SOS Rhino Review
May 2007

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. Frequently Asked Questions
6. How You Can Help
7. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
8. About Us

Full Stories Are Available Via Web Links

1. Feature Stories

SOS Rhino Borneo organizes Soccer Tournament as part of Community Outreach Program

SOS Rhino Borneo's (SOSRB) management team organized a soccer tournament at Kampung Parit during Malaysia's Labor Day celebrations. The tournament opened on April 30th with an all-women's game. Despite the torrential downpour, the ladies really "put the boot in"!

A total of 18 teams were formed, made up of villagers from Dagat and Parit, staff of oil palm plantations, and SOS Rhino Borneo's field staff. The 2-day celebration ended with closing remarks by Dr. Nan Schaffer, and distribution of trophies to the top three winning teams.

SOSRB's field team created exhibits for display during the tournament at Parit Village School where school children and palm oil plantation staff had access to information on the plight of the Sumatran rhino in Sabah, and SOS Rhino Borneo's efforts to save them.

By hosting and organizing such events, SOS Rhino Borneo continues to build stronger relationships with the stakeholders who live and work in areas surrounding Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

Click here to view photos from the event.

2. World Rhino News

Wildlife caught in Web of Internet sales

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The wildlife poacher has a new ally: the Internet, say activists who plan to tame this illegal trade in live animals and the remains of their slaughter, such as ivory, skins and tusks. "Illegal trade has increased exponentially because of the ease of selling by Internet," said Lynne Levine, a spokeswoman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Her group began a letter-writing campaign to eBay in European countries asking the Internet auction sites to reject sales of animals taken in the wild or any of their parts, whether made into foot stools, chess sets, pens or other ornaments, especially rhinoceros horns and ivory.

The tricky business of rhino reproduction

WAY KAMBAS NATIONAL PARK, Indonesia -- Promoting the sex life of a stud Sumatran rhino from Los Angeles is an intricate affair involving mud, massages and frequent foot rubs. His species may be heading for extinction, but a male still has needs. So Andalas, who flew here from the Los Angeles Zoo in February, is getting the pampered treatment from his Indonesian keepers.

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 and Tabin Wildlife Reserve announce the Rhino Survey Expedition in Borneo

The Rhino Survey Expedition in Borneo is a 7 Day, 6 Night program that combines a comfortable stay at the charming Tabin Wildlife Resort with a survey program where participants will join SOS Rhino Borneo's Rhino Protection and Survey staff deep in the jungles of Tabin Wildlife Reserve, in search for signs of the elusive Sumatran rhino in its natural habitat.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. TRUE OR FALSE:  All rhinoceros species have hair on their bodies.

2. Why do rhinos have horns?

3. When and where was the Javan rhino "rediscovered"

7. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

1. TRUE. All rhinoceros species have hairs at the end of the tail and on the fringes of the ear.  They also have eyelashes.  Only the Sumatran rhinoceros has visible body hairs, even to the extent that some animals were described as 'hairy rhinoceros'.  Most of this body hair disappears when the animal grows older.  In the other species of rhinoceros, there is no obvious presence of body hair.  Anatomically, the hair follicles are present, which means that hairs will develop but not show above the surface of the skin.

2. 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.

3. The best known population of Javan rhinos can be found in Ujung Kulon National Park in Western Java. A second remaining pocket of Javan rhinos was discovered in Vietnam in 1988, in an area known as Cat Loc Forest Reserve.

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.