Support NeoGAF

[commedieu]

While this is sad,

I can't help but feel the medical community can start to clone White Rhino's? It should be doable when its not "due to environment" or natrual evolution, but "man fucking up the world" should qualify to breed these guys back. Fucked up.

China should foot the bill.

But no... no, then they'd only grow the Horns inside of vats of liquid..

 

[Icefire1424]

Tragic.

Someone explain to me how can you save a species with only having one male specimen? Ok they have a baby rhino, maybe two baby rhinos and then... what? What if the two babies are two males?

Exactly how you would think, sadly. Assuming a male and female rhino actually succeed in reproducing, and they give birth to both a male and a female, the siblings would have to mate to ensure the species persists, or one of the parents would have to reproduce with the offspring of the opposite sex, if they're still able. At this point, inbreeding is the only "natural" option.

Alternatively, I'm curious if artificial insemination is an option. If continuation of the species is the goal, it would only make sense to fertilize all remaining females with the sperm of the male in an attempt at pregnancy.

 

[HazySaiyan]

What boggles my mind is what sort of scumfuck, knowing full well this is the last male left, still wants to try and kill the poor thing? How can you be so greedy and so uncaring that you're not bothered about causing an amazing and beautiful creature to go extinct? How can you be that heartless?

 

[Cragvis]

RIP rhino buddy. Your species wont be forgotten :`(

The only rhino id kill is in far cry 4 and even then I feel bad. I have no idea how anyone could kill one and then mutilate it so they can get some fat rich asshole a hard on.

I hate poachers!!

 

[Tom Nook]

Sad.

Pretty cool visual; the Rhino being protected by men with machine guns.

 

[Mac the KNife]

Our daily reminder that humanity is is indeed the worst.

 

[ReAxion]

At least one of the females in captivity is infertile. :\

 

[Allforce]

I wonder if there's a poaching forum out there where all the members are just salivating at the thought of bagging the last male white rhino on Earth. The topic just dominates the discussion all day on how much money this animal is worth and who is going to end up getting it and how.

 

[Snaku]

Only one male? The species is functionally extinct then, surely.

What a fucking disgrace.

Yup, they're done. Disgusting.

 

[Mr Git]

Awful. Between Chinese 'medicine' and neanderthals with guns going on shooting holidays there's not much hope for many species, really. :|

 

[theepicoftyler]

RE: In vitro/artificial insemination, it looks as if it's been tried as a last ditch effort, and hasn't been successful.

http://www.takepart.com/article/201...ization-attempts-last-5-northern-white-rhinos

The plan? Harvest the remaining eggs from the females, put them in a freezer that’s already storing northern white rhino sperm, and wait for technology to advance. The hope is that scientists will be able to artificially inseminate a female rhino with a fertilized egg.

So far, attempts at artificially inseminating northern white rhinos have failed. In the short term, the most likely outcome is the extinction of the species.

“The battle is to work out what is feasible scientifically in the short time still available to us,” Richard Vigne, chief executive of Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, told AFP.

If the remaining females die, conservationists and scientists think using a surrogate southern white rhino female to carry a “test tube”–fertilized northern white rhino egg may be the species’ best bet.

 

[Ultimadrago]

Hang in there, big guy ;__;

 

[commedieu]

What boggles my mind is what sort of scumfuck, knowing full well this is the last male left, still wants to try and kill the poor thing? How can you be so greedy and so uncaring that you're not bothered about causing an amazing and beautiful creature to go extinct? How can you be that heartless?

Well, probably because you need to feed a family, or yourself, and the market is willing to pay you for it.

I mean, these..are..keychains... with living things inside.

You know, for kids..

Its just a mindset of not acknowledging the life of animals. The demand is there, and people need to live, so they'll always gladly do something for money. I blame the gross/growing demand. As they'll always get someone to do something for a buck.

 

[Alx]

What boggles my mind is what sort of scumfuck, knowing full well this is the last male left, still wants to try and kill the poor thing? How can you be so greedy and so uncaring that you're not bothered about causing an amazing and beautiful creature to go extinct? How can you be that heartless?

Even without the perspective of profit, that can make people do even worse things, I'm sure there are people who would be proud to claim they killed the last rhino on earth. Especially since "they're already fucked anyway".

 

[Carl2291]

I think Ricky Gervais put it best.

"If you think rhino horn is a medicine you are a fuckwit.
If you are willing to buy it knowing how it is obtained you are a cunt."

 

[Chezzymann]

the fewer rhinos there are, the most expensive and rare ivory gets. they know exactly what they're doing: pushing up the price of their product.

Its only expensive because there's high demand for stupid things like the poster you quoted said. If they didn't care about idiotic things like carving sculptures out of tusks then the poachers wouldn't get any money.

