Poaching has been threatening the survival of the African black rhino for long. But thanks to conservation efforts, the population of this endangered animal is slowly increasing, according to a recent update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Between 2012 and 2018, the number of black rhinos in Africa has increased moderately, at annual rate of 2.5%, The population in the wild has grown from approximately 4,845 to 5,630. As IUCN's update suggests, the population models predict the number will continue to rise slowly over the next five years.
The white rhino, Africa's another rhino species that exists in greater numbers, has been on the IUCN Red List categorized as Near Threatened. Compared to the black rhino, the white rhino is at higher risk of being poached as it has larger horns and prefers more open habitats, which makes it easier to spot.
The threat to the two species mainly comes from poaching for the illegal international rhino horn trade. Fortunately, in recent years, a number of groups including range states, private landowners, and communities have been making efforts to protect them, and the measures are working. In 2015, there were at least 1,349 rhinos poached—an average of 3.7 rhinos hunted per day. Since then, the poaching numbers have decreased every year. In 2018, there were at least 892 rhinos poached, meaning approximately 2.4 African rhinos poached per day, or one every 10 hours. The data for 2019 looks promising as the poaching levels appear to have further gone down.
Although the levels of rhino poaching have been declining slightly in recent years due to conservation efforts, the costs of keeping rhinos safe have greatly gone up and sale prices for live rhinos have decreased considerably over the last 10 years, making private landowners and communities less motivated to protect rhinos. This trend could delay the continued progress of expanding the species range and numbers.
12. Which of the following can best describe the number of the African rhinos now?
A.Slightly declining. | B.Slowly expanding. |
C.Greatly increasing. | D.Considerably decreasing. |
13. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?
A.The better situation for the African white rhinos. |
B.The reason for protecting the African white rhinos. |
C.The process of the white rhino being on the IUCU Red List. |
D.The reason why the African white rhino is more likely to be poached. |
14. In which year did the African rhinos suffer the most from poaching?
A.In 2015. | B.In 2016. | C.In 2018. | D.In 2019. |
15. What can be the author's attitude to the future range and numbers of rhinos?
A.Favorable. | B.Confident. | C.Concerned. | D.Uninterested. |