Rhino Day on Wednesday 22 September 2010

Africa is experiencing a ferocious resurgence in rhino poaching, caused by illegal demand for rhino horn from Asia. South Africa, the stronghold of Africa’s rhino population with more than 80% of the 24 000 rhinos left in Africa, has been losing more than 20 rhinos a month. If the current trend continues, the rhino conservation gains of the last decade will begin to erode.

WWF has organised a worldwide Rhino Month campaign in support of the rhino warriors on the frontline in the fight against poaching. These brave men and women face well-armed poachers, many of whom are militarily-trained, in order to protect our rhinos.

You can help them by helping us provide the support, equipment and training they need to keep themselves and our rhinos safe. Donations to our Rhino Month fund can be made here

Rhino Month will culminate in Rhino Day on Wednesday 22 September 2010. At 1pm on Rhino Day, we are asking people around the world to dust off their vuvuzelas and make some noise in a symbolic call for effective international action against rhino poaching. We’re using one African horn to call for help for another.

It doesn’t have to be a vuvuzela … you can also blow didgeridoos or alpine horns or toot your car hooters or anything else that makes a big noise in support of rhinos.
More info here

Police arrest rhino-poaching masterminds
Police in South African have exposed a rhino-poaching syndicate that is believed to be a major supplier of illegal horns to the international black market.

Rhino poaching in South Africa has increased this year, owing to booming demand and rising prices for rhino horn from increasingly rich Asian markets, where it is used as a medicine.