President of Gabon Presents Zero Tolerance for illegal Poaching

Today, June 27, 2012,  the president of Gabon, Ali Bongo, showed his support for attempts to halt illegal trade in rhino and elephant horn. In Libreville, Gabon, the president lit a pyre that burned more than 1,200 ivory  horns-plus assorted ivory carvings-publicly. This symbolizes Gabon's attempts to put an end to poaching. That's a plus for the rhinos. Ivory is often used for ceremonial knife handles, and also for supposed medicinal "remedies", which practically have as much use in the medical world as finger and toe nails from humans (both rhino horn and finger/toenails are made from keratin.) This is a great success in displaying animal-lovers' protest against the inhumane and  unnecessary practice of slaughtering rhinos illegaly for their horn. In fact, a conservation program for rhinos is currently being apllied, in which conservationists cut a few inches off of the top of a rhino's horn. This helps feed the demand for ivory and leave the animal unharmed, but the positive effects of this program are thought to be temporary. It's a desperate, yet helpful, way to slow down the effects of poaching. We may not be able to burn illegaly obtained rhino horn in our front yards, but it's up to the public people's protest to save the rhinos.

-PJ

Source:www.WorldWildlife.com (International)

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