Last Javan rhino in Vietnam killed for horn

[n2doc]

By MIKE IVES, Associated Press

Monday, October 24, 2011

(10-24) 21:49 PDT HANOI, Vietnam (AP) --

Vietnam has lost its fight to save its rare Javan rhinoceros population after poachers apparently killed the country's last animal for its horn, pushing one of the world's most endangered species closer to extinction, a conservation group said Tuesday.

Vietnam's Cat Tien National Park has had no sightings, footprints or spore from live rhinos since the last known animal living there was found dead last April, shot through the leg with its horn chopped off, WWF said in a report. Genetic analysis of rhino feces had confirmed in 2004 that at least two rhinos were living in the park, raising hopes that Vietnam's population might survive.

Only 40 to 60 Javan rhinos now remain in Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia. They are the last known living members of the species, with none in captivity.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/24/international/i210246D91.DTL

[dipsydoodle]

1. That is truly sad and appalling.

:(

[xchrom]

2. +1

[LynneSin]

3. I'd almost blame the poachers but who are they really but people barely making a living.....

I blame the people who make a demand for these things. The uber rich who think they are somehow more important because they have a knife with a handle made of Rhino horn or some other lil trinket. Poachers only exist because there is a premium demand for these things. Even globally it's the 1% that just takes what they want and not give a fuck about the impact - like making an animal extinct.

[WinkyDink]

4. Another crime against the world by China. But hey----they're Capitalsts now!

[trotsky]

5. And all because of this:

"Demand for rhino horn has surged in recent years among Vietnamese and Chinese who believe it can cure an array of ailments."

Next time a proponent of "ancient Chinese medicine" falls back on the "but what's the harm?" defense, just point to this article. THIS is the harm.

[a la izquierda]

6. Grrrr.....

For the love of peter, get some of these critters away from harmful humans to preserve their species.

[Javaman]

7. we are a sad and stupid race of animals. nt