Rhino Poaching 2016

[Lisbeth]

Minister releases rhino poaching figures

Pretoria – Rhino poaching is on the decline in the Kruger National Park – the area hardest hit by the crime – says Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.

Between January and the end of August 2016, a total of 458 poached rhino carcasses were found in the Kruger National Park, compared to 557 in the same period last year.

This represents a 17.8% decline in the number of rhino carcasses.

The Minister said this in a statement on Sunday on progress in the implementation of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros. The period under review covers the period 1 May 2016 to 31 August 2016.

The report revealed that poaching rates, or the number of carcasses as a percentage of the number of live rhinos, estimated the previous September for each year, reduced by 15.5% compared between the same periods in 2015 (9.6%) and 2016 (7.9%).

The figures come amid a 27.87 % increase in the number of illegal incursions into the Kruger National Park – a staggering 2 115 for the first eight months of 2016.

Nationally, 702 rhino were poached since the beginning of 2016 whereas between January and July 2015, a total of 796 rhino were poached.

Minister Molewa said there may be indications that the success of anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park has led to poaching syndicates shifting operations to other provinces.

In the period under review, the number of rhino poached has increased in a number of other provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Northern Cape, in comparison to the same period in 2015.

She said despite these increases there is still a downward trend in the number of rhino poached.

“It is also of concern that we have begun experiencing an increase in elephant poaching, despite the vigorous and determined efforts by our rangers, the police and soldiers on the ground.

“Since January 36 elephants have been poached in the KNP,” said the Minister.

She said government was utilising experience and expertise gained through efforts to combat rhino poaching to end elephant poaching as well.

“What is evident, is that these successes can be attributed to the work being done on the ground by our people, our hardworking law enforcement teams and our rangers in particular,” said Minister Molewa.

The combined efforts of the department, law-enforcement and the conservation agencies with the support of international partners and donors are slowly but steadily making a dent in the rhino poaching numbers.

Rhino poaching was declared a National Priority Crime in 2014 and the issue continues to receive the highest level of attention from the department, the country’s law-enforcement authorities, and the prosecution service.

Field Ranger of the Year award

Meanwhile, Minister Molewa congratulated a member of the Environmental Monitors programme in Mpumalanga, Anton Mzimba, who won the coveted Field Ranger of the Year award at the 2016 Rhino Conservation Awards.

“I am concerned that while there are rangers and security officials who go the extra mile to ensure our wildlife is protected and criminals involved in wildlife crime are brought to book, there are also those who have allegedly chosen to embrace the wrong side of the law.

“To these rangers and officials I would like to send a strong message: You will be arrested and prosecuted,” said Minister Molewa. – SAnews.gov.za

[Alf]

Wonder how correct those numbers are

[Richprins]

Well, if they are true, it is a good sign...

Also special reference made to corrupt rangers!

But cases take too long, Big Joe Nyalungu's case going 5 years now, his parole conditions being RELAXED last week...

[Lisbeth]

COP17 CITES: A look at the fight for SA's rhino



While the future of rhinos is by no means safe and secure, SA's Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa says significant progress has been made to protect our country's rhinos through aggressive and inclusive conservation efforts.

Molewa released a statement reporting on the progress in the implementation of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros ahead of the upcoming 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held in South Africa at the Sandton Convention Center from 24 September to 5 October 2016.

The period under review covers the period 1 May 2016 through 31 August 2016, and shows that a total of 414 alleged poachers has been arrested in South Africa since 1 January 2016 – of which 177 were in the KNP and 237 for the rest of the country.

A total of 94 firearms has been seized inside the Park between 1 January and 31 August 2016.

Between January and the end of August 2016, a total number of 458 poached rhino carcases were found in the KNP, compared to 557 in the same period last year. This represents a 17.8% decline in the number of rhino carcases.

While the rhinos' are being spared more, the fight to save their lives is becoming more and more intense.

Since the start of the year, there has been a 27.87 % increase in the number of illegal incursions into the KNP – a staggering 2 115 for the first eight months of 2016.

Nationally, 702 rhino were poached since the beginning of 2016 whereas between January and July 2015, a total of 796 rhino were poached.

The epidemic spreading

There may be indications however that the success of anti-poaching efforts in the KNP has led to poaching syndicates shifting operations to other provinces.

In the period under review, the number of rhino poached has increased in a number of other provinces in comparison to the same period in 2015, such as KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and the Northern Cape.

An increase in elephant poaching is also great cause for concern. Despite the vigorous and determined efforts by rangers, the police and soldiers on the ground, 36 elephants have been poached in the KNP in this year so far.

“We are utilising our experience and expertise gained through our efforts to combat rhino poaching to end elephant poaching as well,” the Minister said.

“What is evident, is that these successes can be attributed to the work being done on the ground by our people, our hardworking law enforcement teams and our rangers in particular,” says Molewa.

Community involvement

Communities remain an important part of the government's Integrated Strategic Management Approach, a multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary approach involving DEA, the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African State Security Agency, Justice and Correctional Services Department, South African National Parks (SANParks), the provincial conservation agencies and all our people in general.

“Our people are the first line of defence for the animals in our protected areas and they have a critical role to play not just in protecting our wildlife assets, but in growing the wildlife economy to make it more inclusive,” says Molewa.

She adds that it is of critical importance that the ownership of wildlife as a means of growing local economies, especially in most of our protected areas.

With regards to community participation in anti-poaching initiatives, the government's Environmental Monitors Programme has been particularly successful.

There are a total of 1 460 Environmental Monitors (EM’s) deployed across the country – through our Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programmes.

In areas facing high numbers of poaching incidents, these monitors have played a demonstrable role through their work of educating communities in the area on the benefits of conservation and rhino protection.

In addition, the Department is in process of developing the Community Rhino Project which is aimed at implementing the People and Parks resolutions of 2014. The strategy will be discussed further in the upcoming People and Parks Congress slated to take place just ahead of the CITES COP17.

[RobertT]

It was only obvious it would start to decline. My last couple of trips I have been seeing less and less rhino and in areas where I saw groups of families.

If we are seeing less and less it means less can get poached, to me this is not a victory but a sign of our defeat. The poaching has not been because of less poachers, the article states and increase of incursions by 27%. So at end of the day with 27% more poachers they are battling to find the same number of rhino's to poach. It is not because of any measure being done but more a numbers result and evidenced by them now turning their attention to elephants as they are more readily available.

[Lisbeth]

I am afraid that you might be right, Robert

[Richprins]

That could be, Robert?

But it may also cast light on the crackdown on various staff in Kruger. They are getting the message that they are not entitled and above the law, eventually. It is far easier for them to poach! The extra Mozzies may simply be youngsters storming in to prove their manhood and what not. The established Mozzies rely on reports from Kruger staff a bit more, I think?


The numbers could also be slightly "modified"...

[Lisbeth]

In any case only the animals found can be counted. Would there always be vultures at a rhino carcass?

[Richprins]

Sometimes carcasses lie for days without vultures, Lis. If they don't see them, or the area has few scavengers, they go undetected. This is where the annual aerial census helped a lot in the old days...it was part of the process to spot old ellie carcasses, for example.

[Lisbeth]

That's what I thought The figures can never be 100% correct.