14. May 2013
A rare white rhino calf was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Australia on Tuesday 14. May 2013. The calf seems to be in good health. The male calf is the first offspring of his mother Mopani. It is important for the regional breeding program to increase the gene pool of this rare species. Last year four fellows of the species had died at the Zoo by a mysterious disease.
Rhinos are on the brink of extinction. During the great days of safari at the beginning of the 19th century, the numbers of rhinos were decimated drastically, just for 'sports'. Nowadays rhinos are protected, but this doesn't deter poacher from killing rhinos just for their horns. Their horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are said to increase sexual potency and therefore used as aphrodisiac. Because of the high demand from Asia, rhino horns are sold at high prices on the black market. The Horn of a Rhino consists of keratin, it's the same material as our fingernails are made of. Here we have a prime example on how traditional beliefs can have devastating effects. Moreover what men are ready to do just to improve their potency in bed. Of course a rhino horn has no magical powers. It does not increase potency. It is the same as eating your own fingernails. Unfortunately, reason does not reach those who believe in something. The Idea that rhino horn improves potency might come from the fact that it's a big horn reminding some people of a phallus or the fact that the coitus among rhinos lasts one and a half hours and more. It's like the belief of some cannibalistic tribes who believe that by eating the brain of the adversary they would gain his strength.
Birth of a white rhino
A documentary about poaching: You should watch this!
Help stop poaching!
