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The conservation community mourns this week as the extinction of the Javan rhino subspecies (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) was confirmed.

DNA testing determined that a female rhino, found shot to death in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park in 2010 with her horn missing, was the very last of her kind.

A report released last week by WWF noted that Vietnam’s illegal wildlife trade is “rampant” and there was a glaring lack of political will and very little, if any, accountability for the protection of its critically endangered rhino population.

Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong

Vietnam is facing an extinction crisis due to the largely uncontrolled illegal wildlife trade and rampant, ubiquitous poaching of wildlife. Current protected area management practices and conservation interventions have proved inadequate for dealing with this threat. The extinction of the Javan rhinoceros from Vietnam is a direct result of this inadequate protection and protected area management from all parties involved in its conservation.

Read more about the extinction of Vietnam’s rhinos at “Breaking News: Javan Rhino Declared Extinct in Vietnam“.

Rhino horn smugglers arrested in Nepal

Authorities in Chitwan National Park have arrested 17 people for suspected involvement with smuggling rhino horn.

According to The Himalayan Times, the gang is tied to a syndicate operating in Chitwan, Nawalparasi, and Kathmandu.

Thai rhino horn trader denied bail

In South Africa, Eyewitness News reported that rhino horn syndicate suspect Chumlong

Lemtongthai was denied bail by the South Gauteng High Court. Lemtongthai, along with South African safari operator Marnus Steyl, are believed to be using trophy hunts as a front to launder rhino horn and transport it to Southeast Asia.

It was also alleged that Lemtongthai and Steyl had hired Thai prostitutes to pose as hunters.

However, Steyl continues to evade public scrutiny for his ties to the scandal.

Source: Planetsave (http://s.tt/13Ezw)