I met Lulu (left) and Sam (right) while I was an intern at the Toledo Zoo. Although I was mainly working on polar bear enrichment and seal training at the time, I had the opportunity to work on other animal projects. I found my way to the rhinos and the rest is history.
It's always a marvel to have an up-close encounter with any animal, but meeting Lulu and Sam was extra special because their species almost went extinct long before I was even born. According to to the WWF, less than 100 Southern white rhinoceros remained during the late 19th century. LESS. THAN. ONE-HUNDRED. Let that sink in for a moment.
So, how was I able to meet Lulu and Sam over 100 years later? Fortunately, with a lot of hard work and dedication, the population rebounded and today there are approximately 20,000 individuals. The most notable figure in their conservation was Dr. Ian Player and his Operation Rhino initiative. When he started his conservation career, there were around 500 individuals. During the mid-20th century, he and his team translocated rhinos throughout Africa (and the rest of the world), which resulted in the stabilization of their population.
When the modern-day poaching crisis emerged, he considered retiring, but he had dreams about rhinos. He felt that these dreams were telling him to keep fighting. He knew then that he couldn't give up. He continued to advocate for rhinos until his death in 2014.
Dr. Ian Player didn't give up, and neither can we. There are many ways to help rhinos. You can donate to a reputable rhino organization such as the International Rhino Foundation. You can join Team Rhino and raise awareness about rhino poaching and habitat loss. You can ask your legislators to implement rhino horn trade bans. You can ensure that rhinos have a future on this planet.
On a side note, Lulu passed away this year in April. She was 47. Her ability to overcome numerous health issues was extraordinary. Itâs always difficult to say goodbye to such a special animal, but Iâm sure that many of us found solace in that she passed away peacefully in her sleep with minimal suffering.
1)http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/white_rhinoceros/
2) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11275956/Ian-Player-obituary.html
3) http://africageographic.com/blog/ian-player-man-of-the-wilderness/
4)Â http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2016/04/28/White-rhino-Lulu-a-fan-favorite-dies-in-zoo-at-47.html
