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Social Media Pictures Of Rhinos With GPS Co-Ordinates Are Leading Poachers To Their Prey

This One Avoidable Flaw With Social Media Is Killing Rhinos
The Huffington Post UK
Baby rhinoceros Makena walks past her mother Uzuri on April 30, 2013 at the Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, western Germany. Makena was born on March 7, 2013 at the wildlife park. Her name comes from the Kikuyu language and means 'happy'. AFP PHOTO / HOLGER HOLLEMANN / GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HOLGER HOLLEMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
Baby rhinoceros Makena walks past her mother Uzuri on April 30, 2013 at the Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, western Germany. Makena was born on March 7, 2013 at the wildlife park. Her name comes from the Kikuyu language and means 'happy'. AFP PHOTO / HOLGER HOLLEMANN / GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read HOLGER HOLLEMANN/AFP/Getty Images)
HOLGER HOLLEMANN via Getty Images

Rhinos are ridiculously endangered. There are less than 30,000 in the wild, down form 500,000 in 1900. And there's little good news on the horizon: demand for their horns is soaring, based on the erroneous belief that they can have any kind of health benefit.

And it turns out that your safari rhino selfies aren't helping.

According to one recent visitor to an African reserve, social media users uploading pictures of rhinos to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are leading poachers right to their target by forgetting to turn off their GPS co-ordinates.

It's not confirmed that this has actually happened - but it's something you should be aware off if you're lucky enough to see a rhino in the wild.

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