138
<10
Diceros bicornis, 598
Ceratotherium simum, 41
Diceros bicornis, <10
Diceros bicornis, 32
<10
315
Ceratotherium simum, 107
Diceros bicornis, 420
Ceratotherium simum 122
20
number unknown
Ceratotherium simum - number unknown
<10
number unknown
24
7095
Diceros bicornis, number unknown in 1996
Ceratotherium simum, <10 in 1996
numbers unknown.
1024
<10
The international World Wildlife Fund has written the WWF Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Africa's black and white rhinoceros. It contains five essential points: 1. Conservation of current areas of distribution. Of all rhinos in Africa, 95% lives in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Congo. The protection and enlargement of these populations is of utmost importance for the future of the species. The plan describes which methods can best be used in any country. 2. Fighting the trade in rhino products. TRAFFIC researches the trade routes and the consumer nations of rhino horn. In Asia it talks to producers of traditional medicines to find alternatives for rhino horn. Also Traffic has an important role to play in information about law enforcement in countries which are part of CITES. 3. Specialists work together. Current information about rhinos in the different countries is essential for protection. The IUCN/SSC African Rhino Specialist group presents this information about management and conservation to governments, land owners and nature managers and they help to propose management plans. 4. Direct aid through the emergency fund. In 1992, the international WWF started the ?Rhinoceros Emergency Fund'. If for a rhino project there is a need for additional funds, then there is some available. Often these are small amounts which are urgently needed. 5. Effective communication Wwf employs people with knowledge of rhino protection and management. This knowledge must be available to the right people at the right time. The future of the rhino partly depends on fast electronic communication. There now is a special Rhino Programme Officer who coordinates these activities.
The trade routes of rhino horns to Yemen are many thousands of years old. The use of the horn for dagger handles is equally old. Formerly the right to carry a jambiya was restricted to men of high status, but now everybody is allowed. There is also more money than formerly. Due to rising oil prices in the 1970's and increased employment, many men can now afford the jambiya. About 80% of the handles in Sanaa (about 100.000 a year) are made from the horn of waterbuffalo. In 1982 the import of rhino horn is forbidden. In 1996 there were still handles made from rhino horn. A new rhino jambiya then cost about 600 guilders. Old iambiyas can cost five times as much. Traffic does not expect that more rhino horn handles will be made in the coming years than now, because there is an economic crisis. The population is growing and there is shortage of water and electricity. Some men no longer buy rhino horn due to documentaries made by WWF shown on Yemen television. In June 1997 Yemen joined CITES.
There are two destinations for rhino products: the Middle East and Eastern asia. The horn is worth many thousands of dollars. Despite the price, there is a great demand. In Yemen, Oman and the United Arab Emirates the people use a dagger with a handle made of rhino horn as status symbol. In China and surrounding areas the powder of rhino horn is used in traditional medicine.
