SOS Rhino Review
August/September/October 2003

Welcome to the SOS Rhino Review, a newsletter about rhinos from SOS Rhino. You¹ll find links to interesting articles here as well as a few surprises! We have provided some updates on our efforts to save rhinos all over the world. If you¹d rather not receive this newsletter, simply reply to this e-mail and type "Unsubscribe" in the subject field.

And now, let's go to the rhino news.

1. About Us
2. World Rhino News
3. Feature Stories
4. Donor Appreciation
5. Find It On Our Web Site
6. Trivia Questions
7. How You Can Help
8. Trivia Answers

Full Stories Are Available Via Web Links
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1. 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 education 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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2. World Rhino News

Zim wildlife pillage continues
Beleaguered Zimbabwean farmers say war veterans and hunters from South Africa and Botswana are stripping game farms of their wildlife. And even when Zimbabwean authorities arrest alleged perpetrators, political intervention allows them to walk free.

Threatened species 'need far more cash'
The international community is spending barely three-quarters of the amount needed to maintain the world's protected areas, researchers say. Most of the shortfall occurs in developing countries, the ones richest in wildlife. To expand protection to all the areas that need it, they say, would mean a threefold spending increase for a decade.
But they say protecting nature usually pays for itself in benefits to society. The estimate comes from an international panel of economists, scientists, governments and protected area managers.

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3. Featured Stories

SOS Rhino Borneo Volunteer Report
by Myfanwy Griffith
I touched down at Kota Kinabalu airport on the 12th July and my first impression of Malaysia was of the incredible heat and humidity ­ would I be able to acclimatize enough to be able to trek in the jungle? I was taken to a backpacker¹s lodge where I met another volunteer and we both discussed our expectations of the survey work to come. We were both a little unsure of what exactly we were going to be doing and how our days in the jungle would be organized.

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4. 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!

The "Magic Horn" Ultimate Frisbee Team:
Megan Brennan, Wade Callahan, Suzy Friedman, Charlie Goblet, Carter Johnson, Dave Kahle, Doug Kirk, Frank Kuhr, Neema Navai, Katie O’Rourke, Kenny Outcalt, Katherine Patnode, Bob Pearl, Barrett Ruemping, Mike Tomaszewski, Cherie Weinewuth

SOS Rhino wishes to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their contribution to the “SOS RHINO Annelisa Memorial Fund”. Donated funds will be used to help continue Dr. Kilbourn’s work dedicated to the survival of the Sumatran rhinos in Malaysia. THANK YOU!

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5. Find It On Our Web Site

Borneo Rhino Challenge 2004
SOS RHINO and SAVE THE RHINO INTERNATIONAL invite 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.

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6. Trivia Questions

1. True or False: Habitat loss is one of the most serious threats to rhinoceros populations.
2. Do rhinos really stomp out fires?
3. When and where was the Javan rhino "rediscovered"?

7. How You Can Help

Chicago Marathon – Run for Rhinos!
We are looking for a few ambitious runners who would be interested in representing SOS Rhino in the Chicago Marathon this October. And by represent I mean run the 26 mile race dressed in a rhino costume! This is a unique and highly visible way to raise awareness with the general public towards the plight of the endangered rhino. For more information please contact Maggie Heydt. Email Maggie@sosrhino.org or call 312.222.0440

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. 312.222.0440, fax 312.222.0990. 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:


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8. Trivia Answers

1. TRUE: Rhinos' natural habitat is taken away by the growing human population. Land is converted for use in agriculture or roads and forests are still logged (legally and illegally) for hardwood.

2. The legend 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. The rhinoceros in South East Asia has become very rare and is hardly ever met nowadays, as it keeps to the deep forest and high mountains. There has been no sighting of this phenomenon in recent history.

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.