Extinct

Users of social media sites lamented news that the Western Black Rhino Report Advertisement had been officially declared extinct, it is TRUE that the Western Black Rhinoceros (Diceros Bicornis Longipes) has been declared extinct.

However, most social media posts shared in April 2015 referenced that status as a sudden and recent occurrence, when in fact the decline of the western black rhino was not sudden, nor was the determination of the species' extinction a recent occurrence.

In 2011 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared the Western Black Rhino extinct.

But while Internet users lamented the news in 2011, 2013, and again 2015, the western Black Rhino's Extinction was first noted in 2006.

The Western Black Rhinoceros was heavily hunted in the beginning of the 20th century, but the population rose in the 1930s after preservation actions were taken. As protection efforts declined over the years, so did the number of Western Black Rhinos.

By 1980 the population was in the hundreds. No animals are known to be held in captivity, however it was believed in 1988 that approximately 20–30 were being kept for breeding purposes. Poaching continued and by 2000 only an estimated 10 survived. In 2001, this number dwindled to only five. While it was believed that around thirty still existed in 2004, this was later found to be based upon falsified data.

In the 1950s, Mao Zedong effectively encouraged traditional Chinese medicine in an attempt to counter Western influences. While attempting to modernize this industry, several species were hunted. According to the official data published by the SATCM, 11,146 botanical and 1,581 zoological species, as well as 80 minerals were used. The Western Black Rhino was also hunted due to the value of its horn, which was believed to have the power to cure specific ailments and to be effective at detecting poisons (due to its high alkaline content).

All these, along with the lack of conservation efforts from the IUCN and lack of awareness among the general population , contributed to the extinction of this subspecies.

Sources :

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/blackrhino.asp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhinoceros

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