World Rhino Day - 22 September 2024

Tags: Important Days

World Rhino Day is celebrated every year on 22 September.

An Overview of the News

• It is a global initiative whose primary goal is to raise awareness of the significant challenges facing the rhinoceros species around the world.

• The day aims to raise awareness about rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae) and the critical need for their conservation.

Species Awareness: The observance focuses on all five species of rhinos:

• Black rhino (Africa)

• White rhino (Africa)

• Greater one-horned rhino (Asia)

• Sumatran rhino (Asia)

• Javan rhino (Asia)

History of World Rhino Day

• The rhinoceros crisis began in Africa in the 1990s due to the large-scale poaching of rhinoceros horns.

• By 2010, the crisis became widespread, with only 30,000 rhinos left globally.

• In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund - South Africa launched World Rhino Day to address the growing threat of rhinos.

• Lisa Jane Campbell's Vision (2011): Lisa Jane Campbell's efforts to protect all five rhinoceros species led to the establishment of World Rhino Day.

• The purpose of dedicating a day to the rhinoceros is to promote awareness about the conservation of its five distinct species.