 

[BladeoftheImmortal]

Exactly how you would think, sadly. Assuming a male and female rhino actually succeed in reproducing, and they give birth to both a male and a female, the siblings would have to mate to ensure the species persists, or one of the parents would have to reproduce with the offspring of the opposite sex, if they're still able. At this point, inbreeding is the only "natural" option.

Alternatively, I'm curious if artificial insemination is an option. If continuation of the species is the goal, it would only make sense to fertilize all remaining females with the sperm of the male in an attempt at pregnancy.

Not all species result in deformity from inbreeding. So maybe the rhino is like that, I actually don't know...

 

[CyclopsRock]

I wonder if they could mate this chap with a similar-but-slightly-different breed of Rhino, then if one of those kiddies is a male, breed that with another of the females that's currently around? Not pure, exactly, but not a bad alternative to complete extinction if it's possible.

 

[Scarecrow]

I am in full support of cutting off all poachers' peni. That includes those who cut off shark fins.

 

[HazySaiyan]

Well, probably because you need to feed a family, or yourself, and the market is willing to pay you for it.

I mean, these..are..keychains... with living things inside.

You know, for kids..

Its just a mindset of not acknowledging the life of animals. The demand is there, and people need to live, so they'll always gladly do something for money. I blame the gross/growing demand. As they'll always get someone to do something for a buck.

I never really thought of it that way. God this whole situation is depressing...

What is the solution to curb demand then? Simply educating people?

 

[Xun]

Incredibly upsetting.

It's an absolute disgrace.

 

[RockTurtle]

This is depressing

Spoiler

at least he will have his harem end

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

Just sad.

 

[RangerX]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

The rarer something is, the more they want it.

 

[Escape Goat]

I was reminded of this story from a couple years ago. It wasn't aimed at northern white rhino specifically, but you have to wonder what kind of an impact 80 million has on these situations. Is it enough money to affect change? Is it government corruption that limits effectiveness? To a sane and logical person the solution seems pretty clear, but every year more and more disturbing reports come out of Africa.

Conservation groups announced today (Sept. 26, 2013) a three-year $80 million Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action that will bring together NGOs, governments, and concerned citizens to stop the slaughter of Africa’s elephants, which are being decimated due to poaching for ivory. The Commitment Makers and their partners commit to funding and facilitating partnerships to advance a new three-pronged strategy that will catalyze a global movement to coordinate and leverage influence, constituencies, and resources to protect key elephant populations from poaching while reducing trafficking and demand for ivory. Funding for this commitment has been provided by myriad public and private sources, including U.S., European, and African governments; along with multi-lateral institutions, foundations, and concerned individuals. Nations joining in the commitment include: Botswana, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, South Sudan, Malawi, and Uganda.

These funds will be used to support national governments to scale up anti-poaching enforcement at the 50 priority elephant sites including hiring and supporting an additional 3,100 park guards. In addition, anti-trafficking efforts will be increased by strengthening intelligence networks and penalties for violations and adding training and sniffer dog teams at 10 key transit points. New demand reduction efforts will be implemented in 10 consumer markets over the next three years.

Further, leaders from African nations led a call for other countries to adopt trade moratoria on all commercial ivory imports, exports and domestic sales of ivory products until African elephant populations are no longer threatened by poaching.

In addition to the funds already committed, the partnership urgently seeks additional partners to provide $70 million in financial or in-kind support over the next three years to reverse the decline of Africa’s elephants.

 

[hipbabboom]

This is depressing

Spoiler

at least he will have his harem end

* hipbabboom LIKES this post

 

[GulAtiCa]

Damn. So sad.

 

[FunkyPajamas]

I never really thought of it that way. God this whole situation is depressing...

What is the solution to curb demand then? Simply educating people?

That's part of the problem though. "Simply" educating people will take a long time. We're talking generations here before the effects are felt. Unfortunately, I don't really see any other way. And, well, the sooner we start the sooner we can get results. Then again there's the issue of free will and human nature. There will always be a bad apple, etc.

 

[Bladenic]

The rhino is cool with having people surround it like that? I'm not too familiar with rhino/human interactions.

 

[commedieu]

I never really thought of it that way. God this whole situation is depressing...

What is the solution to curb demand then? Simply educating people?

Its hard when they are elite and wealthy, you know? Why do they need to listen to you? No one is going to shame them into not paying $30,000USD/pound for it. I don't think the Fur-Coat model works here.

Im sure they are aware, they just don't care.

 

[fallengorn]

Well, probably because you need to feed a family, or yourself, and the market is willing to pay you for it.

I mean, these..are..keychains... with living things inside.

You know, for kids..

