Rhino died of bullet-wound infection: WWF

January 22, 2011 about Uncategorized

LookAtVietnam - A Javan rhinoceros that was found dead in the Cat Tien National Park last April may have died of infection after being shot in its leg, the World Wildlife Fund said Thursday.

Park rangers found the endangered animal’s carcass in an almost completely decomposed state and without its horn.

It may have been shot by a poacher for its horn and died two months later from the infection, the WWF said in a report.

The animal’s sex is not known but its teeth and bones indicate it have been 15-20 years old, the report said.

Sara Brook, a WWF official based in Vietnam, said the shooting of the rhino is a warning for Vietnam about its lax management of wildlife resources.

The WWF has asked local police to find the poachers who may be in possession of the horn of what was possibly Vietnam’s last rhino.

The results of a study to identify the number of Javan rhinos left will be released soon, according to the WWF. “It will show if the death of this rhino marks the extinction of Javan rhinos,” Brook said.

Rhino horns are highly valued in the illegal wildlife trade while the animal’s skin and feces are used for medicinal purposes.

Vietnam’s Javan or lesser one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) population was one of only two left on the planet. Official estimates say there are fewer than 60 left in the world.

The major population, of 40-60, is found in Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia. There are none in captivity anywhere.

Source: SGTT/Tuoi Tre

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.