World Rhino Day – September 22, 2022, history significance why we celebrate, Theme
World Rhino Day is celebrated on September 22 every year. World Rhino Day creates an avenue for N.G.O.s, zoos, wildlife conservation centers, research centers, and concerned individuals to unite and seek new ways to ameliorate poaching practices and preserve certain extremely endangered rhinoceros species from total extinction. Over the years, rhinos have been hunted by poachers for their horns and blood, which is used in traditional Asian medicine and believed to contain a cure for cancer, fever, convulsions, and increased male virility. Rhinos are also poached for their perceived value in the exotic markets of Vietnam.
History of World Rhino Day
As far back as the early 1990s, the crisis related to rhinos in Africa, particularly the black rhinos in Zimbabwe, became well known and people began to be concerned. By 2010, it was apparent that the potentially hazardous future of the Rhinoceros still wasn’t well known to various people around the world. At that time, most people did not know just how close the planet was coming to the total extinction of this majestic species.
So critical and dire was the condition of the species that less than 30,000 rhinos were alive in the world at that time. It was because of this that the WWF-South Africa announced World Rhino Day with the desire to save the world’s remaining rhinos, an effort that grew to be an unprecedented success.
In 2011, a woman named Lisa Jane Campbell fired off an email to Rhishja, a fellow lover of rhinos who wanted to see the five species of rhinos in the world continue to thrive and be there for future generations to enjoy.
At the hands of these two incredible women, World Rhino Day has become a phenomenon that spreads across the globe and has been a resounding success.
There’s still work to do though, as there are only about 100 Sumatran Rhinos left in the world, and between 60-65 Javan rhinos. So, while the rhino populations of Africa are doing well, there are certainly still more to save.
Taking the time out on Rhino Day to be aware and share the concern about the struggle this species faces is a great way to celebrate the day!
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WORLD RHINO DAY TIMELINE
A Million Years Ago
Rhinos Appear in Asia
About one million years ago, the first wooly rhinoceros appears in China.
1647
Colonial Era Poaching
The earliest record of rhinoceros poaching is traced to the colonial era when rhinos are hunted for sport.
1970 — 1980
Poaching Increases
A sharp increase in poaching occurs, driven by the growing demand for rhino horns in Asian countries.
1977
The Rhino Horn Trade is Declared Illegal
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) declares the trade of rhinoceros horns illegal.
1993
China Barns Medicinal Use of Rhino Horns
The Chinese government bans the domestic trade and medicinal use of rhino horns, removing them from the official traditional Chinese medicine pharmacopeia.
2011
The First World Rhino Day
The first-ever World Rhino Day is celebrated.
How to Celebrate World Rhino Day
Celebrating World Rhino Day starts by people deciding to educate themselves on the plight of rhinoceros in the modern world. In this way, people can figure out what actions they can take to help save those that remain. Try these ideas for celebrating this important day:
Learn More About Rhino-Friendly Organizations
Take a look at these reputable organizations that are doing what they can to help remove the burden from the lives of rhinos:
- World Wildlife Federation (WWF). For almost 50 years, WWF has been working on behalf of rhinos by aiming to expand protected areas where rhinos can live and breed safely, improving security to prevent poaching, helping with law enforcement to keep the trading of wildlife illegal, and promoting wildlife based tourism that expands experiences and funds more efforts toward conservation.
- Save the Rhino International. Beginning in 1992, Save the Rhino uses extreme challenges to raise money in the UK and beyond to help fund efforts for rhinos. Working to protect rhinos from poaching, educating communities who live near rhinos, and bringing experts together to share information and skills allows this organization to be effective in their goal of saving the rhinos.
- International Rhino Foundation. Fighting for the survival of rhinos, this organization offers support through grants and field programs that have affected rhino conservation in at least ten countries. Focusing on protecting, education, breeding, conservation and demand reduction, this group was also founded in the early 1990’s.
Adopt a Rhino Orphan
In addition to the organizations listed above, Helping Rhinos is a group that pairs people with baby rhinos whose parents are not able to take care of them. Adoption participation is a minimal cost per month or year, and those who want to adopt can choose which baby rhino they want to help support.
Adoption comes with a certificate with the name, photo, and fact sheet of the adopted rhino as well as a subscription to e-news from the Helping Rhinos Organization. Check out the website to see stories of which rhinos are available for adoption and how they came to be rescued and placed in the rhino orphanages for care.