Its just a mindset of not acknowledging the life of animals. The demand is there, and people need to live, so they'll always gladly do something for money. I blame the gross/growing demand. As they'll always get someone to do something for a buck.

Ugh, don't remind me of that. Shit is fucked up.

 

[Azuran]

I'm actually surprised no one has come into this thread yet and tried to use natural selection as a justification for this.

Disgusting how despite doing so much good, humans can also be the worst species on this planet.

 

[JC Lately]

Can we not manufacture ivory that is indistinguishable from the real thing yet? What the hell are we doing with this 3d printer technology?!

We got Viagra and cialis to get you hard already, let's get on this faux-ivory markert before it's too late.

 

[Big Dog]

how the fuck is demand for ivory rising?

Low supply= high demand

 

[Valhelm]

While this is sad,

I can't help but feel the medical community can start to clone White Rhino's? It should be doable when its not "due to environment" or natrual evolution, but "man fucking up the world" should qualify to breed these guys back. Fucked up.

China should foot the bill.

But no... no, then they'd only grow the Horns inside of vats of liquid..

White rhinos are actually very plentiful, at least when compared to their counterpart the black rhino.

However, the northern variety of the white rhino is nearly extinct. They're the same species, but live in different parts of Africa and are slightly different genetically.

 

[andycapps]

The rhino is cool with having people surround it like that? I'm not too familiar with rhino/human interactions.

Lot cooler with it than a hippo. Those things are much more dangerous than a lion. I believe the white rhino is considered less aggressive than the black rhino.

 

[yogloo]

I hope we discover medicine with poacher's penis as the main ingredient asap.

 

[commedieu]

Can we not manufacture ivory that is indistinguishable from the real thing yet? What the hell are we doing with this 3d printer technology?!

We got Viagra and cialis to get you hard already, let's get on this faux-ivory markert before it's too late.

I think we have Manufactured/artificial Diamonds at this point, but people still support the trade. People don't care until it affects them imo.

White rhinos are actually very plentiful, at least when compared to their counterpart the black rhino.

However, the northern variety of the white rhino is nearly extinct. They're the same species, but live in different parts of Africa and are slightly different genetically.

and someone posted earlier, that medical labs were having trouble trying to artificially inseminate females. Poor things.

 

[GAMEPROFF]

I mean, these..are..keychains... with living things inside.

You know, for kids..

Oh my god Fuck humanity

 

[ReAxion]

There are more people getting more money in places where ivory and rhino horn are in demand. Simple supply and demand would just make it more expensive.

 

[NinjaMouse]

What boggles my mind is what sort of scumfuck, knowing full well this is the last male left, still wants to try and kill the poor thing? How can you be so greedy and so uncaring that you're not bothered about causing an amazing and beautiful creature to go extinct? How can you be that heartless?

Being at the top of the food chain removes the reigns from a lot of people. It's an infuriating shame, but not surprising in the least...

 

[Baraka in the White House]

Probably a stupid question but why not just tranq the rhinos then saw off their horns if poachers want them so badly? Seems like that way at least they can come back later when the horns grow back.

 

[RyanardoDaVinci]

...Disgusting how despite doing so much good, humans can also be the worst species on this planet.

Can be? We are the worst species on this planet.

And that won't change until we (or all life) is extinct.

 

[Bloodrage]

What a depressing pic.

 

[Oveja Negra]

What a depressing scenario

We humans are a fucking disgrace to this planet.

I really hope scientists are able to do something to prevent rhino extinction.

 

[mjc]

Probably a stupid question but why not just tranq the rhinos then saw off their horns if poachers want them so badly? Seems like that way at least they can come back later when the horns grow back.

That takes a lot more time, I'd imagine. Easier to just kill them and do it.

Upsets me that it's come to this.

 

[commedieu]

Probably a stupid question but why not just tranq the rhinos then saw off their horns if poachers want them so badly? Seems like that way at least they can come back later when the horns grow back.

Tranq is more expensive than bullets, and the people doing the poaching aren't really our best examples of humanity, and neither are the people demanding the product.

 

[ciridesu]

Probably a stupid question but why not just tranq the rhinos then saw off their horns if poachers want them so badly? Seems like that way at least they can come back later when the horns grow back.

They're already doing that in several places. Sad but probably one of the best interim solutions we have until the Chinese and Vietnamese traditions start to change

EDIT: Meant rhino reserves that are essentially adding supply - The situation actually sort of resembles the war on drugs, not the case of the buyers but managing supply - you centralize it, do it in a more ethical manner that discourages uneducated poachers from just straight up torturing and killing the animals

 

[shadowkat]

This is just sad.

 

[ilium]

It's not only china tho! My memory is hazy on this, but I read that the NRA opposed a bill that would've limited or ended import of ivory into the US. I think it was about elephant tusks, but still.