Reflective Summary

I have learnt why white rhinos are being threatened and and why we must save them. Poverty and greed provides a fertile breeding ground for the illegal trade in Rhino horn and poaching of Rhino to obtain the horn is rife today. We must save them as they have been surviving for 50 million years. Also, when protecting the white rhinos, those sharing the same habitat as the white rhinos are getting protection too.

My perspectives have changed as I used to think that white rhinos were minor species and has not a large impact. But after I researched, I realized that white rhinos were actually are the second-biggest living land mammals after the elephants. Thus, they are interesting and can attract attention to tourists and visitors and help the country to earn money.

The current situation, I feel, has room for improvements. This is because I feel not majority of the people are doing their part by spreading the message to conserve the white rhinos. I think that people should not continue to stay with this attitude as it may lead to the extinction of the white rhinos.

I can help to play my part by spreading the facts of the white rhinos and why it is essential to conserve it with my group mates to my school. I believe that my schoolmates will also help to spread the message.

For further improvements, I would suggest that the people living near the white rhinos would actually volunteer themselves as conservationists and help to catch the greedy poachers. These suggestions might make the world a better place as there would be no need for extinction of the white rhinos. In addition, with the white rhinos living, they can help the country to earn money as they attract tourists.

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Reflection No.3

White Rhinoceros
Source: http://www.savetherhino.org/eTargetSRINM/site/674/default.aspx

Picture source: http://summerstyle.net/openclipart.org/content/michi/michi_-_rhino_cartoon.png

1) What is the article about?
This article states the 10 reasons in which white rhinoceros' must be saved.
Here goes:
1. Rhinos are critically endangered

At the turn of the 19th century, there were approximately one million rhinos. In 1970, there were around 70,000. Today, there are fewer than 24,500 rhinos surviving in the wild.

Three of the five species of rhino are “Critically Endangered” as defined by the IUCN (World Conservation Union). A taxon is classified as critically endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of a range of pre-determined criteria. It is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. The southern subspecies of the white rhino is classified by the IUCN in the lesser category of being “Near Threatened”; and the Indian rhino is classified as "Vulnerable"even this is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

In 2005, some of us are lucky enough to be able to travel to Africa and Asia to see them in the wild. In 2035, when our children and grandchildren have grown up, will they still be able to see wild rhinos?
2. Rhinos have been around for 50 million years

Rhinos have been an important part of a wide range of ecosystems for millions of years; we must not let them join the dodo in extinction.
3. Humans have caused the drastic decline in numbers

Poachers kill rhinos for the price they can get for the horns (used for traditional Chinese medicine and for ornamental dagger handles in Yemen); land encroachment, illegal logging and pollution are destroying their habitat; and political conflicts adversely affect conservation programmes.
4. Rhinos are an umbrella species

When protecting and managing a rhino population, rangers and scientists take in account all the other species interacting with rhinos and those sharing the same habitat. When rhinos are protected, many other species are too; not only mammals but also birds, reptiles, fish and insects as well as plants.
5. Rhinos are charismatic mega-herbivores!

By focusing on a well-known animal such as a rhino (or, to use the jargon, a charismatic mega-herbivore), we can raise more money and consequently support more conservation programmes benefiting animal and plant species sharing their habitat.
6. Rhinos attract visitors and tourists

Rhinos are the second-biggest living land mammals after the elephants. Together with lion, giraffe, chimpanzee and polar bear, the rhino is one of the most popular species with zoo visitors. In the wild, rhinos attract tourists who bring money to national parks and local communities. They are one of the “Big Five”, along with lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo.
7. In situ conservation programmes need our help

Protecting and managing a rhino population is a real challenge that costs energy and money. Rhino-range countries need our financial support, and benefit from shared expertise and exchange of ideas.
8. Money funds effective conservation programmes that save rhinos

We know that conservation efforts save species. The Southern white rhino would not exist today if it were not for the work of a few determined people, who brought together the 200 or so individuals surviving, for a managed breeding and re-introduction programme. Today, there are some 17,500 Southern white rhinos.

With more money, we can support more programmes, and not just save rhino populations, but increase numbers and develop populations. The Northern white rhino subspecies may just have become extinct, but it is not too late to save the rest.
9. Many people don’t know that rhinos are critically endangered

Not just that, but how many people know that rhinos also live in Asia? Or that two species have just one horn? Or that the horn is not used as an aphrodisiac? We have even heard some people say that they are carnivores!

