SOS
Rhino Review
April/May 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
January 2006
Heavy downpours were experienced in the east coast of Sabah. Flooding can occur between November till early March, coinciding with the Northeast monsoon. The flood situation was quite dramatic. Our base camp at Tanjung Utik was submerged and the water barely touching the floor of the huts. We were lucky that one of our RPU members was on standby and managed to save the plastic water tanks from been washed off to the sea.
MONTHLY FIELD REPORT
February 2006
On the 4th February I made a rhino survey along the Tabin river with RPU 2. This was one of my exciting expeditions as our camp along the river was quickly submerged by the rising and surging river. This was my first experience of a major flood in Tabin. Although the risk is high and we were unable to proceed with survey work, I am glad that the RPU took time to learn the use of the GPS, compass and map reading.
2. World Rhino News
Get to the zoo, and help save the rhino
Joburg Zoo has planned a fabulous holiday treat - a Rhino Conservation Challenge. Children can become rhino trainers or vets for the day, catch poachers, or simply have some healthy outdoors fun.
Trophies in a Barrel: Examining 'Canned Hunting'
"CANNED HUNTING" - the sport killing of animals bred in captivity and released into enclosed surroundings with no chance of escape — seems to generate controversy wherever it is practiced, whether on game ranches in Texas or in private reserves in South Africa.
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 BORNEO
To increase the understanding of the Sumatran rhinoceros, SOS Rhino has joined staff from Sabah Wildlife Department Malaysia (JHL), World Wildlife Fund, and Singapore Zoological Gardens (SZG) to form the SOS Rhino Team in Borneo. Our team consists of local Program Officers, Research Students, Rhino Protection Rangers, Volunteers from all over the world, Science Director, Community Outreach Coordinators.
5. Trivia Questions
1.
TRUE OR FALSE: The reasons for the rhinoceros' continual decline are poaching and habitat loss.
2.
Do rhinos really stomp out fires?
3.
Is the rhinoceros an aggressive animal?
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:
7. Trivia Answers
1.
TRUE. The rhinoceros is highly priced for its horn, which is supposed to have medicinal properties. Poaching is a very serious threat and is also still intensifying. 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.
2.
There are a number of legends about the rhinoceros stomping out fire. The story seems to have been common in Malaysia and Burma.This type of rhinoceros even had a special name in Malay, 'badak api', where badak means rhinoceros and api means fire. The animal would come when a fire is lit in the forest and stamp it out. If there is or can be any truth in the legend, it would be hard to decide. Suffice it to say that there has been no sighting of this phenomenon in recent history. Of course, the rhinoceros in South East Asia has become very rare is hardly ever met nowadays, as it keeps to the deep forest and high mountains.
3.
The rhinoceros will always be seen as an aggressive animal. Its behavior when approached by men will vary, but can often be interpreted as aggression. When left alone, the rhino will rarely attack on its own accord.
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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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