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Last year, we explored essential insights about African poaching. Sadly, this devastating issue persists. Each year, we edge closer to the extinction of two of Earth's most cherished creatures: the rhinoceros and the elephant. However, despite the bleak outlook, there is also significant hope, thanks to the tireless efforts of rangers and researchers dedicated to protecting our planet.
Today, we dive deeper into additional concerns, such as how 3-D printing technology may be used to combat rhino poaching, how scientists are disregarding a particular endangered elephant species, and why one wealthy hunter believes the solution to saving rhinos might be through hunting them.
10. The Tragic Decline of the Northern White Rhino
Envisioning a world without rhinos is almost impossible. Sadly, these magnificent creatures are disappearing at an alarming rate. In 2012, the Javan rhinoceros vanished in Vietnam. By August 2015, authorities confirmed there were no Sumatran rhinos remaining in the wild. Additionally, in 2011, the western black rhinoceros was lost forever. Unfortunately, the northern white rhino appears to be on the same tragic path.
In July 2015, a northern white rhino named Nabire passed away due to a ruptured cyst at the Czech Republic Zoo. Then, in November 2015, another female rhino, Nola, was euthanized at the San Diego Zoo. After Nola’s death, only three northern white rhinos remain on Earth: Najin and Fatu (two females) and Sudan, the last male. These three now reside in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a wildlife sanctuary in Kenya, under the constant protection of armed guards, with their horns regularly trimmed to prevent poaching.
Tragically, none of the rhinos can reproduce because of their age and health issues. Consequently, the species’ best hope lies with scientists at the San Diego Zoo and the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. In San Diego, researchers have collected various samples of rhino eggs and sperm, which can be implanted into southern white rhino surrogates. If that doesn’t succeed, Ol Pejeta scientists are considering using northern white rhino sperm to inseminate southern white rhino females, potentially creating a completely new subspecies.
Fortunately, the San Diego Zoo has a strong history of saving endangered species. They were behind the recovery of the southern white rhino and the California condor. However, this mission will require considerable time and funding, and there’s still uncertainty about whether in vitro fertilization will ultimately succeed.
9. Saving Elephants With Excrement
Samuel Wasser is the director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, and he’s deeply concerned about the survival of African elephants. To help protect them, Wasser has come up with an unconventional strategy: he analyzes elephant excrement.
For over 15 years, park rangers and conservationists from across Africa have been collecting elephant dung and sending it to Samuel Wasser’s lab. Once the packages of dung arrive, Wasser and his team carefully study the genetic material found within. They then use a map to track the sample’s origin. Following that, they analyze confiscated ivory seized from smugglers around the globe.
Many of these ivory shipments come from regions like Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. The poached ivory often ends up in countries such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines, making it difficult for law enforcement to trace the location where the elephants were killed. Knowing the origins of the ivory would give authorities a better chance of preventing further killings before they happen.
This is where Wasser’s innovative method comes into play. After examining the confiscated ivory, he compares its DNA with the elephant dung samples. When a match is found, Wasser can identify the specific area where the elephant was killed. His techniques are precise, often pinpointing the poached elephant’s location within a 300-kilometer (200-mile) radius of where it was slaughtered.
Wasser has pinpointed several critical poaching zones in regions such as Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Congo Basin. With this crucial DNA data, rangers can zero in on these hotspots, increasing their chances of catching poachers in the act. And it’s all made possible by Samuel Wasser... and the dining habits of elephants.
8. WildLeaks
Most of us are familiar with WikiLeaks, the organization founded by Julian Assange that publishes classified documents online. The organization’s success hinges on the principle of anonymity, allowing sources to remain undetected and shielded from retaliation. While opinions on WikiLeaks may vary, it’s easy to support WildLeaks, its covert conservationist counterpart.
WildLeaks was established by Andrea Costa, a man who has made great strides in protecting endangered wildlife. Costa uncovered that the terrorist group Al-Shabbab, based in Somalia, was funding its activities by trafficking illegal ivory. He also founded the Elephant Action League, a nonprofit based in California that combats wildlife crime.
Costa’s most intriguing contribution to the fight against poaching is WildLeaks, a platform that enables anyone to anonymously report illegal activities. Using Tor technology, individuals have used the site to expose crimes such as the trafficking of elephant ivory in Hong Kong, tiger hunting in Sumatra, and even chimpanzee smuggling, parrot poaching, and wolf killings near Yellowstone National Park.
