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Save the Rhino for our grandchildren


Save the Rhino for our grandchildren
Photo Information
Copyright: Anna Eksteen (Miss_Piggy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2285 W: 5 N: 5300] (18714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-02-07
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC H9, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 15x Optical zoom, Digital ISO 100
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite African animal photos 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2014-03-09 10:09
Viewed: 3005
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
White Rhinoceros / Ceratotherium simum

It is no secret, about the poaching of rhinos for their horns, as the facts are broadcasted regularly in the media. It saddens me to think that one day our children's; children would not have the opportunity to see these beautiful gigantic animals in real, but only in magazines and books.

It discourage one to think that the rhino is being hunted down for the value that its horn provide to dealers from Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, and China, where they would use it in traditional medicines. Middle Eastern countries like Oman and Yemen use it to make all kinds of ornaments that include ceremonial daggers and other jewellery.

There are multiple threats to rhino's survival, nearly all of which are caused by humans. Over the past few decades, drastic decline in population numbers has been fuelled by the illegal rhino horn trade, habitat loss and political conflict. Poaching of rhino horn for the production of traditional Chinese medicine is the greatest threat facing rhino today.

Rhinos were once abundant throughout Africa and Asia with an approximated worldwide population of 500 000 in the early twentieth century. However, despite intensive conservation efforts, poaching of this iconic species is dramatically increasing, pushing the remaining rhinos closer and closer towards extinction. The Western black rhino was declared extinct by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 2011, with the primary cause identified as poaching. In fact, all five remaining rhino species are listed on the IUCN Redlist of threatened species, with three out of five species classified as critically endangered.

South Africa is home to 83% of Africa’s rhinos and 73% of all wild rhinos worldwide and is an incredibly important country for rhino conservation. However rhino poaching has reached a crisis point, and if the killing continues at this rate, we could see rhino deaths overtaking births in 2016-2018, meaning rhinos could go extinct in the very near future. Figures compiled by the South African Department of Environmental affairs show the dramatic escalation in poaching over recent years.

During 2012, in South Africa alone a staggering 668 Rhinos were killed by poachers, which are almost 2 a day. The total increased to 1104 in 2013 and figures as at the 26th February show 146 for 2014.

This poaching is by no means isolated to South Africa; rhino poaching is surging across the entire African continent, and is a constant threat to the smaller rhino populations in Asia. Other rhino states do not regularly publish poaching statistics; however updates are available in news reports and press releases. For example, in early August 2013, Kenya reported that it had lost 34 rhinos to poaching since the start of the year.

This poaching is predominantly fuelled by the illegal trade in rhino horn; globalisation and economic growth has made it easier to establish illegal trading routes. The current poaching crisis is attributed to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly China and Vietnam, where horn is believed to have medicinal properties. The high price fetched for the horn has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates who use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the rhinos.

However, it is not all doom and gloom; penalties for rhino poaching are becoming increasingly severe and frequent. Figures released by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, show an increasing number of rhino related arrests over the past few years. Law enforcement plays a crucial role in deterring poachers; however there is no single answer to combat the current poaching crisis. A multi-faceted approach is required including ongoing anti-poaching and monitoring patrols, community conservation and environmental education schemes, captive breeding, translocations and demand reduction projects in Asia. Source

I hope you enjoy looking at this photo as much as I took pleasure in taking it.
Hotelcalifornia, CeltickRanger, ramthakur, samiran88, Pitoncle, goldyrs, imageme, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Hotelcalifornia: Injured rhinoMiss_Piggy 1 03-09 11:59
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Critiques [Translate]

hallo Anne
Great shot with nice details
good composition and lovely naturel colours
thanks greeting lou

Hello Anna,
Day by day their number moving down.I think such crime should be stopped declaring DEATH PUNISHMENT to the poachers and South African Government should take such drastic step as early as possible.Otherwise those days are not far,when Rhino's will be History.
Few days ago we saw a pathetic scene in KNP.After poaching horns a poor Rhino was roaming about and suffering from pain.Still this Rhino's picture without horns floating infront of my eyes.Atlast those poor Rhino got relief from his pain,after department shot him....
Wish a new law will be formed to protect them.
Excellent picture of this Rhino with splendid details and sharpness.Good work.
SORRY I SPEND ALL MY GREEN SMILYS!
Thanks for sharing,
Regards,
Srikumar

Great POV to exalt the perspective of the Rhino...!! DOF and details are impressive. Magnificent light. Brava Anna!

