By Meghan Frank
Rock Center
We first began looking into a story on rhino poaching after we read about a string of museum thefts across Europe. Thieves were breaking into natural history museums, not to steal priceless Egyptian antiquities but to rip the horns off of century old stuffed rhinos. Why was this happening? The value of rhino horn had skyrocketed to record levels, sometimes worth more than gold on the black market, so suddenly criminal syndicates were trying to get a hold of rhino horn any way they could. We thought if this is happening to dead rhinos in museums, what is happening to live rhinos in the wild. As we began to research the story we were stunned to discover how desperate the plight of the rhino has become worldwide, and in South Africa in particular.
NBC News
Out of five species of rhinoceros, 3 are considered critically endangered. One of the last places that rhinos still exist in large numbers is South Africa, a country with an incredible record of protecting this species. But the price of rhino horn has climbed so high, that the rhinos in South Africa are suddenly threatened like never before. For decades a dozen or so rhinos were poached a year, but that number has been skyrocketing since 2008. Last year almost 450 rhinos were brutally slaughtered in South Africa for their horns. And already this year South Africa is losing a rhino a day.
We knew we needed to travel to South Africa to witness what was happening in that country. When we got there we met veterinarian Will Fowlds, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. A passionate vet and owner of a wildlife reserve, Will has been deeply affected by the poaching crisis. He’s lost several rhinos to poaching, including one named Geza that he had to treat after its horn was brutally cut off. His loss has become a call to action. He’s now doing whatever it takes to save the rhinos in his region.
Harry Smith sat down to interview Will Fowlds at his friend Graeme Rushmere’s game reserve, the site where Will’s rhino Geza was attacked. But we also wanted to show Will working as a vet, toiling to protect these animals. He invited us to come along as he tagged and micro-chipped a rhino at a nearby game reserve called Kwandwe. It was the perfect opportunity to see Will in his element and get an insight into the lengths that game reserve owners are going to protect their rhinos.
In our story you see Will Fowlds tagging a rhino at the top of part two. What hopefully looked seamless in the piece, took an army of people and cameras working together to get that footage. Here’s a peek behind the scenes of how we got some of the shots that you watched on the air... like when Will expertly shoots a dart at a rhino running full speed on the ground, all the while dangling out the door of the helicopter, all seen from his perspective.
If you want to learn more about rhino poaching in South Africa and around the globe please check out the links below:
- Stop Rhino Poaching
- Forever Wild
- World Wildlife Fund
- Save the Rhino
- Saving Rhinos
- Rhino Revolution
- International Rhino Foundation
- Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust
- The Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory
Click here to watch Harry Smith's full report, 'Last Stand.' The report aired Feb. 22 on Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Leave a Comment:
Kudos to NBC for telling the truth -- the ugly, sad truth -- about animal cruelty behind the poaching of African rhinos.
I am grateful producers did not shy away from the graphic images; it was graphic, real images of factory farmed animals suffering that broke my heart and made me a vegan. If people see more of these type of images accurately depicting the horrors for animals at every level -- hunting, food consumption, medical testing, clothing, entertainment exploitation and so much more -- they would be forced to make an ethical decision, rather than turning blind eyes. So fed up with otherwise well-meaning people turning away from the truth and the images because they can't stand to see it, then they go and continue being the same-old consumers of all things animals.
THANK YOU NBC! Thank you. And such a great job, and so much time dedicated to doin a comprehensive story.
Just one thing: does an animal species have to be endangered to get this kind of attention? What about the millions of deer slaughtered across America that only serve the special interest hunters, and the divisions of wild"death" everywhere, who even admit to profiting off "comensatory rebound effect," or "maximum yield" of deer populations. All scientists and national widlife biologists agree: killing deer or any other animals does not effectively manage their populations, so why isn't this, too, making national primetime news?
NBC: please consider doing a story on the deer!
lucymckernan, after I looked you up to figure out how qualified your background is on a matter like deer problems; I recommend attending a university where you can learn the proven scientific approach to management of wildlife populations. Sounds to me that you just sit at home and wikipedia all your info which we all know how incredibly accurate that can be. I feel sorry for your local DNR officers to have to deal with you at any of your local meetings to figure out the deer issues in your area. I have a BS in Wildlife and fisheries, do not agree with you on any of your thoughts, and recommend keeping your mouth shut about matters like this until your get a qualified background.
