And if you read the article, they note that the northen white rhino numbers are down to 4.
Yes, four.
No indication on male versus female numbers, because they couldn't get close enough to lift the tails and check, so that very well might be a population INCAPABLE of breeding, not just one without the genetic depth to sucessfully breed long-term.
Aw, man. The numbers of northern white rhinos have really plummeted within recent years, then. Last semester in an intro ecology course I took, we used white rhinos as an example of conservation vis-a-vis inbreeding effective population size and variance effective size. The data we used -- which couldn't have been more than a few years old -- listed the northern white rhino population as being at around 20 individuals.
Not that 20 is much greater than 4, but when it comes to numbers of individuals left in a population, it can make all the difference.
I wonder if any individuals remain in zoos. I'm being really, really hopeful here, but perhaps they could pull off a recovery akin to the black-footed ferret breeding program.
The same article also says the other four subspecies are rebounding. Given how it seems most of them are in South Africa where the Army, which is the most powerfu lon the continent, shoots poachers there is some long term hope
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-13 12:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-13 01:20 pm (UTC)Yes, four.
No indication on male versus female numbers, because they couldn't get close enough to lift the tails and check, so that very well might be a population INCAPABLE of breeding, not just one without the genetic depth to sucessfully breed long-term.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-13 05:22 pm (UTC)Not that 20 is much greater than 4, but when it comes to numbers of individuals left in a population, it can make all the difference.
I wonder if any individuals remain in zoos. I'm being really, really hopeful here, but perhaps they could pull off a recovery akin to the black-footed ferret breeding program.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-13 02:56 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-07-14 12:51 am (UTC)My plans to buy some black rhino meat for next weekend's party are shot, then?
But wait...you said SOME white rhinos are left?
Then all is not lost.
*breaks out the chips*