Counter Poaching Efforts

[Flutterby]

They are saying the onus is upon us to prove that Rhino Horn does not have medicinal value

Let's start killing their pandas for their tongues because it cures hayfever, and then tell them to prove it doesn't work!!! How can they come to OUR country and tell us we have to give them a good enough reason for them to stop decimating our rhino populations!!

[Flutterby]

I realise Pandas are from China...but you get my drift.

[Flutterby]

ACTION ALERT, please distribute widely: OCCUPY THE STREETS FOR ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS!

"We will be holding an International March Day at 8 cities around the world urging China and National Governments to take action and to tackle the illegal ivory trade - but we can't do this alone."

email: infouk@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Coordinated by iWorry and the The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust...they need "leaders" and "organizers" everywhere... please participate and volunteer to organize a march in your city/county/country - even if only 30 people show up - still worth it.

You may be able to combine "Rhino Awareness" with your March... let's get this baby ONTO the streets people... it's the way ALL major injustices were resolved... we can DO this!

From the coordinators:
http://www.iworry.org/

"We will be holding an International March Day at 8 cities around the world urging China and National Governments to take action and to tackle the illegal ivory trade - but we can't do this alone.

The International March Day will take place on Friday 4th October 2013 to tie in with World Animal Day. The following cities will be hosting the march: London, Munich, Washington DC, San Francisco, Toronto, Nairobi, Pretoria and Rome.

We are looking for eager and enthusiastic individuals to take part in these peaceful demonstrations. Please email us if this sounds like you."

email: infouk@sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

[Flutterby]

Rhino Horns Can Make You Sick, Vietnamese Moms to Be Warned

September 16, 2013, 7:02 AM

HANOI–The Humane Society International is for the first time launching a major campaign to stop illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia, zeroing in on rhinoceros horns, which are sought after as purported cures for everything from hangovers to cancer to impotency.

The animal rights group is teaming up with the Vietnamese government to stop smuggling of rhino horns for such illegal purposes. Jointly, they are launching a public education campaign with tailored messages to buyers of rhino horn products.

Teresa Telecky, the director of the Wildlife Department of the Humane Society International, says most buyers of rhino horns in Vietnam are older women concerned about their family’s health. A game reserve in South Africa has injected a mixture of chemicals into rhino horns so that people risk becoming “seriously ill” if they consume them. That development will be part of the message for those women. Other buyers are wealthy Vietnamese who want the horns as a status symbol.

[Richprins]

A game reserve in South Africa has injected a mixture of chemicals into rhino horns so that people risk becoming “seriously ill” if they consume them. That development will be part of the message for those women.

Lots are doing that!

And good the message is getting out there!

[Richprins]

Vietnamese delegation to KNP asks about scientific proof

Questions about the use of rhino horn in Vietnam were answered by a delegation from this country on a visit to the Kruger National Park this week.

13 September 2013 | Susanna Oosthuizen

SKUKUZA - The Vietnamese are not convinced that their country is the top consumer of South Africa’s poached rhino horn. A delegation from this country visited the Kruger National Park (KNP) this week. The group, consisting of a member of the Vietnamese National Assembly, the Vice Chief of Environmental Police, a Vietnamese television star and representatives from ENV, a non-profit organisation, were hosted by the Rhinose Foundation.

The tour included a visit to the scene where a rhino was slaughtered on August 28, and its horn hacked off.

Gen. Johan Jooste, head of SANParks anti-poaching operations, put the current rhino poaching situation into context for the visitors. He described South Africa’s rhino as the “last cache of this natural asset” and described a crime network involving syndicates that can deliver a horn poached in the KNP to Vietnam within 48 hours.

Col Tien Nguyen, vice chief of the Vietnamese Environmental Police, asked Jooste what basis there was for the commonly held belief that Vietnamese are the principal consumers of rhino horn in the world. Nguyen and Mr Nhan Vo, a member of the Vietnamese National Assembly, also wanted to know from the South African whether South Africa had conducted studies on the efficacy of rhino horn for treating illness. Vo said it would be helpful if South Africa could put pressure on the World Health Organisation to publish an announcement stating that there is no scientific proof that rhino horn holds any medicinal value.

He confirmed that his government had initiated an awareness campaign to prove that rhino horn has no “magical” ability to treat cancer or fevers; to educate citizens about the legal consequences of trading in an endangered species and to negate the belief that the use of rhino horn ensures a higher social status.

“It is actually not so much about the belief that it can cure cancer as it is a way to enhances your social standing in this developing economy,” another member of the group explained. According to him, campaigns in Vietnam aimed at curbing the demand are built around the idea that it is not a status symbol. Using the animal welfare or environmental angle has had no effect on the current consumer market, he said. They may have better luck to instil an environmental consciousness among the younger generation, because this demographic has demonstrated a greater empathy for nature, in his opinion.

Members of the media used the opportunity to ask about the use of rhino horn in Vietnamese society, and the legislation around this issue. Using rhino horn is not illegal. Trade, however, is and perpetrators face a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a USD25000 fine. “It is a very small percentage of Vietnamese society that can afford rhino horn,” said ENV volunteer worker Ms Thao Ninh. It currently trades at USD5000 per 100g. One horn weighs between three and four kilograms.

