International Rhino Foundation
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| International Rhino Foundation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Rhinoceros conservation charity |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Headquarters | White Oak Conservation Center Yulee, Florida, US |
| Key people | Dr. Susie Ellis, executive director |
| Revenue | $2.3 m (FY 2005)[1] |
| Website | http://www.rhinos-irf.org/ |
The International Rhino Foundation is a Yulee, Florida-based charity focused on the conservation of the five species of rhinoceros: the White Rhinoceros and Black Rhinoceros in Africa; the Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros and Sumatran Rhinoceros in Asia.
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[edit] History
In the late 1980s the population of black rhinos, particularly in Zimbabwe, was dropping at an alarming rate. To help combat the decline, the International Black Rhino Foundation was founded in 1989. The IBRF worked with both in-situ conservation (protecting animals in their native habitat) and ex-situ conservation (protecting animals "off-site" such as in zoos or non-native nature reserves).[2]
The South-central Black Rhino, which lives in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Tanzania, had a population of around 9,090 in 1980, but due to a wave of illegal poaching for its horn their numbers decreased to 1,300 in 1995. Due to the efforts of conservation groups like the International Black Rhino Foundation, the population has stabilized, illegal poaching has been reduced, and the population has even been growing. The population of South-central Black Rhinos was around 1,650 in 2001.
All rhino species, however, are endangered. In 1993, the IBRF changed its name to the International Rhino Foundation, and expanded its focus to all five species of rhinoceros. The International Rhino Foundation helps manage programs in nature and captivity and also funds research into rhinos. IRF programs in captivity focus on developing ways to help rhinos in the wild.[2]
[edit] Programs
The International Rhino Foundation is particularly active in several areas of rhino conservation. The International Rhino Foundation hosts the Web sites for the African Rhino Specialist Group and the Asian Rhino Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN.
[edit] Sumatran rhinos
In the 1990s, the International Rhino Foundation became involved in several projects with the Sumatran Rhinoceros, whose population has declined below 500. The foundation helped study husbandry of the Sumatran Rhino in American zoos (controversial, because many early attempts to bring Sumatran Rhinos to zoos resulted in the animals' deaths and with so few remaining rhinos any loss was viewed as unacceptable) but also in megazoos and preserves, such as building breeding enclousres in Indonesia's Way Kambas Rhino Sanctuary. With funding from the United Nations, the International Rhino Foundation also organized "rhino protection units" in Indonesia and Malaysia, consisting of teams of guards that protect the animal in the wild.[3]
[edit] Indian rhinos
In 2005 the International Rhino Foundation began a project with the San Diego Wild Animal Park to return Indian rhinos to safe reserves in their native India. The program also supports breeding exchanges between parks and zoos in India, which are vital for the preservation of the species genetic diversity.
Fashion designer Mark Ecko who created of the clothing brand Eckō, which uses the rhino in its logos, helped launch the project with a large donation. Ecko has said he has a "true affinity" with the animals. A baby Indian Rhino at the Wild Animal Park was named "Ecko" because of the donation.
"More than just a logo, the rhino took on a whole new meaning as we began to coexist with it. We always said that the rhino is a survivor, so when we overcame our early financial struggles it was only natural that we dedicate ourselves to giving back to the animal that provided the inspiration," Ecko said of his support for rhino conservation.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ International Rhino Foundation. Charity Navigator. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
- ^ a b Animals & Conservation. Fort Worth Zoo. Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
- ^ Vindu P. Goel. "The Mating Game; Biologists Are Studying the Reproductive Habits of the Sumatran Rhino In a Last-Ditch Attempt To Keep It Alive", The Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 9, 1998.
- ^ "Baby Rhino Named for Designer Marc Ecko", Associated Press, April 14, 2005.