Thank you so much for saying EXACTLY what I was thinking. This story broke my heart with the cruelty depicted, but I also agree that I am not clear on why people don't think it is just as cruel to kill animals for food the way that we do or to hunt FOR PLEASURE! How does that make any logical humane sense!
How GREAT to see rhinos on mainstream media! They desperately need it! Great work NBC! Me and the rhinos are thanking you!!!! <3 <3 <3
The cruelty was so hard to see...I do not understand this.....lack of education, money, greed...all working together.
Deer are awesome animals to watch and are a joy to have as my neighbors. They are however overpopulated and cause many car accidents and crop damage when over populated....the DNR sets a limit on tags sold....and I personally do not know any hunter who hunter for sport...it is for meat to get families through the winter and the hides...nothing is wasted. Some do not eat meat...I do...and I would rather have my dinner come from an animal that was free-range and lived a free life than cattle in a slaughterhouse....these are 2 different subjects. I respect your opinion, please respect mine.
I respect your opinion b/c I used to hold the same one; now, I know more about what's really going on with the violation of the Public Trust, the animals, and the public perception about deer overpopulation. The simplest way I can say it is like this: it's a paradox, you see, in that deer overpopulation results from killing. If you understand basic wildlife biology + "maximum yiield" per divisions of wild"death combined with their refusal to allow birth control +:Pittmas-Robertson Act + disdain for any species that dare try to outnumber us, then you understand that equals more deer. Deer are not living healthy, happy wild lives before being killed; they are very stressed and then killed, often, slowly.
Where can I get the bracelet that was shown at the end of the segment?
I respect your opinion b/c I used to hold the same one; now, I know more about what's really going on with the violation of the Public Trust, the animals, and the public perception about deer overpopulation. The simplest way I can say it is like this: it's a paradox, you see, in that deer overpopulation results from killing. If you understand basic wildlife biology + "maximum yiield" per divisions of wild"death combined with their refusal to allow birth control +:Pittmas-Robertson Act + disdain for any species that dare try to outnumber us, then you understand that equals more deer. Deer are not living healthy, happy wild lives before being killed; they are very stressed and then killed, often, slowly.
Where can I get the bracelet that was shown at the end of the segment?
The abuse was very difficult to watch, but really did bring it home how these poachers just want the horns and care nothing for anything else. To leave an animal to suffer like that is just barbaric. Really opened my eyes to the abuse.
If I were a wealthy Chinese or Vietnamese person, the kind who can afford rhino horn, I'd like to think I would not be dumb enough to fall for patent medicine. Rather, I'd book a flight to South Africa and take advantage of its medical care for whatever ailment that needs attention. Cheaper and more effective....Another thought, Larry McMurtry, the American West fiction writer, wrote a novel called "Rhino Ranch" about a wealthy socialite who starts a Texas ranch to raise black rhinos to save them from extinction in the African wild. Why not a Rhino Ranch for these rhinos in this country?
We tried that in this country, it's called Yosemite, and the wolves and bison are slaughtered when they roam outside park boundaries; and the gov't doesn't do enough to protect them b/c of the conflict of interest with ranchers. Big business, ESPECIALLY anything that has to do with agribusiness or livestock, always takes precedence in this country.
correction: Yellowstone, not Yosemite.
Where can I get the bracelet they showed at the end of the segment?
This was such a great truth to be told. Not to many people know about what is happening to the rhino because they aren't cuddly. They are beautiful creatures that need our help. Thank you for making what is happening known.
I would love to get one of the bracelets. How do I do that?
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! for bringing this to the attention of the masses Please keep it up..this will not go away until there is a final solution to stop it and we are not there yet. Also elephants being poached for ivory horns not cool...this will need your help.
