Rhino Hockey for Wild Rhinos07/03/2015 5:44 PM
Over the past two weeks, the El Paso Rhinos visited the Humane Society’s Kids and Critters Camp (right) to increase awareness about the endangerment of wild rhinos. Speaking to children between the ages of 6 and 12, the hockey team’s staff members discussed the importance of rhino conservation. Humans-- many who commit poaching (the act of harvesting any animal illegally)-- are wild rhinos' worst threat. Every day there are hundreds of poachers throughout Africa and Asia that kill rhinos, a species already considered an endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Rhinos are sought because their horns contain keratin, a protein that is thought capable of treating or curing many illnesses. Not only is rhino poaching damaging to the rhino species as a whole, but it is ultimately a cruel act toward individual rhinos. Many do not have their horns removed posthumously. Instead, there horns are carved from their heads leaving them injured and helpless. For the past three years, poaching has been on the rise with nearly 400 rhinos being killed between January and April of this year. Although only three of the five rhino species are endangered, all of the rhinos in the world can fit into Wembley Stadium, home of the England National Football Team. As of now, fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos remain in Asia and there are, at most, 61 Javan rhinos still alive. Even more troubling, there are only seven Northern White rhinos left on earth. The only male of the group is surrounded 24/7 by armed guards. These alarming statistics suggest that all rhino species may become extinct by 2018 if poaching is not halted immediately. A species that has walked the earth for 50 million years will not survive the next 50 without our help. While the rhino population is dwindling, the number of poachers is rising—but so are incarcerations. In Africa, the number of poaching arrests increased from 165 in 2010 to 386 in 2014. Additional efforts to conserve rhinos have been made by the countries where the mammals reside. Many nations have signed an agreement to step up law enforcement and population monitoring to help reduce poaching of dwindling rhino populations. In 2008, the Rhinos franchise first took an interest in rhino conversation when it adopted Tatenda (left), an orphaned rhino in Zimbabwe. For the first few years of his life, the hockey team paid for the wild black rhino’s food and upkeep. Since then, the organization has attempted to raise rhino endangerment awareness. This year, the team is joining the American Association of Zookeepers in hosting Winos for Rhinos. The wine tasting will be held on the evening of August 14 at Sunland Park Winery. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.facebook.com/elpasodelnorteaazk. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit rhino conservation. -Caleb Colmenero |
Browse by Month »
June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 |