Statistically speaking, at least two rhinos will probably be killed by poachers today. The criminals will descend upon the fallen animals, chop off their horns and disappear. Those horns will then begin their long journey to China or Vietnam where they will be ground up and sold as "cures" for ailments ranging from cancer to hangovers. This trade, of course, is both illegal and a complete waste: Rhino horn has no actual medicinal qualities.

Today, September 22, also marks the fourth annual World Rhino Day, a worldwide event founded to bring attention to the rhino poaching crisis that threatens to drive all five rhino species and related subspecies into extinction. Activists, NGOs, zoos, classrooms and rhino fans will use the day to discuss the killings and the illegal trade and, with luck, target the consumer demand that for all intents and purposes puts bullets into the poachers' guns.

Here are 22 links to help you learn more about rhinos and the poaching crisis and maybe, if it suits you, to take action.

World Rhino Day:

The main World Rhino Day site

Local events at zoos and other institutions around the globe

World Rhino Day on Facebook

The ongoing #iam4rhinos Twitter storm

Current rhino news:

As of yesterday, September 21, 688 rhinos have been poached so far this year in South Africa. That's 2o more than in all of 2012, which itself was an all-time record.

The U.S. just added the southern white rhino to the Endangered Species list, the last rhino species to gain that protection.

southern white rhino Vietnam has become one of the main end-points for rhino horns. Here's an interview with a proud Vietnamese businessman who takes rhino horn because it makes him look important

Rhino conservation and education:

And finally, here are most of my articles about rhinos (including the obituaries for two subspecies that have been poached into extinction in recent years):

Tragically, I seem to write about rhinos more than any other group of endangered species. I hope that I will not have to report on the extinctions of any more rhino species or subspecies any time soon. Unfortunately, even on World Rhino Day, I am not hopeful.

Photo by Mike Richardson via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons license