Rhino shot and killed after attacking farmer

A rhino has been shot and killed after attacking a farmer in South Africa. The animal is believed to have been one of three that had been raiding the farm for food.

The farmer, who has not been identified, managed to shoot one of the rhinos with a rifle, but the other two continued to attack. In order to save his life, the farmer then shot and killed the second rhino.

This is just the latest in a spate of such incidents, as rhinos continue to struggle in the face of poaching and habitat loss. In 2017, 1,028 rhinos were killed in South Africa alone, according to government figures.

Rhinos are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Their population has decreased by more than 95% in just 100 years, with most of the decline taking place over the past 40 years.

There are five species of rhino remaining in the world, all of which are found in Africa and Asia. Three are considered critically endangered: black rhino, northern white rhino, and Sumatran rhino.

Rhino horn smuggling ring busted

Police have busted a rhinoceros horn smuggling ring in Hong Kong and seized horns worth an estimated $1.5 million.

This is the latest in a series of recent crackdowns on the illegal trade in rhino horn, which has been driven by demand from buyers in Vietnam and China who believe that the horns have medicinal properties.

The smugglers had been shipping the horns to Vietnam via air cargo, disguising them as metal products or carved figurines.

Hong Kong customs officials said that they had been tracking the ring for some time, and that they expect to make more arrests in connection with the case.

The global trade in rhino horn is worth an estimated $20 million per year, and has resulted in a rapid decline in the number of rhinos living in the wild.

There are only about 25,000 rhinos remaining, and they are increasingly being targeted by poachers who kill them for their horns.

In addition to being used for traditional medicine, rhino horn is also seen as a status symbol by some buyers, and is believed to be able to cure cancer.

Poachers kill rhino and cut off its horn

In what is believed to be the first incident of its kind in the area, poachers have killed a rhinoceros and chopped off its horn at the French zoo where it was living.

Staff at the Parc Zoologique de Thoiry discovered the animal's body when they arrived for work on Tuesday morning. The rhino had been shot dead by poachers sometime overnight, and its horn removed with a chainsaw.

The zoo said in a statement that it was "devastated" by the death of Vince, one of their four rhinos.

"This odious act was doubtless committed to obtain horns that are in high demand on the Asian market, where they are used as ornaments and in traditional medicine, even though they have no therapeutic value," the statement read.

Vince was born in captivity in 2009 and had been living at the Thoiry zoo since March 2015. His three companions – two females and another male – were all unharmed.

Rhino poaching has been on the rise in recent years, fuelled by demand from countries such as China and Vietnam. In South Africa, 1,215 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2016, up from 815 in 2015.

France has taken some steps to address the issue, making it illegal to trade ivory or other elephant body parts last year. But criminal gangs have been known to exploit loopholes, transporting ivory items through France to sell on the black market elsewhere.

The Thoiry zoo said it plans to install security cameras and increase security patrols in light of Tuesday's attack.

Rhino populations on the decline

Rhinos are some of the most iconic animals on the planet and there are five species of rhino that remain today. The three African species, white, black and southern white, and two Asian species, Indian and Javan.

Rhino populations have been on the decline for a number of years due to poaching and habitat loss. In 1970, there were an estimated 1,028,000 rhinos living in the wild. By 2016 this number had dwindled to just 30,000.

The main reason for the decline in rhino populations is poaching. Rhino horns are highly sought after in Asia where they are used in traditional medicine. A single horn can sell for up to $60,000 USD on the black market, making it more valuable than gold or cocaine.

As a result, poachers are willing to take risks to kill rhinos and steal their horns. Habitat loss is also a major contributing factor to the decline in rhino populations as it reduces their available space to live and breed.

There has been some progress made in recent years to protect rhinos from poaching and reverse the decline in their numbers. The African Wildlife Foundation has launched several initiatives aimed at protecting rhinos, including increasing ranger presence and working with local communities to raise awareness about the importance of rhinos.

In Asia, WWF has been working with local governments to strengthen anti-poaching measures and promote sustainable tourism initiatives that don't involve hunting or harming wildlife.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, these initiatives offer hope for the future of rhino populations around the world.

Activists work to save rhinos from extinction

There is a concerted effort underway by activists to save rhinos from extinction. Some of the strategies being employed include awareness campaigns, lobbying for stronger laws to protect rhinos, and working with local communities to create sustainable livelihoods that don't involve poaching.

Rhinos are killed for their horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. There is no scientific evidence that rhino horn has any medicinal value, but the demand for it is high, and it can fetch a high price on the black market.

Africa is home to the vast majority of the world's remaining rhinos. In South Africa, there are an estimated 20,000 white rhinos and 1,500 black rhinos. However, both species are under threat due to poaching.

The good news is that there are signs that the tide may be turning. Thanks to the efforts of activists and law enforcement agencies, the number of rhinos killed each year has been declining in recent years. And with increased awareness and support from the public, we may be able to save these amazing animals from extinction.