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Subscribe to RSSFor some endangered rhinos, a 1,000-mile road to rescue from poachers starts with a helicopter ride — hanging upside down, blindfolded and sedated.
That might sound uncomfortable, but experts say it's actually easier on the massive mammals than other means.
Plus, it's a quick way to pluck them to safety at a time when poaching for rhino horns is rampant. In South Africa alone, 341 have been killed so far this year, up from 333 for all of 2010.
The upside-down helicopter rides are provided by a project between the conservation group WWF and local government agencies in South Africa.
Flying Rhinos from Green Renaissance on Vimeo.
WWF
Veterinarians prepare a sedated black rhino for the helicopter lift.
WWF
A sedated black rhino is prepared for the 10-minute ride.
Through the project, 19 black rhinos, a species listed as critically endangered, have been moved from South Africa's Eastern Cape to a safer location some 1,000 miles away in Limopopo province.
"Previously rhinos were either transported by lorry over very difficult tracks, or airlifted in a net," Jacques Flamand, head of the WWF project, said in a statement released Friday.
"This new procedure is gentler on the darted rhino because it shortens the time it has to be kept asleep with drugs, the respiration is not as compromised as it can be in a net and it avoids the need for travel in a crate over terrible tracks," he added.
"The helicopter translocations usually take less than ten minutes, and the animals suffer no ill effect," he said, noting that the rhinos are transferred to trucks once road conditions are adequate.
"All of the veterinarians working on the translocation agreed that this was now the method of choice for the well-being of the animals," he said.
WWF
A sedated black rhino is moved by helicopter above South Africa.
WWF
WWF calls the ankle airlifts safer than other means of transport in remote areas.
With a goal if providing more habitat and safety, the project has created seven populations totalling 120 black rhinos over the last eight years in South Africa.
"Translocating rhinos always involves risk," Flamand said, "but we cannot keep all our eggs in one basket."
South Africa has fewer than 2,000 black rhinos, and fewer than 5,000 are left across the entire continent. White rhinos, also native to Africa, are better off with a population of some 20,000.
Vietnam is considered the biggest consumer of rhino horns and last month the extinction of the species there was confirmed.
"The unfounded rumor that rhino horn can cure cancer most likely sealed the fate of the last Javan rhino in Vietnam,” said A. Christy Williams, WWF’s Asian rhino expert. "This same problem is now threatening other rhino populations across Africa and South Asia."
WWF
WWF veterinarian Jacques Flamand checks a black rhino that was part of the helicopter-truck transfer in South Africa.
Related:
WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project
Sex workers, poisoned ponds used to poach wildlife
South African game park wardens cut horns from rhinoceros to save it from poachers
The last four breeding Northern White Rhinos are moved from Europe to Africa in hopes of keeping the subspecies alive. Learn about the debate over the move and the logistics of transporting such large animals.
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You should prosecute the Buyers, the Rich with toxic heads from China and India. Vietnam do not eat these shark fin, rhino horn, or exotic animals. Check your facts. Regardless of the race and region, like drugs if find guilty, pulling all their teeths and hang them high.
I couldn't agree more. What are they going to do when they've finally killed every single rhino? You can't bring a species back and they'll still have cancer. It's hard to think rationally about this sort of backwardness.
How do we teach RESPECT for all animals we share this planet with? It is heartbreaking that we need to go to these lengths to save this beautiful animal, but I am thankful we have people that take on this cause.
Great story MSNBC ...
Get every idiot in American frothing about a dumb rhino ... while Rome Burns
I am sorry, but this picture has made me laugh so hard it can’t read the article.
The photo of this rhino hanging from the helicopter and the drunken moose in the tree in Sweden last month are collectors items.
This has got to end up on a birthday card somewhere.
Hey... I'd pay good money for a ride like that...save me
Caption: If your horny on your birthday, too bad your still ugly, call the Air taxi, go home and %$%# yourself
Thats now my newest desk top picture!
George Jensen, how utterly sad, you are so clueless as to how the Earth cycles and functions to create and sustain all life, including your very own. If not for rhinos and all species of biological diversity, you would be dead.
All wild, natural species or biological diversity are in the eco-nomics of all life, including mankind's. Rhinos and all biological diversity, altogether with a living soil and water, create the Earth's natural surface, Earth's life giving, physical body or the Earth's ecosystems. All ecosystems are integrated, one to the other, and they all have feedbacks and loops to the very climate and the very atmosphere. All ecosystems, altogether, create the very life zone of the Earth or Earth's biosphere/ecosphere or life itself.
