SOS Rhino October Newsletter - in honor of Annelisa Kilbourne (2003 Laureate)

SOS Rhino Review
October 2006
Welcome to the SOS Rhino Review, a newsletter about rhinos from SOS Rhino. You’ll find links to interesting articles here as well as updates on our efforts to save rhinos all over the world. Let us know if you’d rather not receive this newsletter.

And now, let's go to the rhino news.

1. Feature Stories
2. World Rhino News
3. Donor Appreciation
4. Find It On Our Web Site
5. Frequently Asked Questions
6. How You Can Help
7. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
8. About Us
Full Stories Are Available Via Web Links

1. Feature Stories

Sumatran Rhino In The Wild Captured On Video

Environmentalists in Sabah are buzzing with excitement. Years of patience was finally rewarded when they got a see a Sumatran rhino in its natural habitat on video. The video clip of the male Sumatran rhino was captured last week by a local ranger hired by Save Our Sumatran Rhino (SOS Rhino), a non-government organisation (NGO), during a daytime routine patrol in a forest reserve in the state (area details withheld to prevent poaching).
http://www.sosrhino.org/news/rhinonews090606.php

My Volunteer Experience
By: Emily Aron
On only my second survey day in the forest Amit (our team leader) found rhino tracks. We were walking from our camping site all keeping a close eye on the ground. We all ran over to Amit, and I, along with all the boys, was very excited. James told me that he had been working for SOS Rhino for 4 months and these were the first tracks he had seen, I felt incredibly lucky that I was seeing tracks from a wild Sumatran Rhino after I had been in the forest for such a short time.
http://www.sosrhino.org/news/volunteer_0506.php


2. World Rhino News

Indonesia finds signs of rare Javan rhino breeding
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Experts in Indonesia say they have found evidence suggesting that four Javan rhino calves have been born in recent weeks, raising hopes over the prospects for a species on the brink of extinction.
http://www.sosrhino.org/news/rhinonews090106.php

Black rhino numbers finally rising in Kenya
Massive conservation efforts are finally giving results in Kenya as black rhino numbers are on the rise after years of decline from poaching and habitat loss. According to officials, the country's black rhino population stood at 539 animals at the end of 2005, compared to 428 animals in 2003.
http://www.sosrhino.org/news/rhinonews090406.php


3. Donor Appreciation

SOS RHINO wishes to acknowledge the following individuals, organizations, and foundations for their generous support of our programs. Their support comes in many forms: donation of their expertise and time, funds for specific programs and equipment, and donation of products. THANK YOU!


Click HERE to view the list of our donors!


4. Find It On Our Web Site

SOS Rhino and Tabin Wildlife Reserve announce the Rhino Survey Expedition in Borneo

The Rhino Survey Expedition in Borneo is a 7 Day, 6 Night program that combines a comfortable stay at the charming Tabin Wildlife Resort with a survey program where participants will join SOS Rhino Borneo’s Rhino Protection and Survey staff deep in the jungles of Tabin Wildlife Reserve, in search for signs of the elusive Sumatran rhino in its natural habitat.
http://sosrhino.org/programs/sumatran_visit.php


5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. True or False: Habitat loss is one of the most serious threats to rhinoceros populations.

2. Do rhinos really stomp out fires?

3. When and where was the Javan rhino "rediscovered"?


6 . How You Can Help
http://sosrhino.org/programs/challenge_index.php
Adopt a rhino, doc or keeper. Buy a t-shirt, hat, or video
There are only 300 Sumatran rhinos left on Earth. Without direct help from generous humans, they may never be seen again. We urge you to give what you can in the form of a donation – protect a rhino or adopt a rhino, doc, researcher, keeper, or purchase one of SOS Rhino’s products: a T-shirt, hat, or video. Visit today, and give from your heart.
http://sosrhino.org/donate/index.php> <http://sosrhino.org/donate/index.php

Contribute to the “SOS Rhino Annelisa Memorial Fund”
SOS Rhino has established memorial fund in Dr. Annelisa Kilbourn’s name to help continue her work dedicated to the survival of the Sumatran rhino in Malaysia. Contributions can be made by clicking the button below or mailed directly to SOS Rhino (checks should be made out to “SOS RHINO”)680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611. attn: Annelisa Fund. 312.335.0868, fax 312.335.0076. Inquires emailed to info@sosrhino.org

http://sosrhino.org/programs/annelisa.php#donate
Volunteer
SOS RHINO is looking for volunteers interested in helping us in our efforts to save the Sumatran rhinoceros. Our Borneo Team is studying the demographics of the remaining animals in Tabin Wildlife Reserve to determine when patrol units, habitat protection, or translocation may play a role in the rhinos' survival. Read more:


7. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

1. TRUE: Rhinos' natural habitat is taken away by the growing human population. Land is converted for use in agriculture or roads and forests are still logged (legally and illegally) for hardwood.

2. The legend seems to have been common in Malaysia and Burma. This type of rhinoceros even had a special name in Malay, 'badak api', where badak means rhinoceros and api means fire. The animal would come when a fire is lit in the forest and stamp it out. If there is or can be any truth in the legend, it would be hard to decide. The rhinoceros in South East Asia has become very rare and is hardly ever met nowadays, as it keeps to the deep forest and high mountains. There has been no sighting of this phenomenon in recent history.

3. The best known population of Javan rhinos can be found in Ujung Kulon National Park in Western Java. A second remaining pocket of Javan rhinos was discovered in Vietnam in 1988, in an area known as Cat Loc Forest Reserve.


8. About Us

SOS Rhino is a non-profit, international foundation dedicated to preserving the five rhinoceros species in their natural habitats. Our conservation programs combine research, education, marketing and advocacy, all working collectively to achieve sustainable results.

Through diverse stakeholder support, SOS Rhino develops and funds rhino conservation and awareness programs appropriate to individual countries, providing these countries with the information and tools to build lasting rhino conservation. It is our goal to secure a place for this ancient animal in tomorrow’s world.

http://www.sosrhino.org/about/index.php