Endangered species

One of the most endangered species on the planet is Diceros bicornis, commonly known as the Black Rhinoceros.Distributed throughout Africa, south of the Sahara, the "current range of black rhinoceroses is bounded by Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa but their distribution within those limits is fragmented." The threat to the Rhino population is largely due to a demand for the species' horns, "both for use in Chinese traditional medicine and for traditional dagger handles in Yemen." The demand for these horns increased significantly in the 1970s as the "oil-rich Gulf States" experienced increased income. "It is estimated that between 1970 and 1992, around 96 percent of the black rhinoceros population was lost." Three subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros - the eastern, southwestern and southern central subspecies - are listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List. The fourth subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros - the western subspecies - is listed as Probably Extinct. The total population of Black Rhinoceros today is approximately 3,725 individuals.Read more on the following link: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/542