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Last Rhino Standing...

If there was ever any question about why saving the Rhinos was so important, the story out on major news channels recently, should eliminate all doubt.

There is only one... count that... just one male northern white rhino left in the entire world. In fact there are only 5 of the species left in total, two females in zoos in the US and Czech Republic and 2 other females who live with Sudan, the single bull at a conservancy in Kenya.

The situation is so dire, that Sudan, the bull, and his two female comoanions are under 24 hour armed guard and wear monitors to prevent poachers from getting to them. Demand for rhino horn, which is believed to have medicinal properties, continues to grow, and is estimated by some experts to be worth more than drugs.

In addition to protecting him for as long as needed, frantic efforts are underway to help the two females breed. With age and urgency be in a factor, alternative options like in vitro fertilization and surrogacy with a different white rhino species are also being concerned.

A few people asked me after my post two weeks ago, why I was focused on rhino poaching and conservation. While I am passionate about the conservation of every species big or small, this news more than ever, makes the emphasis on the rhino necessary. If we all don't wake up and collectively care enough to take action soon, this very visible species will be extinct in the next few decades. If we don't start taking a stand now,  what happens to all the other not so prominent or well known animal species then?

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