There are five species of rhinoceros, three of which are critically endangered, according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) “Red List”. BIOPARC Valencia contributes to their preservation by participating in the European Conservation Programme (EEP) for the southern white rhinoceros and through the BIOPARC Foundation in the protection of these emblematic animals in their habitats.

The BIOPARC Foundation, together with its parks in Fuengirola, Valencia and BIOPARC Acuario de Gijón, join in the celebration of World Rhino Day on September 22, con el objetivo de make the critical situation visible of these majestic and endangered animals, the second largest terrestrial species on the planet, second only to elephants.

World Rhino Day.

Since centuries, Rhinos have been hunted by poachers, both as a trophy and to obtain its horns, due to the false belief that they have medicinal propertiesHowever, the reality is that their horns are composed mainly of keratin, the same material that forms hair and nails. Rhinoceroses use their horns for various functions, such as defending their territory, caring for and protecting their young, or searching for water by digging in the ground.

Despite some recent progress, Last year alone, 499 rhinos were killed in South AfricaThe horns of these animals are highly coveted, reaching up to 92.000 euros per kilo on the black market.

Rhino Dog Squad Project, led by the Save The Rhino organization, for the protection of rhinos.

In the fight against poaching, innovative techniques such as those used in the Rhino Dog Squad Project, led by the Save The Rhino organization, with which the BIOPARC Foundation collaboratesThis project focuses on the specialized training of dogs that are capable of detecting hunters, as well as their tools and the trail they leave in protected areas.

Recently (within the past year) Scientists are implementing a new method, the injection of small doses of radioactive material into rhino horns. This will enable their detection at international borders, taking advantage of the global network of radiation monitors originally designed to prevent nuclear terrorism, which can now also be used to combat illegal horn trafficking.

5 species of rhinos, 3 of them critically endangered.

Of the five species of rhinoceros, two inhabit the African continent: the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros.The latter has two subspecies: the northern white rhinoceros, of which only two females remain alive and is considered to be on the verge of extinction; and the southern white rhinoceros, with a population of approximately 10.000 individuals, although it shows a worrying downward trend, according to the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

At BIOPARC Valencia you can see a controlled breeding group of southern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum simum), composed of the male Martin and three females: Ami, Nombula and Kwanza. This pack It is part of the international preservation program (EEP), with the aim of ensuring the survival of the species.