If people do not know about these amazing animals and the problems they are facing, how can we expect them to want to do something to help save rhinos?
10. We all have an opportunity to get involved!

You can help us raise awareness of the plight of the rhino! The more we do all together, the more people will learn about rhinos and the more field projects we will be able to support. There are lots of fundraising ideas scattered in the 'Support us' section, as well as ways to donate directly to Save the Rhino. And there are rhino-themed games and puzzles in the 'Rhino info' section!


2) What have I learnt from this article?
From this article, I had learnt the 10 good reasons to save white rhinoceros.
I know that white rhinos are critically endangered as at the turn of the 19th century, there were approximately one million rhinos. In 1970, there were around 70,000. Today, there are fewer than 24,500 rhinos surviving in the wild. Also, hree of the five species of rhino are “Critically Endangered” as defined by the World Conservation Union.
Next, I know that white rhinos had been living in the world for 50 million years. Thus, if we were to just let them extinct, it would be a waste.
Next, it was the humans, the culprits who had caused the drastic decline of the white rhinos in numbers. Poachers kill rhinos for the price they can get for the horns used for traditional Chinese medicine and for ornamental dagger handles in Yemen.
Next, when protecting the white rhinos, those sharing the same habitat as the white rhinos are getting protection too.
Next, as white rhinos are charismatic mega-herbivores, we can raise more money and consequently support more conservation programmes benefiting animal and plant species sharing their habitat.
Next, Rhinos are the second-biggest living land mammals after the elephants. Thus, they are interesting and can attract attention to tourists and visitors and help the country to earn money.
Lastly, we all can get a chance to get involved with helping the white rhinos to escape from extinction by spreading the message to everyone so that people will stop poaching the endangered white rhinos!


Picture Source: http://www.how-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com/image-files/cartoon-rhino-8.gif
3) My perspectives.
Out of these 10 reasons, I only used to know 1 of them! Now after reading through the 10 reasons, I had learnt that white rhinos had been around for 50 million years. Now, I also know that when conservationist protect white rhinos, the species living in the same habitat as the white rhinos can get protection too.

Reflection No.2

White Rhinoceros
Source: http://mammals.suite101.com/article.cfm/endangered_mammals_of_africa_white_rhinoceros

Pictue source: http://sites.google.com/a/rock.k12.nc.us/jones-rhino-readers/_/rsrc/1226165624131/Home/RhinoCartoon1.jpg

1) What is the article about?
This article is about why the white rhinoceros are being threatened.
This is what the article states:
- Cave paintings in Europe and Asia confirm that early European man knew White Rhinoceros. The Rhino roamed free on the African savanna and are depicted in historic Bushman painting found for instance at Twyfelfontein in Namibia, Africa.
Factors that contribute to the near demise of the White Rhino are legion and include:
- Upon exploring new territory, settlers hunted the rhino both for food and to rid the land of dangerous beasts in order to start farming operations. Conservation of wildlife did not receive consideration, as the survival of the humans in the new, unchartered territory, was paramount.
- White Rhinoceros inhabits long-and-short-grass savannahs and woodlands of southern and central Africa. It requires relatively flat terrain, bush for cover, grass for grazing and water for drinking and wallowing in. Continuing deforestation and usurping of grasslands to make way for farming activities resulted in the rapid shrinking of available natural habitat where White Rhino can exist.
- Trophy hunting of White Rhino contributed to the second largest land mammal's near extinction. African hunting safaris, although less popular today, were unregulated until the middle 1900s and hunting Rhino were regarded as one of the most dangerous and rewarding hunts.
- Civil war on the African continent resulted in the demise of most of the wildlife in the war-torn countries. The White Rhino were not spared, and today the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, threatens the existence of the few remaining northern white rhinoceros.
- Poverty and greed provides a fertile breeding ground for the illegal trade in Rhino horn and poaching of Rhino to obtain the horn is rife today. Alleged medicinal use of Rhino horn in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as the ornamental value of the horn as a dagger handle in North Africa and the Middle East, still makes poaching these animals a lucrative business.