Since launching in February 2014, WildLeaks has gathered over 70 anonymous tips. Each leak is reviewed by a team of specialists, and once the details are confirmed, they alert the relevant authorities. On three occasions, the team has even initiated its own investigations. WildLeaks has truly become a global movement, supporting 16 languages, offering concerned individuals worldwide the opportunity to protect wildlife and dismantle the powerful crime syndicates operating the illegal wildlife trade.
73. -D-Printed Rhino Horns
Rhino poaching is particularly heartbreaking because these majestic animals are killed for absolutely no reason. In China and Vietnam, rhino horns are ground into powder and used for bizarre remedies, including party drugs and cancer treatments. However, rhino horns are made of keratin—just like human fingernails—and have no medicinal properties at all. Despite this, a kilogram of rhino horn can fetch as much as $100,000 on the black market.
The company Pembient, based in Seattle, has come up with a plan to reduce the demand for rhino horns. Their solution is to flood the market with synthetic rhino horns, produced using keratin and 3D printing technology. By flooding Vietnam and China with these fake horns, they aim to lower the black market prices. These synthetic horns are also safe to eat, meaning people can consume them without harm. Some even plan to brew beer from these horns, based on the misguided belief that rhino horn-infused beer can cure hangovers.
Not everyone agrees with Pembient’s approach. While supporters argue that these synthetic horns will pass DNA testing, critics are concerned that if the market becomes saturated with fake rhino horns, the remaining real horns could become even more valuable.
6. The Rhino Horn Camera
Planning a trip to Africa? Keep an eye out for rhinos wearing large leather collars. If a poacher sees a rhino with one, they might hesitate to take the shot, fearing they’ll end up on Conservationist Candid Camera.
RAPID, or the Real-time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device, is an intricate system created by a British nonprofit named Protect. Though it’s a bit complex and invasive, it’s a brilliant approach to deterring poachers, all while making rhinos look undeniably stylish.
The leather collar is outfitted with a GPS tracker that helps conservationists stay informed about the rhino’s movements. In addition, RAPID involves implanting heart rate monitors under the animal’s skin and drilling a small hole into the rhino’s horn to insert a miniature camera.
If a poacher shoots a rhino, the animal’s heart rate either drops or rises dramatically. The heart monitor detects this sudden change and triggers the camera in the horn. The camera captures everything the rhino sees, including the poachers, and the GPS tracker sends the location to authorities, allowing them to dispatch an emergency team to the scene. Even if the poacher escapes, their face will be on film.
Clearly, the heart monitor requires power to function, but the team at Protect has come up with a battery that only needs replacing a few times over the rhino's lifetime. They're also developing a device powered by solar or kinetic energy. RAPID is currently being tested in the field, and if successful, it could be used to safeguard various endangered species, from tigers to whales.
5. The Forgotten Elephants That Are Going Extinct
Alright, time for a pop quiz! How many types of elephants exist? Just two, right? That's what we're all taught. There's the African elephant and the Asian elephant, and they're distinguishable by their size and ears. But there's more to it than that. Growing evidence suggests that the African elephant actually consists of two separate species: the savanna elephant and the lesser-known forest elephants.
Talk about these two species has been around since 1900, but the idea didn’t truly gain momentum until 2006. British zoologist Peter Grubb examined nearly 300 African elephant skulls and discovered notable differences between the two groups. Forest elephants live in smaller herds, have smaller ears, longer tusks, and produce distinct sounds. Still skeptical? American biologist Alfred Roca says that forest and savanna elephants are genetically so distinct that it’s like comparing chimpanzee DNA to human DNA.
So why aren’t we taught about these two species? Major conservation organizations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) refuse to acknowledge more than one species. Some researchers believe this is creating a significant issue for the future survival of forest elephants.
The IUCN and CITES refuse to recognize the separate species for two main reasons. First, these organizations argue that forest and savanna elephants aren’t truly distinct species because they are capable of interbreeding.
Second, if they were to acknowledge two separate species, what would happen to the hybrids between forest and savanna elephants? If only forest and savanna elephants were protected by law, how would their mixed offspring be safeguarded? Instead of recognizing two different species, these organizations lump them together under the umbrella term 'African elephant,' thus providing legal protection for the hybrids.
