Africa Wild

Toko wrote: Relocation is the core of our approach – not only to combat poaching, but to ensure the continued growth of the rhino population,” said Dlamini.

Richprins wrote:We have been labelled SANParks-bashers for 3 years now, but they are bashing themselves?

Facts speak!


But it is encouraging that SP Board head is now his own spokesperson at last...shows heat is on!

Chris Vick, Spokesperson for the SANParks board, told Tourism Update that SANParks would likely sell between 350 and 400 rhino a year. The figure will be on an annual census that SANParks will conduct in the Kruger.

In August, SANParks suspended a SANParks executive relating to irregular procedures that were followed with the sale of the rhinos. According to reports, this included the sale of 260 rhino to hunting safari companies, namely Winterhoek Safaris, Chapunga Safaris and Steyn Safaris.

However, the SANParks Board recently cancelled the planned sale because proper governance procedures were not followed. A disciplinary process is under way and is due to be completed in mid-November, said Vick.

“We have ironed out these issues and the sale will be fully compliant with our own supply chain processes and our conservation mandate,” Dlamini said. “Planning is already well under way for the first auction of rhinos, which will take place later this year.”

Dlamini emphasised that SANParks would strictly regulate prospective purchasers, and require them to sign agreements to ensure relocated animals contributed to the conservation of the species and the growth of the rhino population as a whole. "These agreements will be linked to management plans with clear objectives and targets for the growth of populations that are being introduced in new range areas,” he said.

According to Vick, no rhinos would be sold for hunting. “It is a strict requirement that they are to be sold for conservation purposes, to build the meta-population of rhinos across the country.” He explained that while it was possible that people who ran game farms that offered hunting might purchase rhino, these rhino could not be used for hunting. “It is a strict precondition that rhinos that are bought from SANParks through this process must be kept for conservation purposes and are not to be used for hunting.”

SANParks is finalising provisions for the sale and will call for offers to purchase in a series of newspaper advertisements that will appear in the next few weeks. The first stage of the relocation, which involved moving selected rhino from high-density areas into bomas, had started, said Vick.

Richprins wrote:On a question to the chairman of the SANParks board, Mr Kuseni Dlamini, that the poachers and their overlords seem to have the upper hand, he responded by saying, “Those who are genuinely trying to stop the trade of rhino horn are outmanned and outgunned. But we will eventually bring this scourge to a complete stop and this is a promise we make to

Richprins wrote:is a promise we make to the whole of South Africa.”

the whole of South Africa.”

Richprins wrote:a promise we make to the whole of South Africa.”

Lisbeth wrote:That's what they continue to say and the poached animals are growing every day

When rhinos are relocated will they still be living in big wild territories?
Having sold the animals they are gone!! What is going to happen in the wretched case, that Kruger runs low on Rhinos and need to fill up?

There we go again money, money, money Why can't they move them to a secure place owned by Sanparks??

Edna Molewa
‏@BEMolewa
The good news that decline is not equally spread across the @SANParksKNP - in the IPZ we have seen a 3% increase in the population

https://twitter.com/BEMolewa/status/597316136078856192

Edna Molewa
‏@BEMolewa
An estimated population of 8 001 to 9 290 white rhino across the whole of the @SANParksKNP slightly lower than the 8 400 to 9 600 in 2013
https://twitter.com/BEMolewa/status/597315828258885632