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ZAIRE

If the rate at which poaching is going on in the country continues, the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simium cottoni) may soon disappear from the face of the earth. Poachers recently killed a pregnant female white rhino in the Garamba park in northeastern Zaire. With her death, the number of surviving white rhinos has come down to less than 30, reports the World Wide Fund for Nature. The remaining members of the species live in the park. The carcass of the 10-year old rhinoceros was found in the last week of March. 'the poachers had killed a male white rhino in February. On both occasions, the poachers had cut off the hot ns of the beasts. These horns have a market value of is much as us S1,200 per kg in Yemen, where they are used for dagger hills. In some parts of Asia, powdered rhino horns are sought for their aphrodisiac properties.

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