Picture source: http://www.elsaelsa.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/rhino-cartoon.jpg

2) What have I learnt from this article?
From this article, I had learnt about why the white rhinoceros' are being threatened. Early European men knew that the white rhinoceros roamed free on the African savanna. Upon exploring the new territory, the settlers hunted the white rhinoceros' for both food and get rid of the land of dangerous beasts in order to start farming operations. The conservation of wildlife did not consider, as humans were of paramount significance. Trophy hunting of White Rhinoceros’ contributed to the second largest land mammal's near extinction. African hunting safaris, although less popular today, were unregulated until the middle 1900s and hunting Rhino were regarded as one of the most dangerous and rewarding hunts. Civil war on the African continent resulted in the demise of most of the wildlife in the war-torn countries and the White Rhinoceros’ were not spared. Poverty and greed provides a fertile breeding ground for the illegal trade in Rhino horn and poaching of Rhino to obtain the horn is rife today. Alleged medicinal use of Rhino horn in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as the ornamental value of the horn as a dagger handle in North Africa and the Middle East, still makes poaching these animals a lucrative business.

3) My Perspectives
Before I read this article, my knowledge only extends to the limit of knowing only one cause of the endangered white rhinoceros and that is that hunters like to hunt the white rhinoceros' horns and sell them off at a high price.
After I read this article, I know that in the past, when the early european men were settling down at a new territory to explore, they actually hunted white rhinoceros for both food and to get rid of the land of dangerous beasts in order to start farming operations!
Next, trophy hunting of White Rhinoceros’ contributed to the second largest land mammal's near extinction.
Also, throughout the civil war on the African continent resulted in the demise of most of the wildlife in the war-torn countries and the White Rhinoceros’ were not spared.
Lastly, Poverty and greed provides a fertile breeding ground for the illegal trade in Rhino horn and poaching of Rhino to obtain the horn is rife today. Alleged medicinal use of Rhino horn in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as the ornamental value of the horn as a dagger handle in North Africa and the Middle East, still makes poaching these animals a lucrative business.

Reflection No.1

White Rhinoceros
Source: http://www.biaza.org.uk/public/images/campaigns/rhinoDocs/whiteRhino.pdf

Source: http://www.whozoo.org/students/obiibe/WhiteRhinoFwz20201a10.jpg

1) What is the article about?
The article is a description of the white rhinoceros, its physical characteristics, social behaviour, location and habitat.
The white rhino has a square-lipped mouth. Its scientific name is Ceratotherium simum, "cerato" meaning "horn" ""therium“, meaning "wild beast" and "simus“ meaning "flat nosed" in Greek. White rhinos feed on grasses and their broad upper lip is adjusted to this type of food. There are two sub-species, the Southern Ceratotherium simum simum and the Northern Ceratotherium simum cottoni.
The white rhino is the bigger one of the two African species. Adult males weigh between 1,800 and 2,500 kg and females 1,800-2,000 kg. Their weight at birth is 40-60kg. Their heights at shoulder is 1.5m to 1.8m. The colour of their skin is grey. There is no difference in the skin colour of both African
species, nevertheless, after wallowing, the actual colour of the animal inevitably matches the colour of the local soil. Their outline is characterised by a pronounced hump. The head hangs down; they look uponly when alarmed. They are surprisingly agile and can run very fast, up to 40 km/h for short periods. Horns are used as weapons against predators and for dominance and threat displays in
contact with other rhinos. White rhinos have two horns: the larger front horn
measures up to around 100 cm while the smaller rear horn reaches up to around 50 cm. As with all rhino species, the horns grow from the skin and consist of compressedstrands of keratin. They are not attached to the skull, but rest on bone pedicels at its dorsal part. The horns are continuously growing and if broken away, will subsequently grow back.

2) What have you learnt?
From this article, I had learnt that the white rhino's name in Greek was named after one of its characteristics, its "square-lipped mouth". Their lips are used to adjust to eating grasses. I had also learnt that there are two types of rhino, the northern and the southern and there are no difference in the skin color of both African species, nevertheless, after wallowing, the actual colour of the animal inevitably matches the colour of the local soil. Also, white rhinos can run very fast, up to 40km/hour for short periods. Their horns are used as weapons against predators and for dominance and threat displays in contact with other rhinos. Their
horns are continuously growing and if broken away, will subsequently grow back.

3) My perspectives.
Before I read the article, I had only a little knowledge about the white rhinoceros. I have only heard from my friends that it was an endangered species and are located in South Africa.
However, after I read, I gained new knowledge and my perspectives have changed. I used to think that the horns on the rhinos are just natural organs just like how humans us have fingers. But the article states otherwise. Now, I know that the horns on the rhinos heads are used for self-defense when their enemy attacks them. I also used to think that rhinos had big body and were plump and could not run fast. Now, I know that they can actually run at 40km/hour, even at short periods! Now, I feel that white rhinos are amazing animals and they must not extinct. We humans must do our part and help save white rhinos by spreading the message.