RhiNEWS: South African poaching update, New Javan rhino photos, and 50% decline in global wildlife

Read on for Asian rhino news and the latest insights on the state of the world’s wildlife species.

South African poaching update

According to the latest statistics, a shocking 868 rhinos have been killed in South Africa alone this year, with current predictions that the death toll will surpass last year’s poaching loss of 1,004 rhinos. Read more on this story.

In response to the rising poaching crisis, Save the Rhino has recently launched our ‘Help a Ranger, Save a Rhino’ appeal raising much-needed funds for ranger equipment in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Watch our ranger video by clicking on the image below.

50% decline in the world’s wildlife

According to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2014, global wildlife populations have halved in just 40 years.The Report draws upon the Living Planet Index, a database maintained by the Zoological Society of London, which monitors trends in over 10,000 populations of 3038 species since the 1970s.

Click here to read more about how rhino populations have changed during this time.

Photographer captures Javan rhino on camera

Earlier this year, photographer Stephen Belcher crowdfunded an expedition to Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park with the aim of capturing the elusive Javan rhino on camera. Stephen was successful in his mission, achieving a total of 14 sightings. You can see a selection of his fantastic images online.

There are only around 35-50 Javan rhinos estimated to survive, click here to read more about efforts to protect the species.

Deal with U.S. enables Indonesian government to swap debts to protect endangered species

Excellent news for Sumatran rhinos and other endangered species! The U.S. government, Indonesian government, Conservation International and Indonesian NGO KEHATI have signed agreements to reduce debt payments owed by Indonesia to the United States. In return Indonesia will commit nearly US$12.7 million toward the conservation and protection of critically endangered species, and their associated habitats in Sumatra.

This debt-for-nature swap will benefit critical ecosystems in Sumatra through increasing conservation efforts and combating wildlife trafficking, with an emphasis on the survival of some of the world’s most endangered species, including rhinos, tigers and orangutans.

Read the full story.

Rhino horn smuggler receives reduced jail sentence

We are incredibly disappointed to learn that Chumlong Lemthongthai, a Thai national convicted of rhino horn trafficking has had his jail sentence reduced from 30 to 13 years, by the South African Supreme Court of Appeal.

Lemthongthai was the kingpin of an international rhino horn smuggling ring who masterminded the trafficking of rhino horns across international borders. His sentence has already been reduced from 40 to 30 years in August 2013.

Read the full story.

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Photo credits: Steve and Ann Toon, Sarah Nelson, Mark Carwardine, Stephen Belcher

Save the Rhino International – Registered Charity Number: 1035072 © 2014 Save the Rhino International. All rights reserved.