We lost another mammal species. On Thursday morning, the Western Black Rhino of Africa was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, MSNBC reports. Other rhino species are fast approaching the same fate.
The statement of the International Union for Conservation of Nature said that according to the information available at the moment, the Western Black Rhino of Africa is extinct in the wild. The situation imposes drastic measures to be taken in order to restore some balance in the species through carefully monitored conservation programs. “These measures must be strengthened now, specifically managing habitats in order to improve breeding performance, preventing other rhinos from fading into extinction” stated Simon Stuart, chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission.
Africa’s Black rhino isn’t the only one who faced extinction in the wild in the past few years. In 2010 a Java rhino was found dead in Vietnam, with a gun shot in his leg and his horn removed. Further data gathered by specialists revealed that it was the last of its kind. Later, it was discovered that a very small population of Javan rhinos are living on the Island of Java, in Indonesia.
The Southern White Rhino was very close to the fame fate, but the species was saved through rigorous conservation programs.
Rhinos have been hunted for many years especially for their horns which are believed to help cure several deadly diseases, such as cancer, even though medical scientist have insisted many times that it is a false belief, as there is no evidence of that really happening.
