This is the end that we got to save rhinos

Efforts: animal is sedated and carried by helicopter to a safer area, or airport.

São Paulo - In extreme times, extreme measures come into play. This is the harsh reality of the rhino conservation efforts in Africa where poaching threatens to extinguish these majestic animals.

To remove the rhinos risk areas, more protection groups resort to transport by way unusual areas: the animal is sedated and then loaded upside down by helicopter to a safer area, or even an airport in where part for longer trips.

As the Washington Post, dozens of animals are being brought from South Africa to Botswana, where the government has zero tolerance against poachers who kill the animals for supposed medicinal value of their horns. But the radical thrust comes from other parts of the world too.

According to the newspaper, a South African retired is leading an effort to transport 80 rhinos from their homeland to Australia, where he lives. The purpose of Ray Dearlove, founder of Rhino Australian Project is to create a safe population that can reproduce in peace, away from hunters.

"I do not want my grandchildren only see rhinos in picture books or some sad specimens in a zoo. We have to see them in nature" Dearlove told the newspaper. He added: "I do not think there are many places in South Africa or Africa that are safe for rhinos."


New data released by conservationist NGO WWF show that last year alone, more than 1,300 rhinos were killed by poachers in Africa to supply a black market worth about 70 billion dollars a year. The NGO has a video showing the transport process helicopter these animals.

Australia, according Dearlove, is a good place to protect the animals. He argues that the country has strict border controls, low poverty and corruption and no known threat of poaching.

Of course, animals do not cross the ocean hoisted by helicopter, but only a short path to a a quarantine center in South Africa, where they will be taken to the airport and then embark on a cargo plane. Once in Australia, the animals will follow on a safari.