Rhinos: the Destruction of a Species

Rhinos: The Destruction of a Species

Last year I attended a Rhino presentation at Texas Christian University, where I had the privilege to listen to Dr. William Fowlds, a South African Wildlife Veterinarian, talk about his life of trying to save the rhinos. Dr. Fowlds is from South Africa and is one of the most involved and dedicated conservationists in the world. Dr. Fowlds shared his personal stories about the relationships he had with many rhinos. He shared how every night he has to go out and see about 3 rhinos that had their horns hacked off earlier that night, and how he tries to save the ones that are still alive. He created a lot of emotional appeal by showing how he had personal relationships with many of the rhinos, and he even cried when he showed us the video of his favorite rhino dying. Fowlds had a big impact on my understanding of rhinos and influenced me to become more educated on this environmental problem. I want to take my knowledge and inform more people about this issue and all the negative affects that rhino poaching creates. The poaching of Rhinos is immoral and unnecessary because they are endangered and they serve absolutely no logical purpose to humans when they are dead.

Africa is home to some of the most exotic and diverse creatures, which are being poached for many reasons. The Rhinoceros is one of the most endangered

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species in Africa and in the past couple years there has been a huge increase in rhino poaching and there is no sign of slowing down (“Save the Rhino”). From 2000 to 2007 only about 10 rhinos were killed annually, but now about 1000 rhinos are being killed annually (Save the Rhino). The reason poaching has increased is because many Asians, mostly Vietnamese people, are buying rhino horns to be used as medical purposes and status symbols (Save the Rhino). The Vietnamese believe that the horn can cure cancer, stimulate ones sex life, cure hangovers, and show one’s wealth (“Save the Rhino”). However, rhino...