Rhinos in 'desperate situation'

Rhinos are in a "desperate situation" with poaching reaching its worst levels in many years, conservationists have warned.

Populations of rhinos in Africa and Asia are seriously threatened by the escalation in illegal killings, driven by a demand for their horn in countries such as China and Vietnam.

Last year, at least 162 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa and Zimbabwe alone - with another 62 poached in the first six months of 2009.

The animals are now being illegally killed at a rate of more than 12 per month in the two countries, WWF, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and their wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic said.

The rates of poaching are a "serious escalation" from the 252 rhinos killed between 2000-2005 in all African countries, the conservation groups warned.

The taking of Asian rhinos is also a problem, with around 10 poached in India and at least seven in Nepal in the past six months - out of a total population of 2,400 endangered animals.

Last year's levels "probably represent the highest level of illegal rhinoceros killing in at least 15 years", according to a briefing by the groups for a meeting of the standing committee Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

Heather Sohl, WWF species policy officer, said that on the current rates of poaching, 2009 was likely to be even worse.

She said: "Rhinos are in a desperate situation. This is the worst rhino poaching we have seen in many years and it is critical for governments to stand up and take action to stop this deadly threat to rhinos worldwide.

"It is time to crack down on organised criminal elements responsible for this trade, and to vastly increase assistance to range countries in their enforcement efforts."




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