Thanks for bringing this story to light. My heart was not touched by these magnificent creatures until I had the opportunity to observe them up close in a couple of South Africa's preserves last year. While I observed their interaction in small family groups or on individual roamings, the rangers shared the prevalence of poaching due to the value placed on the horns for inaccurate medicinal qualities. In a country where about 25% of the population is unemployed and lives on less than USA $1.25 a day (wikipedia), the revenue for poaching is often seen as worth the risks. Your segment covered some methods South Africans are using to try to protect this species, but didn't seem to address what global organizations, governments and individuals are doing or could do to educate the current consumers to reduce the demand.
Rather than creating a rhino horn farm for consumption for unproven medical needs, why not enlist funds to provide worldwide education that rhino horn is not an effective medical treatment for cancer, sexual enhancement, fever, and other maladies that are claimed to be cured by rhino horn. Education often takes a very long time to permeate the masses but in the long run it will do more for the rhino than selling farm grown horns to people who in a cure that will not work.
Thank you soooo much for this very informative and touching segment! I teach fourth grade and we always do a unit on endangered species. This updated information will be very useful. I would also like to know how to purchase the bracelets.
They need to hire Samuel Wasser, Ph.D. from the University of Washington to help identify the animals and where they are from. He has helped with elephants and their tusks and made a huge difference. Please contact him. His techniques and progress are much better than shooting the rhinos with tranquilizers. Dehorning rhinos is NOT the answer. It also makes them extremely vulnerable.
This is so sad I can’t stop crying. I can’t believe this so much cruelty I’m so mad. I fell that my hands are tied up it’s so hard to swallow so much pain. Please I want to know who I can help. I would like to know how to purchase the bracelet.
This is so sad I can’t stop crying. I can’t believe this so much cruelty I’m so mad. I fell that my hands are tied up it’s so hard to swallow so much pain. Please I want to know who I can help. I would like to know how to purchase the bracelet.
Finally a major network has told the truth about this horrible disaster happening to our Rhinos. Sign the petitions, donate to the funds, it will help.
I worry about extinction of all of our wild animals everyday. I was so happy to know that people are taking drastic measures to protect the rhinos. I was glad to see that they had formed a cadre of protectors for the rhinos. Wildlife should have the same right as humans to enjoy life on this earth. I read that 3200 elephants were killed last year for their tusks--what a waste!!! It made me sick. Thanks for your report although it was tough to watch.
Thankyou, for the great story on the Rhinos. Also would like to know were to buy bracelet? save the Rhinos.
Bracelets can be found here.
Great Story for awareness. Glad they could show the world the graphic images of brutality to this legendary species. Shark finning is another topic I wish would be covered as well in the future.
stoprhinopoaching.com for the bracelets
Thank you NBC for calling attention to this escalating problem. For information on the other rhinos as well as some of the work going on in southern Africa, you may want to go to the International Rhino Foundation www.rhinos-irf.org.
Dear NBC, You have the power to help save all the endangered animals throughout the world. There are millions of people watching your show on a weekly basis. This world definetly has a lot of problems and it seems that man has created every one of them. If you will feature an endangered animal every week on your show you would be doing a great service to these beautiful beings that have walked this earth long before the destructive forces of the human appeared. Once you start doing this you will win your time slot. thank you
Congratulations on your fine coverage of the rhinos in S. Africa. It was hard to watch, harder still to comprehend the insane abuse of these beautiful animals. But you've done a great service here, which I greatly appreciate.
Keep up the good work.
Most Americans are totally unaware that the Chinese have taken over Africa. With their road building they make literal inroads to wildlife areas and poach whatever they can, horn and ivory the most precious. Workers will kill giraffe for marrow soup, but it is the Chinese and Arab criminal syndicates that are the most deadly. They WANT EXTINCTION - it makes horn and ivory all the more valuable. The Western rhino just went extinct due to this holocaust.
There is a lot more that needs to be reported on - starting with the fallacy that horn is medicine and coverage of the Chinese government sanctioned Chinese Carvers Association. IF NBC is serious about helping these animals, please put up a highway billboard in Wash. DC saying, "China - Don't Poach, Don't Carve, Don't Sell" so both the Chinese embassy and lawmakers can see it. The only thing that brings the Chinese to heed is to shame them, even the Feds have said that. Here is what China is carving - ivory cell phone covers, and the billion Chinese or so want them!