10-Jul-09 8:00 AM CST

Calls for Action Over Illegal Rhino Killing

Rhinos are in a "desperate situation" with poaching reaching its worst levels in many years, conservationists have warned.

Demand for their horns is still high in countries such as China and Vietnam.

Last year, at least 162 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa and Zimbabwe alone - and the animals are now being illegally killed at a rate of more than 12 per month in the two countries.

WWF, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and their wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic said last year's levels "probably represent the highest level of illegal rhinoceros killing in at least 15 years".

The taking of Asian rhinos is also a problem and their population is down to around 2,400 endangered animals.

Heather Sohl, WWF species policy officer, said: "Rhinos are in a desperate situation. This is the worst rhino poaching we have seen in many years and it is critical for governments to stand up and take action to stop this deadly threat to rhinos worldwide.

"It is time to crack down on organised criminal elements responsible for this trade, and to vastly increase assistance to range countries in their enforcement efforts."

Steven Broad, executive director of Traffic, said: "Increased demand for rhino horn, alongside a lack of law enforcement, a low level of prosecutions for poachers who are actually arrested, and increasingly daring attempts by poachers and thieves to obtain the horn is proving to be too much for rhinos and some populations are seriously declining."

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