Roberto

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2014-03-09 12:32]

Hello Anna,
Very nice photo of this Rhinoceros in beautiful natural light and good sharpness. Taken from a very good frontal POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2752 W: 280 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2014-03-09 13:31]

Hello Anna,
I don't know if I have ever viewed this magnificent animal up close like this before, the detail is incredible. To be totally honest I can't remember seeing a Rhino in my entire life outside of photos and movies.
I remember as a young boy we would occasionally have a circus come to our town. They usually had elephants, lions and once in the while a tiger, but never a Rhino. I suppose I will just have to enjoy images such as yours for now. I would love to someday visit your beautiful country, perhaps on a Mission trip. We have some home grown missionaries in Tanzania who I would like to visit sometime in the future.
I have watched documentaries on the National Geographic Channel about the terrible plight of these beautiful animals. I pray that something concrete can be done to stop the poaching before they totally disappear from their natural habitat. Great shot Anna!!
Ron
PS. I noticed that this specimen has what looks like notches in it's ear, is this a way for Governmental Law Enforcement Personnel to identify a particular rhino?

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6525 W: 89 N: 15623] (65353)
  • [2014-03-09 13:54]

Hi Anna,great idea to dedicate a pic to this big friend in danger,i like a lot your work,good pic and fantastic note about the rhinos situation,i hope a better future for this incredible specie.Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

Hello Anna

The photo was shot in a difficult harsh light, but the important of this post
is your message to protect and save this great animal, the visual look that
has this Rhinoceros with you, means everything and in the danger they are
and it is time to act to protect them, TFS your photo.

Asbed

Hello Anna,
Lovely capture,well details and excellent clarity.
Thanks for sharing,
Regards......Joy

GREAT CLOSEUP SHOT MADAM............

Hi Anna,
looks like you were just in front of the rhino to make such a nice pic!
have a nice day
Pierre

Good Morning Anna, Excellent note and so very true, we have a very serious problem here in Africa to conserve this awesome creature, superb image showing the immensity of the White Rhino, well done Anna,

Best Regards,

Pauly.

Ciao Anna, great portrait of superb creature, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

A wonderful close-up of this giant of a Rhino, Anna.
I fully support your concern for the survival of these denizens of planet earth we humans have almost decimated.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your picture.
Warm regards.
Ram

Hello Anna
Fantastic angle you chose to capture this great picture.
Sharpness, colour and light is very perfect according to me.
Best wishes,
Samiran

Hello Anna,
A top quality image! The details, focus and sharpness are splendid. Lovely details of the skin of this beautiful and endangered specie. Fantastic details and clarity. Very nice composition. Amazing clarity and colors.
Thanks for sharing this interesting capture.
Marius.

Bonsoir Anna,
Impressionnante rencontre magnifiquement restituée ; merci pour le partage.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

You create magic with your lens, Anna, not to forget the notes that you pen, which evoke pictures themselves.
THe POV you've chosen, albeit unusual, beautifully captures this endangered animal and specifically, brings to my notice the very reason they are poached..their horns...
Very sad that such beautiful creatures are being driven to extinction..
Thanks for the share!!
Goldy

Hi Anna, Excellent shot of this Rhino with good light and details. The texture of his/her skin is so real that I can actually feel it by look at it. Wonderful shadow next to the animal with great composition. Best regards
Anna

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