2012 marks the start of The International Year of the Rhino

In the last decade, two rhino subspecies, the Western Black Rhinoceros in Cameroon and the Indochinese Javan Rhinoceros in Vietnam have gone extinct.  Today, the populations of two more subspecies, the Northern White Rhinoceros and the Sumatran Rhinoceros are perilously close to extinction.  Increase in illegal hunting and non-traditional use of rhino horn are the causes. 

Check out http://www.iucn.org/media/media_advisories/?10063/2012-marks-the-start-of-The-International-Year-of-the-Rhino 

Images by Michael Leveille of a White Rhinoceros (Above) and Indian Rhinoceros (Below)