Vo assured that the Vietnamese government adheres to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), regulations and cooperation between the SAPS and Vietnamese police “is certain.

Up to 15 different poacher groups have been found in the KNP on a single day, according to Mr Ken Maggs, head of the KNP anti-poaching forces. Eighty percent of poachers enter the park from Mozambique. Most of the horn is smuggled into Vietnam via Mozambique, Jooste confirmed. Nguyen admitted that more concerted efforts were needed on their side to detect, and confiscate this type of contraband and to arrest smugglers.

Mr Bac Nguyen, an actor that feels strongly about the conservation of the rhino, joined the delegation and expressed his commitment to stop the abuse of rhino horn. “We are serious about this problem, that is why we are here,” he said.

South Africa and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2012, to explore ways to work more closely on environmental issues, particularly in respect of sharing information and best practices in the field of the environment.

http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... ific-proof

[Richprins]

Taking stock of the rhino poaching crisis
Friday, 20 September 2013 13:55



To date, a staggering 635 Rhinos have been reported as poached in South Africa in 2013, with the real numbers possibly being higher.

Rhino poaching is considered by some to be a low risk - high reward activity with an increasingly affluent market for rhino horn in the east, and this is responsible for driving the numbers of Rhinos poached ever higher. To date, a staggering 635 Rhinos have been reported as poached in South Africa in 2013, with the real numbers possibly being higher.

There have, however, been some inroads into addressing the crisis and this World Rhino Day the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) invites you to celebrate some of the victories acheived in the battle to end Rhino poaching.

“The EWT believes that there is no single solution to addressing illegal wildlife trade, which is an increasing global phenomenon, estimated to now be the third largest illegal industry worldwide after drugs and human trafficking. Wildlife trade often has its roots firmly established in organised and trans-boundary crimes. For this reason the EWT’s Rhino Project is implementing interventions at several stages in the poaching and wildlife trade chain,” said Kirsty Brebner, the EWT’s Rhino Project Manager.

These interventions include:

Improving the detection of wildlife contraband through the deployment of wildlife detection dogs. Thus far the EWT has deployed four sniffer dogs at airports with plans to secure dogs in additional airports throughout South Africa;
Improving the detection of wildlife contraband through capacity building and training with more than 100 border officials from OR Tambo International Airport having already completed training in Wildlife Trade and Environmental Legislation;
Supporting and facilitating the reporting of information to the authorities;
Supporting anti-poaching efforts in Zimbabwe by trialling anti-poaching dogs. Two dogs have been undergoing tracking training and will be trialled in Zimbabwe next week
Deploying a rhino horn, arms and ammunition detection dog in Limpopo. The Belgian Malinois, Shaya, who has been deployed to Limpopo has been invaluable, particularly at finding evidence in the form of spent bullets crime scenes;
Supporting selected provincial government organisations through the provision of equipment and resources. Fuel provided to Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency has enabled the Species Protection Unit to monitor their rhinos and microchip scanners have proven invaluable in assisting at crime scenes and for enforcement.
Supporting selected private reserves by deploying a further sniffer dog in the Waterberg area;
Implementing the Rhino Orphan Response Project, which focuses on improving rescue and rehabilitation through emergency response and training. More than fifty people have been trained in effective rescue response and there have been more than 180 responses to date
Reducing the involvement of lodge and reserve staff directly or indirectly with poaching through the development of a community based awareness project. Furthermore, a DVD which directly links saving the rhino to jobs and livelihoods is being finalised
Providing awareness raising and support to the judiciary involved in rhino poaching cases; and
Influencing the legal framework to contribute to enforcement.

“Through the combined efforts of the Department of Environmental Affairs, South African National Parks (SANParks), the Hawks, several leading NGOs, corporates and individuals we have seen 194 arrests in relation to rhino poaching and horn smuggling take place in South Africa this year. Our sniffer dogs, Rico, Heddie, Renaldo and Condor have successfully located wildlife contrabrand at the country’s points of exit. Relationships have been established with key players in Vietnam and we are running awareness through reputable partnerships in that country,” commented Brebner.

“Furthermore, the immense generosity and support received from all of South Africa’s citizens – ordinary people simply willing to make a difference – has been spectacular! South Africans have demonstrated their passion for their biodiversity heritage and the action taken by ordinary people to end the killing has been inspirational.”

As part of the 2013 celebrations for World Rhino Day the EWT has partnered with the Waterkloof Air Force Base. On the 19th of September the members of the Air Force participated in a competition where paper mache rhinos, spectacularly decorated by the individual divisions on the Waterkloof Air Force Base, were judged for their creativity, name and slogan amongst other things. The top 10 rhinos will be auctioned on the 25th October, with all proceeds to the EWT Rhino Project.

The battle against rhino poaching and wildlife crime is only just beginning and we urge you to keep demonstrating your support for the work of the EWT and other reputable NGOs and organisations. For further information about the EWT’s Rhino Project please contact Kirsty Brebner at kirstyb@ewt.org.za.


http://www.thegreentimes.co.za/stories/ ... -rhino-day

[Dewi]

Not sure if this has been posted before?

[Toko]

The point is:



Humans should be concerned about saving biodiversity.

[Flutterby]

The point is:

Rhinos need that "point" more than we do!