Now, we are discussing not only the science of ecology, but oxygen releasing, the balancing of the gaseous composition of the atmosphere, the regulation and moderation of the climate, the sequestration of heat trapping gases, the nitrogen cycle and the hydrological storage and flux, the creation and renewal of the soil...
purification of the air and water, provide decomposition, pollination and seed dispersal, mitigation of floods, 75% of all new medicines, 99% of all pest control and the checking and regulation of disease pathogens, like influenza and the plague that cause global, human disease pandemics. And, the Earth's frogs are in this eco-nomy.
The National Academy of Sciences:
"The extinction of biological diversity [just like the rhino] is a danger to civilization, almost as dangerous as thermonuclear war."
All the big banks, world corporates, WWF and politicans are so afraid to stand up and kowtow to Chinese and Indians for their own benefits. Nothing will ever change and we will end up the same again. Stop complains, whine, and blame on someone else.
There is a very simple solution: track down all the buyers, poachers, officials and their enteprise criminals, then do exactly what they did to these beautiful exotic animals.
Finally Africa got rid of dirty capitalism and find new strategic ally, Chinese communist, with money and friendship. Chinese is the biggest force in Africa continent and virtually influence every day lives from local economy to gun supplier for natural resources.
We are so happy for you and God bless Africa.
That is one neurotic rhino now.
PETA?
Jsus Christ, do we have to kill every last one of them just so that old Chinese men can feel virile? MORONS - RHINO HORN HAS NO MEDICINAL PROPERTIES! IT IS MATTED HAIR! STOP BEING SO EFFING SELFISH!
Couldn't have said it better myself. It is hard to understand these people with NO intelligence.
They don't understand, for every specie that falls extinct, Earth moves closer to extinction. The rhino is biological diversity, a strand in the web of all life as both plant and animal biological diversity create the Earth's ecosystems, mankind's lifelines to his very existence.
I can't understand as well. Even the most stupid of birds does not kill his only nest;
Same is true of shark fin soup. No nutritional value, high in mercury. Stupid idiots pay hundreds of dollars to eat the crap. Amazing.
That CAN'T be good for that Rhino's ankles, shoulders or hips. I don't see why they couldn't have crafted a webbing 'cradle' the support the beast around the midsection with webbing forward and rear of the legs. That has got to be a chitload of torque on this poor li'l fellers ankles, etc!
Can't you take an experts word for something? If the Veterinarians say this is the best way, just go with it.
Oh, so you're a "sheeple?" I suppose you trust that all our government tells us is good for us, too? Learn to think for yourself--for once!
Trusting experts in their respective fields is "sheeple"?
Who the hell are you? Trust me, your mother was wrong, you're NOT always correct.
Right or wrong, thank you deeply Chopswell for caring about rhinos. What a sad edict about our own specie, that we have to life fly a beautiful animal from extinction forever and ever.
I once talked to an animal keeper at a popular, well-known, wildlife sanctuary and park. I asked the keeper, who had even cared for gorillas, what is favorite animal was to take care of. He blinked his eyes swiftly as if to keep from crying and had a far off look in his eyes. A very tormented and sad look in his eyes. He said, "No contest. The rhinos are by far my favorite animal."
Chief Seattle once said, to paraphrase, if all the beasts were gone, man would die from a great loneliness. I can't imagine an Earth without her rhinos anymore than I can imagine looking at the heavens without her star.
Thank you for caring. If everyone were like you, we wouldn't be praying for the Ark to sail, right!
If u know it so well why arent u there giving advice or are u just another monday night quarterback.
"Previously rhinos were either transported by lorry over very difficult tracks, or airlifted in a net," Mr Chopswell. if u read the article you will find out that nets were used before. The way its done now sounds more like common sense. Note that WWF is involved.
Be cautious. What if "WWF experts" are part of the problem?
WWF? I'd like to see a Rhino vs Hulk Hogan!
(just kidding... don't go getting your skivvies in a bunch!)
I would agree with you. That cannot be good for the animal's ankles or hips.
One of the most prophetic quotes I have ever read came from Chief Seattle;" When all the beasts of the earth, the air and the waters are gone, then Man will die of a great loneliness of spirit." The human race is doing all it possibly can to eradicate every other species on this planet. The only species that needs to be controlled, forcibly if necessary, is the human species, but we are too arrogant and/or too stupid to do anything about our out-of-control reproducing. Seven BILLION and counting, and some fools find that to be a "wonderful" accomplishment. Sad.
so what are doing to help the situation? Have you and all of your family members been neutered to contribute or are you just one of those crying liberal nimby's?
No haneyr, sunpigs sounds like he has the intelligence, and passion to fulfill his niche as the Earth's "most intelligent creation." With any luck, your ilk - of the silly stupid clan - can't or didn't reproduce and will cease taking up valuable space on the planet sometime in the very near future.
haneyr - as a matter of fact i have been "neutered". before the fanatic evangelicals became so powerful there was a movement called ZERO POPULATION GROWTH. it made a lot of sense in case you care about our planet. earth can only support so many people and then guess what happens. i hope you're not breeding.
sunpig = well stated
haneyr...
