Counter Poaching Efforts

Information & discussion on the Rhino Poaching Pandemic
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Lisbeth
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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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FIGHTING FOR OUR RHINOS

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Ashleigh Dore, Manager, EWT Wildlife in Trade Programme | ashleighd@ewt.org.za

Few people are unaware of the rhino poaching crisis which persists in South Africa. 7,900 rhinos have been poached in South Africa since 2008 for their horns. These horns are then smuggled out of South Africa to demand countries, primarily in Asia. In an effort to combat the illegal trade and smuggling of rhino horn, the EWT will be partnering with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries to enhance detection capabilities at ports of entry and exit through the use of highly trained canines. These canines will screen cargo and luggage for wildlife products like rhino horn.

The EWT has been actively involved in addressing the scourge of rhino poaching since 2010, and this partnership is the latest of these efforts. Others include:

Patrol optimisation

Observations made by patrol teams are pivotal for monitoring poaching trends and identifying patterns. With proper analysis, these data provide enforcement decision makers with invaluable information for patrol deployments or reallocation of other resources. We have undertaken projects to enhance capacity to prevent wildlife crimes within private and state-owned protected areas through the collection of data (using CMore or other relevant platforms) and analysis of the same, thereby generating valuable information and facilitating more intelligence-driven investigations. Further, these projects facilitate the creation of predictive models that will enable law enforcement to take a proactive approach towards targeting illicit networks.

Prevention and detection

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Our Conservation Canine Project continues to grow from strength to strength. Conservation Canines play a vital role in the protection of South Africa’s wildlife and offer critical support to anti-poaching efforts. The Conservation Canine Project provides three different types of service to combat wildlife crimes involving rhino including poaching and smuggling:

1. Tracking Conservation Canines: these Conservation Canines are trained to follow humans through the bush. These dogs follow tracks when breaches in the reserve boundaries have been noticed or to track poachers from poaching scenes to apprehend them. Our trackers include EWT Conservation Canines Annie, Blacky Grizzly, Puk and Basil.

2. Detection Conservation Canines: these Conservation Canines are trained to detect and indicate various wildlife contraband such as rhino horn and elephant ivory as well as ammunition. The dogs are used at reserve gates to search vehicles and people, to search luggage and crime scenes. Our detection canines include EWT Conservation Canines Condor, Fury, Hitsch, Heddie, Vito, Bullet, Spike and Fly.

3. Conservation Patrol Dogs: The Conservation Patrol Dogs are used to support anti-poaching units such as the Black Mambas with visible policing and as a first alert system to dangerous game in the area. EWT Conservation Canine Alice is currently our only conservation patrol dog.

We have worked closely with law enforcement agencies over many years to build capacity to combat wildlife crimes, including the poaching of rhino and the smuggling of their horns. We also have undertaken dedicated awareness raising with prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority as to the seriousness of rhino related crimes.

We are also commencing with a new project, utilising restorative justice approaches. Restorative justice is a holistic approach to justice that aims to involve the parties to a dispute and others affected by the harm (such as the victim, the offender and the community) in collectively identifying harms, needs and obligations through accepting responsibilities, making restitution and taking measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident and promoting reconciliation. Restorative justice is a well-established approach to justice that can and will have very meaningful impacts on rhino related crimes in South Africa. It will promote enhanced community engagement, provide an opportunity to the victim to be properly heard and will contribute to a change in mind-set and reduce recidivism on the part of the offender. The Restorative Justice Pilot Project will facilitate the application of restorative justice processes to inter alia rhino related crimes in key sites in South Africa.

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Governance

We participated in both the Commission of Inquiry to potentially legalise the trade in rhino horn and the 2016 Rhino Lab. We are also commencing a rhino horn trade analysis project. Continuous analysis of trade trends of rhino horn is vital to ensure compliance with the legal framework. Through improved monitoring of legal domestic trade, illegal trade (both domestic and international) and historic trade in rhino horn, we will be able to ensure that key threats to rhino from trade – both current and emerging –are fully unpacked and reported, thereby facilitating informed decision making and proper accountability.

This work is made possible by US Fish and Wildlife Service, Tourvest, Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, Greef Properties, Relate Trust, MyPlanetRhino, Platinum Life, and Royal Canin


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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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Very interesting and important. \O

They must search diplomatic bags too... O**


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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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This will be a bit difficult I'm afraid. It has come to my mind before :yes:


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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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PROTECTING GIANTS - Short Film

phpBB [video]


Filmed and edited by Geran de Klerk

Protecting Giants is a unique short film in which photographer Geran de Klerk joined a team of anti-poaching rangers for a week on the ground in South Africa to showcase the war against poaching. The area in and around Kruger National Park is one of the most critical ecosystems to protect as it is home to the majority of our world’s remaining rhino.

A Wildhood Foundation film in partnership with Dreams


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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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Texas game wardens will soon join the Kruger National Park (KNP) in the fight against poaching and wildlife trafficking.
3 hours ago

Lande Willemse

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Representatives of this elite unit recently travelled to the KNP to begin an annual professional exchange programme with SANParks game rangers.

