E. M.
Rhino poaching has become a serious issue in South Africa for past decade. By statistics of the Save the Rhino Organization, 5,940 rhinos have been killed since 2008. After several years of awareness raising and campaign, safari parks of Australia finally decided to relocate total of 80 rhinos from South Africa. This will be a remarkable and lengthy project. Only six rhinos will be taking flights to Australia in May. First, they will be quarantined for their protection and adapting. While, they will be moved to Johannesburg and Taronga Western Plains Zoo for two months of quarantine time at each. Finally they will be placed in their best weatherly suited region, in Adelaide, South Australia. This Australian Rhino Project aims to create another habitat for this endangered species in the Monarto Zoo’s safari park. Ray Dearborn, the project founder said, about 80-90% of both black and white rhino population is around South Africa. But they are going extinct for personal greed and illegal poaching. Each rhino horn costs over 500,000$ because of a high demand. Specially, the biggest market is in China and Vietnam, where rhino horns are believed to be a cure from cancer to colds. Rhinos will arrive Australia much like refuges. But Australians are ready to welcome them with much care and warmth.