I viewed the Getty’s online exhibit of Jean-Baptiste Oudry’s rhinoceros paintings with keen interest, as I am a veteran researcher of rhinos in both captivity and the wild. (As an interesting aside, there are five accepted ways to indicate the plural of rhinoceros: rhino, rhinos, rhinoceros, rhinoceroses, and rhinoceri!) Oudry’s paintings are expressive and rich with detail. They document a time in our history when perceptions of animals differed from ours today, but still underscore how these large “pachyderms” have captured our imagination ever since they were “discovered” by the west. There is, of course, an element of sadness in contemplating the life his subject, Clara, must have experienced during her 17-year exhibition odyssey. But I take heart at how far we have come in our treatment of wild animals in captivity since Oudry’s day. Exceptions exist, but generally speaking, most zoo rhino—and their animal kin—reside in enriched, more natural environments and are treated with respect. Here at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, for example, our rhinos are kept in large enclosures reminiscent of the African and Asian plains where one might find wild rhino. Together with giraffe, buffalo, antelopes and others, these rhino enjoy what I imagine to be a rather peaceful existence.

Sentiment aside, there is no denying that rhinos today face a much worse fate than their ancestors of Oudry’s time—possible extinction. There are 5 species of rhino: black, white, Indian (or greater one-horned), Sumatran, and Javan. Oudry’s subject, Clara, was an Indian rhino. All species are dependent on conservation measures and all but one are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered by the World Conservation Union. Only the white rhino has moved up the list to “near threatened.” About a hundred years ago southern white rhinos numbered fewer than 100, but due to the political willpower of nations like South Africa and Namibia, this species is one of the greatest conservation success stories. Today more than 10,000 white rhinos occupy the savannas and bushveldt of southern Africa. Unfortunately, the northern subspecies has not been so lucky. The latest estimates suggest that only about five rhinos remain, all in the Congo. The Indian and black rhinos are also possible success stories in the making, both with growing but precarious populations. The Javan and Sumatran rhinos are critically endangered, with numbers so low—and still declining—that they are at immediate risk of extinction.

Why are rhinos so endangered? The answer to this question also explains why some species have experienced remarkable recoveries. Unlike most endangered species, rhinos still have sufficient habitat to survive and, in some cases, thrive. Poaching by far is the number 1 threat to rhinoceroses. Their horns are valued in the Middle East, where they are used as dagger handles, and China, where the horn is believed to have medicinal properties as a fever reducer and aphrodisiac. These markets place incredible demand for rhino horn, and locals can earn more than a year’s income by slaughtering one rhino. To keep poachers away from rhinos takes incredible dedication and resources to set up intensive anti-poaching patrols. Whereas habitat degradation and loss is difficult to reverse, it is comparatively easier to combat poaching. Because South Africa has stepped up and took on this challenge, approximately four out of five African rhinos (black and white) reside in South Africa today in protected, fenced reserves.

(Editor's note: Read Part 2 of Ron Swaisgood's essay, in which he explains what the Zoological Society of San Diego is doing to protect rhinos. Part 2 will be posted later this week.)

Responses[1]

Posted by Dr. Ronald Swaisgood on June 12, 2007 11:12:00 AM PDT #