However, many scientists disagree with these conservation bodies, citing examples of other interbreeding species, such as wolves and coyotes. Additionally, they argue that the real issue is bigger than just the forest-savanna hybrids. By recognizing only one species, the IUCN and CITES can claim that while poaching is rampant in certain parts of Africa, elephant populations are still stable in other areas. Sure, forest elephants are dying out, but the savanna elephants are doing well enough to balance it out.
That logic might hold if there was just one species. But if there are two, the situation is far more alarming. Between 2002 and 2013, approximately 60 forest elephants were killed every day, leaving only around 100,000 alive. However, because they aren’t seen as a distinct species, forest elephants are now hovering on the brink of extinction.
4. Taking Rhinos To Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and if the Exotic Wildlife Association (EWA) has its way, that will include the wildlife. In May 2015, the EWA partnered with Group Elephant to propose an unusual idea. Their plan is to load a large number of rhinos onto airplanes, fly them across the Atlantic, and release them in the Lone Star State. And we're not just talking about a few rhinos—this proposal involves around 6 percent of South Africa’s entire rhino population.
It's actually a fairly simple concept. The EWA and Group Elephant aim to strike a deal with the private ranchers who own thousands of rhinos in South Africa. If the ranchers allow their rhinos to be flown to the United States, they would gain partial ownership of any calves produced by their stock. Additionally, once the rhinos arrive in Texas, they would be protected for life, and that protection would extend to their offspring.
Of course, there are a few challenges with this plan. First, enough ranchers in Texas would need to agree to care for the approximately 1,000 rhinos. Second, transporting these massive creatures won’t be cheap or simple. A typical plane can only carry around five rhinos at a time, and it costs about $50,000 to transport a single rhino across the ocean. However, if the U.S. Department of Agriculture gives its approval, the EWA intends to move as many rhinos as possible to Texas, where they can thrive in relative safety.
3. Corey Knowlton, The Rhino Hunter
When it comes to controversy, Corey Knowlton makes John Hume look like the most beloved person on earth. Knowlton is a Texas millionaire and the heir to an oil fortune, and from January 2014 to May 2015, he was one of the most despised men worldwide. Knowlton paid a hefty sum to hunt and kill a black rhinoceros. But if you ask him why he did it, his answer may surprise you.
The story begins in January 2014 when the Dallas Safari Club held an auction for a chance to fly to Namibia and hunt a black rhino. The auction was completely legal, as the Namibian government had provided a permit for one lucky hunter to experience the ultimate safari. While Knowlton hadn’t planned on winning the tag, he still made an opening bid of $350,000 to get the auction started. No one else made an offer, possibly due to fears of the media backlash, and soon, Knowlton was preparing for his hunting trip to Namibia.
This caused an uproar among animal rights activists. Knowlton was harshly criticized by celebrities like Mia Farrow and Ricky Gervais, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service took more than a year to approve his request to bring his trophy back to the United States. To make matters worse, Knowlton was bombarded with death threats. People went so far as to threaten to torture his children, burn his house down, and commit violent acts against his wife.
Despite the outcry, Knowlton traveled to Africa in May 2015 and shot a black rhino, making headlines worldwide once again. However, this is where the story gets more complicated. While it’s easy to vilify Knowlton as a bloodthirsty hunter, his reasoning is far more nuanced. Knowlton argues that hunters are often the most dedicated protectors of endangered species, and without them, rhinos would have been extinct long ago.
First of all, Knowlton didn’t shoot just any rhino. He was only permitted to kill one specific animal, and it had to meet strict criteria set by the Namibian government. Knowlton could only hunt an elderly rhino that had lost its ability to reproduce. Additionally, his target had to be a 'problem rhino'—a dangerous, older male that was killing younger, healthier rhinos.
Moreover, Knowlton paid $350,000 for the privilege of hunting the rhino. He claims that the Namibian government uses that money to protect younger, reproductively viable rhinos. The funds are allocated to hire rangers, support researchers, and ensure the wildlife preserves remain secure and well-maintained.
Knowlton isn’t the only one willing to pay a hefty sum for the opportunity to hunt. This practice is seen across the globe with various species, where the money raised directly contributes to conservation efforts. These funds accumulate into millions of dollars, all dedicated to preserving these animals and supporting their survival.
