Rhinos will fly - all the way to Texas
In the Texas grasslands, outdoorsman Charly Seale sees a vast sanctuary of open space that could be used to protect the wild African rhino from its biggest enemy - poachers in search of the animals' valuable horns. Seale is head of the Lone Star state's Second Ark Foundation, a project of the Exotic Wildlife Association. He is part of an ambitious project organised by animal welfare groups in the US and Africa to bring hundreds of orphaned baby southern white rhinos to the south Texas grasslands.That is if governments will let them and the Texans can afford a transportation bill that could run to tens of millions of dollars, all paid for by private donations.Rhino poaching hit a record in South Africa last year with 1215 being killed, according to the Department of Environmental Affairs.Rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicine and sells at premium prices in countries such as Vietnam, where it's believed it can cure cancer.But, if all goes according to plan, the rhino will be relocated by air to ranches in south or southwest Texas that can cover up to 40000ha and more.They would be well guarded, with their DNA IDs stored in a database and microchips placed in their horns. They would be kept under tight surveillance.Many ranches are equipped with helicopters to keep an eye on the animals...
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