A news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) confirmed that the programme is aimed at providing professional growth and leadership development opportunities between the two agencies. It is also an effort to increase education and awareness of international wildlife trafficking.

TPWD said they have increased the focus on wildlife trafficking operations over the last decade, including navigating through Internet marketplaces, where both live wildlife and wildlife parts frequently pop up.


“Game wardens are currently working to identify suspect sales and negotiate undercover transactions with willing sellers to purchase a wide variety of native and non-native wildlife species from around the world, removing them from the harmful animal trafficking trade,” said Col Grahame Jones, TPWD law enforcement director.

He added that the illegal sale and exploitation of wildlife resources is a global problem and could lead to the loss of Texas-native species, either through the harvest of native species or introduction of non-indigenous invasive species.

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For many years SANParks rangers have battled against heightened rhino poaching efforts, elephant poaching for ivory and recently an increase in lion poaching for the sale of teeth, claws and bones in international markets, in addition to subsistence poaching.

The release says while at KNP, the Texan wardens met with park management to discuss shared issues and how they relate to wildlife crimes in Texas.

“Game wardens also participated in a snare patrol to locate and remove 95 snares along the Sabie River and conducted foot patrols, which included a crime scene overview at the location of a poached rhino and death investigation and tusk removal of a deceased elephant. The wardens also toured the Kruger K9 facility and participated in a tracking scenario.”

Chief of TWPD law enforcement division, Chris Davis, said that the opportunity to work beside the dedicated and passionate game rangers at KNP, and to firsthand see the challenges and strategies to overcome those challenges, was an insightful and invaluable learning experience.

“Places like KNP are the epicentre for conservation law enforcement and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.”

The release closed by saying plans are under way for KNP staff to visit the US in January of 2020.

https://lowvelder.co.za/510211/texas-ra ... ching-knp/


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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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One can't teach these guys anything. They already know everything :O^


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Lisbeth
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Re: Counter Poaching Efforts

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Maybe they can learn something from each other :yes:


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I CAN'T SIT BACK AND DO NOTHING - MARK BOUCHER ON FIGHT AGAINST RHINO POACHING

For the past few years, Mark Boucher has used his star power to attract big personalities and companies to support the cause that he sees as everyone’s cause.

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Once former cricketer Mark Boucher had recovered and realised he couldn’t play cricket anymore, he devoted his life to another passion - rhino conservation - by founding the Boucher Legacy. Picture: boucherlegacy.co.za

Adrian Ephraim | 20.11.2019
CAPE TOWN - Which is more difficult to save - the rhino or the failing Proteas cricket team? This question at a press conference provided a moment of comic relief during a rather serious conversation about the plight of one of the world’s most endangered species – the rhino.

When former Proteas cricketer Mark Boucher’s career ended abruptly in 2012, his life changed in an instant. A national sporting hero had suddenly become a former cricketer; one who could no longer play the game he loved.

A devastating injury from a freak incident on the cricket field left Boucher blind in his left eye. Once he had recovered and realised he couldn’t play cricket anymore, he devoted his life to another passion - rhino conservation, by founding the Boucher Legacy.

For the past few years, Boucher has used his star power to attract big personalities and companies to support the cause that he sees as everyone’s cause.

One of those companies is Cunard Line, which operates the MS Queen Elizabeth cruise ship. Addressing the media on the ship in Cape Town on Tuesday, Boucher and the ship’s captain Inger Klein Thorhauge explain the collaboration with The Boucher Legacy.

“I’m very excited about the relationship, not only because of the funding but having 50 nations on board here we get to get the message across that this is a worldwide problem. I think this is a great opportunity to speak to people and find out why, particularly in Asia, people continue to use rhino horn,” Boucher said.

It’s estimated that three rhinos are killed every day in South Africa. A shocking statistic that may seal the fate of the iconic animal - extinction. But Boucher is determined to prevent this from happening. For years, through his project, he raised awareness and fund to help the fight against rhino poaching and horn trading with tentacles throughout the world.

“It feels hopeless at times, but then I go out into the bush and actually see the animals, and my blood starts to boil again. Once you’ve seen an animal down, you realise you can’t just sit back and do nothing. So, every time I do feel fatigued, I go back to the bush again, I see a live animal, and it gets me going again,” Boucher said. “We can’t sit back and say we’ve done enough.”



Several former sports personalities have supported Boucher’s effort by lending their names and audience reach to get the message across. “My sport has made me a popular person, and now I use that to fight for conservation. Kevin Pietersen has been supportive, and so has Jacques (Kallis). Hard to get Jacques into the bush. He didn’t want to be chased by a kitty cat, that’s what he said to me. But once he spent a bit of time, he started enjoying it. Graeme Smith, Butch James, AB de Villiers and Albie Morkel have all come in when needed and that’s important.”

Boucher is currently coaching the Tshwane Spartans in the Mzansi Super League and balancing the two worlds has been challenging for the former cricketer who played 147 Test matches and 295 one day internationals for the Proteas. “It is quite difficult. Thankfully, cricket only really gets played in the summer, so wintertime is when I try to take off to do a lot of work in the conservation side of things. If it’s your passion, you find the time,” Boucher said.