So what are YOU doing..??
We do what we must and can do, while idiots like you overrun this beautiful earth !! If I had my way... I,ll ship all of you to MARS and see how long it will take for you to mess up that desolate planet...!!
sunpigs, you should move to China. Their forced limits on reproduction, including forced abortion and looking the other way at infanticide, sounds right up your alley. I believe you did use the word "force".
Unit Toad...
Money, fame nor ignorance shouldn't propagate the human species...
I think China has the right idea, except maybe have a 2 child limit unless there's any sickness, accidental or health issues. Of coarse, religious nuts like you can never understand that.. nor what's at stake !! This issue must be thought in schools around the world in order to have any effect.. or be mandatory, before its too late !!!
Sun, thank you so much for providing the entire quote; I couldn't remember it but simply paraphrased. We both agree. Chief Seattle, a saint and a visionary.
In the book "Ishmael", the young reporter who wanted to save the Earth, checked out Ishmael's library. Every book in his library was about the Native Americans. Though they were guardians of the continent for 20,000 years, history can attribute no extinctions to their remarkable and earth-preserving lifestyle.
The Unit Toad, Sun is correct, at least according to science. Man is devouring the Earth with his own too much. The problem, the "civilized" man is ignorant as to how Earth functions and cycles to create and sustain all life. No issue and no concern is as grave as man's mushrooming clouds of human hordes, who only know how to kill the living, physical body of the Earth or Earth's ecosystems and to push extinct the strands in the web of all life or biological diversity, just like the rhino.
Even the dumbest of frogs is more intelligent than to drink up the water on his pond. Zero Population Growth Now because man is devouring the Earth.
I am from India and I don't know anyone ever using a rhino horn for anything. People just go to normal doctors and in poor areas people go to chemists and buy medicine on his reco... but i have never heard of anyone using rhino horn for anything... please do some fact checking before making such factual remarks.
megafool...
I guess you never heard of Tigers being slaughter for medicine neither..?? What part of India are you from ??... and welcome to the real world !! Your name befits you.....
The problem is there are no more vigilantes in the world. We need more people who will take matters into their own hands and make the poachers the ones who should be afraid.
"the man who waits for the authorities to help him is the man who needs the coroner, not the police."
Tragically, Josh, so many of our species are ignorant as to how the Earth creates and supports all life, including man's. The rhino is biological diversity, a creator, life giver and savior of his ecosystem. He plays a vital role in keeping an ecosystem alive and life supporting. Man is as dependent on the Earth's ecosystems as are all living.
When man kills ecosystems and biological diversity, science maintains, "man is suicidal". If the rhino falls extinct, Earth will be infinitely less safe for mankind. The more the individual is learned in the ecology of the Earth, the more desperate he becomes. Ignorance is a dark and ugly place.
Their thinking is, something like a fingernail will be a cure-all for the rhino horn is nothing more than the properties of a fingernail.
They should give the people who buy the horns and the poachers the same helecopter ride, without the blindfold or the seditives. Perhaps they could be dropped off, sans weapons in lion country.
I'm happy they do try to do it the best way...saw a story (with pictures) about donkeys today ( In Africa)..those poor animals are treated so bad.
We all have a life to live and shouldn't harm others..life is anything living!
make sure you don't stop on any ants or pick any living flowers.
haneyr - you are obviously from the shallow end of the gene pool. i suppoe you think that poaching is ok. who cares about a bunch of useless endangered animals! any one with a heart and soul.
hey haneyr
how about you go F yourself?
The tragedy about Haneyr is, he is clueless as to why he is breathing. He doesn't realize, the vast amount of medicines that are derived from plants or that animals, like rhinos are in the economics of life itself. The ant is biological diversity if he is a native specie of ant. Then this ant is a strand in the web of all life. All animal and plant biological diversity create the Earth's natural ecosystems, all the reasons mankind exists.
OUCH! Who in the hell did the rigging work on the rhino? Most large animal transport is done with the ropes under the chest and abdomen. Suspending the rhino, which can weigh 8000 pounds, by the ankles is brutal. That is one ton per ankle.
Black rhinos only weigh about half that, but still, I was wondering the same thing. It was only a 10-min ride though so probably no harm done.
Yes, Road Warrior, one poster was vilified for suggesting the same thing. Perhaps, desperation ruled the moment as rhinos are desperately close to extinction. What a tragic and desperate event -- that we have to air lift a strand in the web of all life to save him from the avarice and ignorance of the, supposedly, most intelligent specie on the planet. I feel a choking spasm in my throat...
I cannot imagine our Earth without her rhinos. God's speed...!
