Make Rhino Poaching a Felony in Mozambique

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Make Rhino Poaching a Felony in Mozambique

BY ELIZABETH KOONCE
Target: Mozambique Government

Goal: Increase the crime of rhinoceros poaching in Mozambique from a misdemeanor to a felony.

There are less than 5,000 rhinoceros left in Africa as of 2013. The brutal slaughter of rhinos for their valuable horns has spiraled out of control, with more than 500 rhinos killed in 2012 alone. These horns, believed to be an aphrodisiac in some Asian cultures, is actually made of keratin; the same material that makes up our fingernails. Now, with the Western Black Rhino declared extinct, and its close relatives teetering on the cusp of destruction, action must be taken.
A large number of the poachers and dealers of horns are based in Mozambique, which has limited punishments for this illegal act, classifying it as a simple misdemeanor. Mozambique borders on the Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa, a sanctuary that the remaining rhinos call home. Unfortunately, poachers from Mozambique frequently trek into the reserve to find their quarry- and receive minimum punishment for their crimes. The poachers cross the border with semi-automatic weapons, endangering not only this remarkable species, but dedicated game rangers as well. The illegal trade of rhino horn in Mozambique is prosperous, and many desperate individuals are willing to go to great lengths to profit. Please urge the Mozambique government to increase the crime of illegal rhinoceros poaching and the trade of rhinoceros horn from a misdemeanor to a felony (class 5).

PETITION LETTER
Dear Government of Mozambique,
Due to the severe decrease in rhinoceros numbers from illegal poaching, it is vital that we act now before this entire species is extinct. There are less than 5,000 of these remarkable creatures left in Africa, and action must be taken. With many poachers crossing the border between Mozambique and South Africa to hunt illegally in the Kruger National Park, there have been many suggestions for changes to remedy the situation.
Rather than using violence to fight violence, or building an expensive fence, I urge you to make a simple change in your policy on the crime of rhino poaching. Please increase the status of rhinoceros poaching and the trade of rhinoceros horn from a misdemeanor to a felony (class 5). If this law can stop just one desperate individual, and save even a single rhino, it will make all the difference in the world.

Link to Petition