Counter Poaching Efforts

[Flutterby]

Thanks Lis.

[Duke]

Let me once again remind anyone who may poach in this country that our rhinos are guarded by members of our security forces. I need not say more about the consequences in the event of armed poachers trying to rob us of any our resources,

from here

Botswana President Ian Khama on Monday said that the Asian market was to blame for increase in poaching activities in the Southern Africa region.
Speaking at the refurbishment of Khama Rhino Sanctuaryin north-eastern Botswana, the President said “you are all aware of the threat to the rhino in the region by poachers feeding foreign markets in Asia. He said rhinos, like other wildlife, must not be looked upon as just animals.

“They have a value in terms of our important natural heritage. Like diamonds, another of our natural resources, they bring in much needed revenue into the country and create a lot of employment, he said.

Khama added that the sanctuary has for quite some time proved beyond doubt that the idea of putting up community trust is a success story in Botswana.

Let me once again remind anyone who may poach in this country that our rhinos are guarded by members of our security forces. I need not say more about the consequences in the event of armed poachers trying to rob us of any our resources, he warned.

[H. erectus]

Do they really think that the majority of the population is that stupid?...........

I think you are pressing the right button here!!!

[Richprins]

Thanks, mike and Duke!


SA is miles behind Botswana regarding Presidential involvement pertaining to rhino poaching. Khama hits the nail on the head.

Zuma could add that SA is being invaded from a foreign country, for example?

[Toko]

Bring Mozambique, Vietnam, China to heel on poaching, DA asks Molewa

2015-02-08 18:44

Cape Town - Terri Stander, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, says that she has written to the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, to ask her counterparts in Mozambique, Vietnam and China to implement similar regulations as the EU to implement control measures that help to disrupt organised crime using hunting trophies to traffic rhino horn and elephant ivory.

The DA welcomed the move by The European Commission to close a major loophole exploited by criminal gangs trafficking in high-value hunting trophies.

She said that illegal wildlife trade is in the top 5 organised crime earners estimated at over a billion dollars per year.

"South Africa, Mozambique, Vietnam and China all have very little control over the illegal wildlife products exiting, transiting or entering their countries," Stander said.

She also asked the minister how the EU could implement such legislation so quickly when the problem states have taken little action since 2008, and have produced no tangible results.

"The minister needs to take a tough stance on her counterparts locally and abroad regarding the illicit trade in rhino horn. Only political will and collective action from the countries that are most affected by the scourge of rhino poaching can disrupt the chain of supply and demand to quell the trade on an international level," she said.

- News24

[Lisbeth]

Terri Stander

[Toko]

Here the links to last week's CITES meeting:

http://cites.org/eng/2015_rhino_ministerial

http://cites.org/sites/default/files/en ... tement.pdf
http://cites.org/sites/default/files/en ... ations.pdf

nothing of substance

http://cites.org/eng/disc/certificate_commend.php

[Lisbeth]

Then I do not have to read them?

[Flutterby]

The first all-female rhino protection unit is taking on poachers unarmed

March 10, 2015 - 2:41PM



This rhino protection squad is unique in the anti-poaching industry. It is the only unit guarding Africa's nature reserves operated entirely by women.

The Black Mamba anti-poaching unit patrols the Balule Nature Reserve in South Africa, where rhinos are under serious threat.

Craig Spencer, the reserve's head warden, told The Guardian rhino horn sells for more than cocaine and the lucrative nature of the poaching industry can turn local communities against his reserve.



"The problem really is that there is this perception that has developed in the communities outside the park, they see a uniformed official and think we are the sheriff of Nottingham, they see the poachers as Robin Hood," he said.

That's where the Black Mamba women come in. Recruiting the high school graduates was partly a tactic to engage, and win the trust of, the local communities they come from.

After undergoing tracking and combat training, they patrol the reserve unarmed in second-hand military uniforms.

In addition to fighting for the rhinos, the also protect other endangered species such as giraffes, wild dogs and cheetahs.

Black Mamba game guard Leitah Michabela told The Guardian "Lots of people said, how can you work in the bush when you are a lady? But I can do anything I want."

"I am a lady, I am going to have a baby. I want my baby to see a rhino, that's why I am protecting it," she said.

Their Facebook page explains they are "constantly plagued by rhino poachers and bush-meat poachers".

They "search and destroy poachers' camps, wire-snares and bush-meat kitchens every day. Aerial support, specialist dogs, early detection and rapid response is all that stands between the wildlife and poachers."

Since they began operating, the reserve they work in hasn't lost a rhino.

Source: The Guardian

[Flutterby]

Girl power!