By placing a financial value on aging rhinos, Knowlton believes hunters are creating an economic incentive to safeguard the species, while also funding those working to protect these animals from poachers. After harvesting his black rhino, Knowlton donated most of the meat to a local village in need.
However, conservationists such as Richard Leakey strongly oppose these practices. They argue that killing rhinos—regardless of the justification—sends the wrong message. Additionally, as National Geographic points out, the money sometimes ends up in the wrong hands, due to government corruption. Before rushing to criticize Knowlton, it's important to consider the motivations behind his actions and weigh whether sacrificing a few rhinos is a fair trade for the long-term survival of the entire species.
2. John Hume’s Controversial Plan
John Hume is undoubtedly a controversial figure. A South African rancher, Hume currently manages over 1,000 black and white rhinoceroses. As reported by the online magazine Guernica, he may have the largest private rhino herd in the world, with plans to expand his breeding program by hundreds more.
Undoubtedly, Hume cares deeply about the future of these incredible creatures. This is why he employs former military personnel to protect his rhino herd from poachers. To further ensure their safety, he also removes their horns—a harmless procedure, as the horns grow back, much like a large fingernail. Without these large horns, the rhinos become less appealing to hunters. But this approach is where things begin to spark debate.
While Hume is undeniably focused on protecting rhinos, he’s also not opposed to making some profit. When it's time to remove a horn, John adds it to his growing collection. As of now, he possesses four tons of rhino horn, valued at around $235 million. However, due to a South African ban on the trade of rhino horns, enacted in 2009, Hume cannot sell any of the horns he’s accumulated, leaving him with a fortune he can’t access.
This is why Hume is actively fighting to reverse the ban. It’s not just about making money—it’s about saving rhinos from extinction. Hume argues that if the government legalized the rhino horn trade, it would encourage breeding and protection efforts. Additionally, it could reduce the price of rhino horn, thereby lowering its appeal as a status symbol and giving poachers fewer incentives to kill.
Hume has faced considerable backlash for his views. Organizations like Stop Rhino Poaching strongly oppose the practice of stockpiling rhino horns. Many critics argue that legalizing rhino horn sales could lead to the purchase of horns from poached animals, and that a combination of legal trade and poaching could accelerate rhino extinction. Hume counters this by noting that in 2007, prior to the ban, only 13 rhinos were killed in South Africa. By 2014, that number had risen to around 1,200.
However, in November 2015, the situation took an unexpected turn when a judge overturned the domestic ban on rhino horn trade. South Africa’s environmental ministry is now appealing the ruling, meaning the ban is likely to remain in effect for the time being.
As South Africa continues to grapple with this complex issue, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is contemplating lifting the global ban on rhino horn in 2016. It’s likely that John Hume is seeing a future filled with dollar signs, but regardless of the outcome, let's hope the rhinos come out of this situation unscathed.
1. The Black Mambas
You definitely don’t want to cross a Black Mamba. And no, we’re not referring to the venomous African snake or the katana-wielding assassin from the movies. We’re talking about the all-female team of rangers in South Africa who patrol the Balule Nature Reserve. Despite not carrying weapons, they’ve proven to be incredibly effective, and in recent years, they’ve made life much harder for local poachers.
Balule is a private nature reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park. Craig Spencer is the head warden, and in 2013, he took a bold step by hiring 26 unemployed women, training them to become the Black Mambas in a bid to protect wildlife and engage with the surrounding impoverished communities.
Dressed in military-style uniforms, these women patrol the 40,000-hectare reserve, guarding it against armed poachers. Their day-to-day involves walking along the reserve’s perimeter fence, staying alert for any signs of suspicious activity. They also set up listening posts to detect any odd sounds. If they come across any illegal activity, they call for backup, and armed security arrives to handle the situation.
It’s a risky business, as the Black Mambas don’t carry their own firearms. Yet, these women have proven to be highly effective. In 2015, the United Nations Environment Program recognized their efforts by awarding them the Champions of the Earth Award, one of the most prestigious environmental honors worldwide. Over the past few years, they’ve apprehended at least six poachers and reduced snare poaching by an impressive 76 percent. So, if you’re thinking of poaching, you might want to steer clear of Balule. It’s the domain of the Black Mambas.
