| Rhinoceros |
 Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros Believed to be one of the most pre-historic of all animal species, the Rhino has existed on the Earth for more than 60 million years, living in forests, dense thickets and savannah across Asia and Africa.  © 2007 Patrick Brown At the turn of the last century there were thought to be around 100,000 rhinos worldwide. Today the population has been reduced to approximately 11,000. Of the three species of rhino found in Asia, the Great Indian One Horned rhino is the most abundant, with around 1,900 animals left in India, Bhutan and Nepal. Approximately 400-500 Sumatran rhino are left in the wild together with fewer than 60 Javan Rhino.  © 2007 Kiran Man Chitrakar Despite the international ban on trade in rhino horn, which was introduced in 1977, poaching continues to push the rhino perilously close to extinction. Rhino horn is used for traditional Chinese medicine including the treatment of fevers and other maladies such heart and liver trouble. In Taiwan, rhino horn sells for $9,000 a pound and is the most sought after horn in the world by Asians. However recent studies suggest there is no real medicinal value in Rhino horn, which is made up of Keratin, the same substance as a human finger nail.  Sumatran Rhinoceros The trade continues mainly due to the traditional belief in its healing properties within many Asian cultures and the lucrative profits gained through poaching and smuggling. Rhino horn is also used for intricate carving of dagger handles and cups and fetches high prices in the Middle East. |