Africa Wild

56 rhino’s lost to poachers in 12 days

A grim picture shown by the latest statistics in rhino poaching. Hanti Schrader | 10 November 2014 17:07

NELSPRUIT – The most recent statistics on rhino poaching released by the department of Environmental Affairs shows that 31 more rhino’s have so far been poached in the Kruger National Park, than the total poached in the park for 2013. 56 poachings took place between 24 October and 5 November 2014 bringing the total to a staggering 637.
The national picture of 969 is also telling a rather grimm story with only 35 short of last years total of 1004.
A lot of pro-active actions, like the relocation of rhino’s is taking place in the Kruger National Park. The Cabinet also authorized the department of Environmental Affairs under the leadership of Ms Edna Molewa and a panel of experts to explore the feasibility of a legal trade in rhino horn products. The application of economic fundamentals to issues around a proposed legal trade, also known as rhinonomics: is among the terms of reference of a Panel of Experts appointed to look into this issue ahead of the CITES Conference of Parties in 2016.

I wish pro-active stuff would include more searches of staff quarters, less visitors there, drastic searches at gates, especially Kruger Gate, with dogs, "dummy" poachers entering abovementioned and "bribing" officials, a ban on private late entries/exits at Kruger Gate, and a lifestyle audit of SP Senior and Mid-level management.

May your wish come true

Lisbeth wrote:The highest power should sell one or two of his houses and start thinking of the heritage of the South Africans

IMO , a big part of the problem is the traditional admiration , idolisation and deification of those in power , such as people of wealth , tribal chiefs , political leaders , etc , and especially those who openly and bluntly display the symbols of their wealth and power

Not sure how that applies to poaching, okie?

RP , its a rather complex situation IMO , and the answer/s lie in people's behaviour , cultures , morality and so on . Really needs a whole new discussion thread on it, etc .

South African Government is aware that ongoing scourge of rhino poaching is linked to worldwide Illicit wildlife trade

20 November 2014

The South African government recognizes that the ongoing killing of the rhino for its horns is part of a multi-billion dollar worldwide illicit wildlife trade and that addressing the scourge is not simple. Government will continue to strengthen holistic and integrated interventions and explore new innovative options to ensure the long-term survival of the species.

Government is implementing integrated strategic management of rhinoceros in South Africa to address the ongoing scourge. This includes interventions aimed at disrupting crime syndicates. This has since seen the number of individuals arrested for poaching and related activities increase. A total of 344 alleged rhino poachers, couriers and poaching syndicate members have been arrested in South Africa since the start of 2014.

The record number of arrests this year follows an intensification of anti-poaching actions by SANParks and the police, as well as the SANDF and provincial conservation and security officials.

To date, a total of 1 020 rhino have been killed for their horn since 1 January 2014. During 2013 1004 rhino were poached for their horns in South Africa. The largest number of rhino poached has been in the Kruger National Park, where 672 rhino have been poached so far this year.

A total of 110 rhino have been poached in Limpopo, 84 in KwaZulu-Natal, 70 in Mpumalanga, 58 in North West and 15 in the Eastern Cape.

The Department of Environmental Affairs recognises that combating rhino poaching requires an adaptable multi-faceted response. Therefore, the integrated strategic management approach approved by Cabinet is being implemented in an effort to protect South Africa’s rhino.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, said at a Rhino Conservation Side Event at the 6th World Parks Congress in Sydney, Australia, this week: “Unfortunately the threat of poaching has continued to escalate while various multi-faceted interventions are being implemented by South Africa. We are concerned that poaching is part of a multi-billion dollar worldwide illicit wildlife trade. Addressing the scourge is not simple.”

South Africa’s multi-disciplinary response includes the creation of an intensive protection zone within the Kruger National Park, the introduction and implementation of new technology, pro-active intelligence, improving national, regional and international collaboration, and translocating rhino to safe areas within South Africa, and in rhino range states.

** South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.



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