Is this counting the ones being farmed or just the ones in the wild no point to the question just want to know
The photo of the Rhino hanging by its feet over the panorama of its habitat is the most pathetic testimony to the scourge of humans on this planet.
Yes, what a meaningful and revealing testimony you posted. Thank you for being a part of the whole, the beauty and majesty of a miracle, a life giving and sustaining Earth. If Earth boasted of more homo sapiens as you, what a more glorious and healthy and safer Earth. Simplistically, Earth needs more people like you.
Yes, this panorama was heart breaking, to anyone with a soul. I share your heartbreak.
Its hard to think of any country or nationality as modern or educated when they believe that matted hair has some mystical powers and are willing to have magnificent animals like this hunted into extinction.
It's hard to think of that Taxol which is highly poisonous is also used for cancer treatment, virus is used for antiviral, bone marrow could be use to safe another human, fish oil has mystical powers and beneficial in preventing heart disease....who knows..maybe they knew something that we did not know.
Fata, your commentary is meaningless, as the rhino, like all natural and wild biological diversity are the creators and saviors of the Earth's ecosystems or all the reasons you are breathing right now.
Rhinos, biological diversity and all ecosystems are in the eco-nomics of all life, from oxygen releasing, the balancing of the gaseous composition of the atmosphere to climate regulation and moderation to the nitrogen cycle and the hydrological system, and the creation and renewal of the soil to...
the purification of the air and water, to providing decomposition, seed dispersal, pollination and the mitigation of floods to 75% of all new medicines to 99% of all pest control and the checking and regulation of disease pathogens in the food chain with man that cause global disease pandemics like influenza and the plague or life itself...
The entirety of man's diseases and emerging viruses are caused by ecosystem death and destruction. When they paved the aids highway through a tropical rainforest in Africa, three new viruses emerged, the Aids virus, the marsburg and the highly deadly virus, ebola, capable of wiping out the majority of mankind.
Conserving all biological diversity, just like this rhino, saves the veritable, physical body of the Earth and protects mankind's existence from extinction. Conversely, native biological diversity, just like this rhino, are in the eco -- nomics of all life, including man's, yours and mine. Now, this is science.
Can you imagine driving down the highway and seeing this? ROTF...LMAO
But, God bless those poor animals and may they reproduce ten fold.
Carry on ((-:
If you catch the poachers hook them up this way, but release their ankle straps and drop them mid-air before reaching journey's end.
She's got a ticket to ri-hide,
She's got a ticket to ri-hi-hide,
She's got a ticket to ride,
But she don't care.
That rhino don't care,
Its all up in the air,
She's got a ticket to ride..AND SHE DON'T CARE!
So I wasn't tripping out when I saw us fly by an upside down Rhino while flying across Africa. What a relief. I hope they never have the unfortunate occasion to drop one of those suckers. Oh what a mess that would be unless it lands on a Republican. Then it would have been a Bulls Eye.
I agree.
I couldn't quite see which rhino it was.......was it rick perry or mitt romney?
MORE politics?
Bill. U are so typical of a liberal. First think u resort is name calling. U need to get a live.
Bill, It was a rhino. Not a bull in a china shop.
Anybody else notice how they travel 1,000 miles in less than 10 minutes?
(1000miles/10 min) * (60min/1hour) = 6000 mi/hr....for a helicopter? commercial planes barely go more than 500 mph
@JoBlo...
The ride is 10 minutes to good quality surface roads. The rest of the trip is by truck.
From the article:
"The helicopter translocations usually take less than ten minutes, and the animals suffer no ill effect," he said, noting that the rhinos are transferred to trucks once road conditions are adequate.
JoBlo read the whole article.
Seems like hanging so much weight from their ankles would dislocate them... Man. But I suppose they know what they're doing. Hope so. It beats being killed for their horns, for sure. Thank God they at least sedated the poor creatures. It seems like some sort of netting beneath the back would have been a good idea to help distribute the weight & reduce strain.???
Sad that greedy poachers can't leave these majestic beasts alone, so they can live out their lives in a normal fashion without such bizarre interventions being necessary.
And, Jen, you are a beautiful creation, your self. If everyone was as insightful, loving and giving as you, what a great world we would live in. And, the Earth would not be falling extinct, just like the rhinos. Thank you for being. Blessed.
It's not "politically correct" but you can stop the poaching. Put a higher bounty on the ears of a poacher than is on the horn of the Rhino.
In Fact i lived in Swaziland for 15 years and there rhino Poaching is big problem. Rangers now are allowed to shoot to kill. Many poachers have met their match.
http://www.times.co.sz/News/32922.html Here is link for youll to read about latest poaching incident in Swaziland. 2nd rhino this year.
I paid $350 for an inversion table so I could hang by my ankles. The rhinos get it for free??
Not fair!!!