On the eve of World Animal Day(World Wildlife Day ) on 4th Oct , people in over 100 cities throughout the world (including Africa, South America, Asia, UAE and Australia) gathered to participate in the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER)  to rally against the ivory and rhino horn trade which could  potentially wipe out the endangered animals within the next 20 years. The countdown to their extinction has already begun. According to conservationists, every 15 minutes an elephant is killed for its ivory, and every nine hours a rhino is killed for its horns.  Should hunting rates continue, the animals could be wiped out completely within two decades. It would be devastating and criminal if elephants and rhinos went extinct within 20 years, but that is the frightening reality. It could happen. It will happen, if something isn't done

These two endangered species are voiceless and helpless against the guns and other weapons being turned against them by poachers. They are being gunned down indiscriminately – old and young, males and females, individuals and entire herds – to feed the insatiable demand for their ivory and horn in China, Vietnam and other countries where  rhino horns are considered to have strong healing powers and many are ready to pay big bucks to buy some. Across Africa, several wildlife conservation organizations have started using methods to remove rhino horns safely and are pushing for a legalization of the trade. But poachers are still butchering elephants and rhinos in large numbers.

Today, there are fewer than 400,000 elephants and 18,000 rhinos in Africa and both species could be extinct within two decades..

There's a lot of talk, but we need to see more action. One solution is to stop the demand for ivory and rhino horns.  We need to change behaviors through legislation and politics . For example, if people are told they can get 20 years of prison if they are caught with ivory or rhino horns, they will stop. There should be a ban on ivory and rhino horn before it's too late.

We need more rangers on the ground and we need more campaigns in countries where ivory and rhino horns are sold. This march by people as one voice was a step in that direction. Marchers took to the streets of London , Dubai and more than 100  other cities around the world calling for an end to elephant and rhinoceros poaching, which is threatening both species . Shops and factories using the tusks and horn are also being protested while campaigners also urge higher penalties for wildlife crime and stricter law enforcement in countries where the animals are being hunted.

Some high-profile campaigners included Sir David Attenborough, Sir Richard Branson, Rory Bremner, Joanna Lumley, Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais, Damon Albarn and Michaela Strachan. Cities hosting the march include Dubai , Paris, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Chicago, and New York among many others.

Dubai too joined other cities in this global march . 150 adults and children rallied for the species at Sunset Beach , Dubai -organised by Rhino Conservation Dubai, in solidarity with 123 cities around the world.

I could not join this march but on this day , I gave talk to my street/neighbourhood  friends about saving elephants and rhinos. I told them how we can help fight poaching .  Never to go on a safari where you get to ride on the back of an elephant  Those young elephants have gone through barbaric means of training to get them to that stage – anyone who does has blood on their hands. Say no to Animal poaching , don't buy products made of animal skin or any animal part ,  take a stand against the ivory and rhino horn trade. Be a warrior against the illegal wildlife trafficking trade! Say no to elephants turning into trinkets, jewelry, and status symbols. Say no to rhino horn being used as an alternative medicine or a hangover cure.  

Last year I started social media  campaign against Rhino trade. I shared the truth about evil practices of rhino killing , illegal ivory trade –on many FB pages and tried spreading awareness about need to stop killing rhinos for horns or anything of that sort which humans fancy for their pleasures . I had written blogs on various forums including our own Tunza Eco Gen forum. Also had started a "Save Rhinos" petition/campaign using"Awaaz"

Let's all do our bit and spread awareness as much as possible to save these innocent animals. There are many other alternatives to be used as jewellery to satisfy our desires . Let's understand that rhino horn has no proven medicinal or hangover cures! Ivory belongs on elephants, and only rhinos should have rights to their horns.

Rhino Conservation Dubai will be hosting a ball next month with the South African Consulate in the UAE to launch its orphanage for rhino calves of mums that have been poached. It seems The easiest rhinos to shoot are mothers with calves, because they don't run away. Then they hack the horn with a chainsaw – 90 per cent of the rhinos just die. A calf can then survive two or three days drinking the milk of his dead mother – but then they die too.

Source :

http://7daysindubai.com/uae-urged-join-global-campaign-protect-rhinos/

http://en.ria.ru/society/20141004/193663393/Cities-Worldwide-Host-Global-March-for-Elephants-Rhinos.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/marchers-protest-poaching-elephants-rhinos/story?id=25964183

http://actionforelephantsuk.org/global-march-elephants-rhinos-4-october-2014/