The commemoration is globally well honoured every year, through a series of unique celebrations and activities, which tend to depict the rhino animal and highlight the continued prevalence of individual, institutional and global efforts in conserving the animal. This year’s commemoration celebrates all five species of rhino: Black, White, Greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan Rhinos.
As it is the case with other wild animals, the Rhinoceros have had its ‘well and woe’ times over centuries. They’ve been subjected to seemingly perpetual trying times resulting from poaching, climate change and loss of habitat (due to urbanisation). Statistics indicate that in just a decade, more than 7,137 African rhinos have been lost to poaching. This is very alarming! These poaching incidences are driven by the Asian market appetite for the horn. Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya is home to the last three remaining Northern White rhinos (one male and two females which are past the ability to reproduce therefore likely to go extinct) in the world. The three rhinos stay under 24 hours armed guard.