The Queen Elizabeth cruise ship played host to a fundraising dinner for The Boucher Legacy and will continue to raise awareness of the plight of the rhino poaching among its passengers and at the various destinations it plans to visit like Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

The ship carries over 2,000 passengers and over 900 staff on board, and while cruising has been criticised for having a negative impact on the environment, the ship’s captain said this vessel was doing a lot to minimise the impact by recycling waste, desalinating seawater and ensuring that food waste was minimised with the help of “food digesters”, which is a trial using micro bacteria that ingest food waste and excrete a watery substance.

“We’re proud to say that Queen Elizabeth was named as the best behaving ships in Alaska when it comes to environmental conduct. Because we’re putting a lot already into the marine environment, we’d like to raise funds for something else that we believe is worth supporting. With our connection to South Africa and the wildlife, we believe it’s a very important cause and we’d like to highlight this. This is our chance to influence a lot of people,” said captain Thorhauge.

Shaun McCarthy, MD of Whitestar Cruise and Travel and the agents for Cunard added: “Not only are the fines enormous if ships are in breach of regulations but from a Cunard point of view, it’s the right thing to do.“


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Rhino warriors honoured for their bravery
Courage, resilience and tenacity were greatly emphasised at the Caxton and Spear Awards held to acknowledge the unsung heroes who put their lives on the line to save rhinos in the KNP.
8 hours ago
Lande Willemse


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Spear is an acronym for “Stop Poaching Our Endangered African Rhino”. Its main aim is to create awareness and attract funding for the role players on the front lines. The CEO of Spear, Estelle Roe, explained that the greatest assets in the park are the rangers.

The aim of the awards was to credit the rangers, prosecutors, pilots and police officers for their relentless work, but also to bring local businesses into the fight against poaching.

ALSO READ: KNP lost 190 rhinos since beginning of 2019

hese heroes over the years have fought relentlessly against the onslaught that the Marula South region, also known as the Intensive Protection Zone (IZP), has experienced from rhino poaching syndicates for the past decade.

The rangers were involved in more armed contacts per day than the SANDF soldiers were during the Border War. This team has, through its individual efforts, played a major role in the drastic year-on-year reduction of 48 per cent in rhino poaching since 2016.

Prosecutor Ansie Venter and legal adviser Coert Jordaan were also honoured for their relentless assistance in the fight.

• Neels van Wyk – section ranger: Crocodile Bridge
An excellent marksman with a natural talent for intelligence gathering with exceptional bushcraft, tracking and anti-poaching skills.

• Albert Smith – section ranger: Malalane
The founder of the highly successful camera trap systems and instrumental in
the development and implementation of other critical technology systems currently in the IZP.

• Marius Snyders – section ranger: Stolsnek
Showed consistent tenacity during follow-up operations.

• Craig Williams – section ranger: Pretoriuskop
Personally involved in five contacts in one day. Probably been in more armed contacts than any other section ranger in the history of the KNP.

• Mark McGill – technology operations manager
Best known for his role in developing, deploying and managing the Wide Area Surveillance System or Meerkat in the IZP. In two years the Meerkat was responsible for 45 arrests and the recovery of 15 firearms.

• Sgt Wilson Siwela – field ranger sergeant: Crocodile Bridge
Exceptional bush skills and anti-poaching talent and always leading from the front. Single-handedly took on, overpowered and arrested an armed group of poachers.

• Sgt Enock Manyike – field ranger sergeant: Malalane
Second-generation sergeant who has been at the forefront of numerous anti-poaching operations. Also the recipient of multiple bravery awards.

• Field ranger Tyson Maluleke – dog handler: Stolsnek


With his K9 partner, Kilalo, in four years
have been involved in 61 contacts resulting in 183 arrests and the recovery of 47 firearms.

• Field ranger Derek Maluleke – dog handler: Malalane
He and his K9 partner, Charlie, in two years have been involved in 20 contacts resulting in 34 arrests and the recovery of 15 firearms.

• Charles Thompson – helicopter pilot and air-wing safety officer
Recipient of a bravery award for his flight that saved the life of a ranger who was shot in a contact, and is considered to be one of the best chopper pilots the KNP has had.

• Brad Grafton – helicopter pilot
The first pilot to be shot at by poachers and the only one to be shot at twice, both times saving the aircraft and passengers with his exceptional flying skills.



• Section ranger Richard Sowry – section ranger: Kingfisherspruit
Founder of the free-running pack hounds in the KNP. Persisted with the pack hound concept until a great number of successes silenced the pessimists.

• Johan van Straaten – K9 manager: Southern African Wildlife College
Trained the first tracking dog, that is still operational after many successful follow-ups.

• Johan de Beer – K9 manager: SANParks
Developed the K9 unit at Phabeni. His contribution to the fight against poaching is recognised by all.

• Steven Whitfield – regional ranger: Marula North region
Groundbreaking work done to formalise relations between KNP and Mozambique conservation and law enforcement agencies.


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