Instagram – February 15th, 2019

Sad news from Hong Kong this morning. But although disheartening, let’s use this news to continue our conservation fight with vigour and preserve these incredible animals for future generations ❤️🦏 #Repost @africanparksnetwork with @get_repost
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Hong Kong customs authorities have just seized US$1 million worth of rhino horn at the Hong Kong International Airport. The record haul which consisted of 24 pieces, weighing about 40kg, was found in boxes carried by two men arriving from South Africa en route to Vietnam. The two suspects, aged 28 and 33, were flying in from Johannesburg and planning to transit to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The @scmpnews reports that between 2013 and the first 10 months of 2018, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) seized a total of about 202 kg of rhino horns, of which 76 pieces were whole horns. Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners of which mistakenly claim it has medicinal benefits ranging from boosting virility to curing cancer, despite there being no scientific evidence to back any of their claims. It is also used for carving and is regarded as a status symbol. Sadly, poaching has ravaged all five rhino species. The smaller black rhino remains critically endangered, with about 5,000 left. Asian species of rhino have suffered even more, with 3,500 Indian one-horned rhinos left in Nepal and India, fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos (known for their long hair), and only about 60 Javan rhinos left in the world.

Photo @love_wild_africa #africa #rhino #conservation #worthmorealive #savetherhino #rhino #africanparks