Preventing the Extinction of an Iconic Species
For the past decade, Ray Dearlove has worked tirelessly for the preservation of the rhinoceros. All five remaining rhino species are under severe threat and on the verge of extinction in their wild habitat due to excessive poaching, driven by a burgeoning market for the consumption of rhinoceros horn in China and South-east Asia.
In May 2013 Ray founded The Australian Rhino Project to establish breeding herds of white and black rhinoceros in Australia as an insurance population for the two species which face imminent threat of extinction.
The Crash of Rhinos traces the origin of the Project to the present with the team still working to relocate rhinos to Australia. It is an insightful, frustrating, humorous and humbling story that will make you laugh, cry and tear your hair out in exasperation.
This fascinating story demonstrates what can be achieved by one person with the passion, resilience and dogged persistence to meet challenges, obstacles and the glacial pace of governments - even in the face of a crisis.
Despite continued efforts from governments and other in situ conservation attempts, the situation continues to deteriorate, with a current estimate of one rhino being poached every eight hours in South Africa. While poaching has plateaued somewhat in recent years - mainly because the overall number of remaining rhinos has dramatically reduced- the actual number of rhinos being slaughtered, driven by demand for ‘medicinal’ rhinoceros horn and as a status symbol amongst a new generation of users, is completely unsustainable.
There are now thought to be as few as 10,000-15,000 rhinos left in the wild in Africa. The biggest threat rhinos face is poaching and, to a lesser extent, habitat loss due to human encroachment, and the illegal bush meat trade through indiscriminate snaring. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the scale of hunting of bush meat as more and more locals lose their employment and face starvation.
In light of these dire circumstances Ray founded The Australian Rhino Project. The ultimate goal of the project is to offer an alternative potential solution in the endless battle to ensure the survival of these majestic species.
Ray with Rachel Ward and George Gregan