read Kate’s journal excerpts here:
Read the Rhodes Scholarship article here:
2. World Rhino News
Javanese Rhinos in Danger of Extinction
Bogor, (ANTARA News) - Javanese rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus) are in danger
of extinction due to forest destruction, forest concession activities, and
hunting.
Footprints May Be Key to Protecting Rare Rhinos
(National Geographic News): Imagine a database with digital
files on every imperiled animal on the planet. That's what two
rhino researchers have in mind, and they say it starts with a
single footprint.
3. Donor Appreciation
SOS RHINO wishes to acknowledge the following individuals, organizations, and
foundations for their generous support of our programs. Their support comes
in many forms: donation of their expertise and time, funds for specific programs
and equipment, and donation of products. THANK YOU!
Click HERE to
view the list of our donors!
4. Find It On Our Web Site
SOS Rhino Videos
As part of SOS Rhino's continuing education and awareness efforts, we create
videos to aid in the task of getting the plight of the rhino into the minds
of the general public (we have even received national awards for our work
in video).
5. Trivia Questions
1. TRUE OR FALSE: Rhino horn is made of compacted hair and keratin.
2. What are the reasons for the continual decreasing rhino population?
3. Why do rhinos have horns?
6 . How You Can Help
Adopt a rhino, doc or keeper. Buy a t-shirt, hat, or video
There are only 300 Sumatran rhinos left on Earth. Without direct help from generous
humans, they may never be seen again. We urge you to give what you can in the
form of a donation – protect a rhino or adopt a rhino, doc, researcher,
keeper, or purchase one of SOS Rhino’s products: a T-shirt, hat, or video.
Visit today, and give from your heart.
Contribute to the “SOS Rhino Annelisa Memorial Fund”
SOS Rhino has established memorial fund in Dr. Annelisa Kilbourn’s name
to help continue her work dedicated to the survival of the Sumatran rhino in
Malaysia. Contributions can be made by clicking the button below or mailed directly
to SOS Rhino (checks should be made out to “SOS RHINO”)680 N. Lake
Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611. attn: Annelisa Fund. 312.335.0868, fax 312.335.0076.
Inquires emailed to info@sosrhino.org.
Volunteer
SOS RHINO is looking for volunteers interested in helping us in our efforts to
save the Sumatran rhinoceros. Our Borneo Team is studying the demographics of
the remaining animals in Tabin Wildlife Reserve to determine when patrol units,
habitat protection, or translocation may play a role in the rhinos' survival.
Read more:
Participate in the Borneo Rhino Challenge 2006 Fundraiser
SOS RHINO invites you to climb to the summit of Mt. Kinabalu, cycle the Northern
tip of Borneo, and help us search for the elusive Sumatran rhinoceros of Borneo.
You'll see an astonishing variety of rare and endemic plants, primates, and birds
during your trek and cycle in some of the most beautiful areas of Sabah, Malaysian
Borneo. As part of the challenge you will join SOS Rhino's field staff deep in
the jungles of Tabin Wildlife Reserve, in search of the last remaining small,
shy forest rhinos of Malaysian Borneo.
7. Trivia Answers
1. TRUE. Rhino horn is made of the same material as our fingernails.
2. It is highly priced for its horn, which is supposed to have medicinal properties.
Its natural habitat is taken away by the growing human population. Land is
converted for use in agriculture or roads, forests are still logged for hardwood.
Poaching is a very serious threat. It is also still intensifying.
3. The horns are very well developed in the two species in Africa (black and
white rhinos), but much smaller in the three species in Asia (Sumatran with
2 very small horns, Indian and Javan with one horn). The Asian species
certainly do not use the horns to fight or to defend themselves, they use their
incisors (sharp front teeth for the purpose). The horns have come about in
evolution and they had (have) a general function to impress members of the
opposite sex. Horns are also used for digging in waterbeds to find water,
or to uproot shrubs etc. Some rhinos use the horn to guide their offspring. This
is generally the front horn, the second horn does not have a very specific
purpose at the moment. We suppose that they had some purpose in the course
of evolution.
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8. About Us
SOS Rhino is a non-profit, international foundation dedicated
to preserving the five rhinoceros species in their natural habitats.
Our conservation programs combine research, education, marketing
and advocacy, all working collectively to achieve sustainable
results.
Through diverse stakeholder support, SOS Rhino develops and funds
rhino conservation and awareness programs appropriate to individual
countries, providing these countries with the information and tools
to build lasting rhino conservation.
It is our goal to secure a place for this ancient animal in tomorrow’s
world.
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