The white rhino was the only remaining of its species that was not under protection, but that is about to change.
In response to a "poaching crises," there will be immediate action taken to get the rhino protection under the Endangered Species Act, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release reported.
"As both a transit point and consumer destination for illegal rhino horn products, the United States plays a vital role in curbing poaching and wildlife trafficking. Along with extending protection to the southern white rhino, we're evaluating additional regulatory and policy options in an effort to strengthen our ability to investigate and prosecute poachers and traffickers," Service Director Dan Ashe, said. "We have a long history in working to curb the illegal wildlife trade, and are committed to working with international law enforcement agencies to address current and emerging challenges."
An increased demand for rhino horns spurred the death of 668 rhinos in 2012 and 446 in the first half of 2013.
The rhino horn is believed, in some cultures, to cure disease; this claim has never been confirmed. The horn is made from keratin, the substance found in fingernails, which has been shown to possess no medicinal value.
There are only five species of rhino alive today: "the black, Sumatran, Indian, and Javan rhinoceros." The Northern White Rhino was last seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but may be extinct in the wild. All of the species have been under protection of the Endangered Species Act with the exception of the white rhino.
There is no way to genetically distinguish which species a horn product comes from without destroying it. This has allowed items to be intentionally labeled as "white rhino" when it actually comes from a more endangered species.
Import of products from the southern white rhino is subject to trade restrictions by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), this new action will prohibit interstate commerce altogether.
White rhinos are the second largest land mammal in the world. The majority are found in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, the World Wildlife Fund reported.
