Rhino Poaching 2013

[Flutterby]

Corruption escalates rhino poaching

2013-07-16 10:00
Duncan Alfreds

Cape Town - Corruption among senior officials plays a significant role in perpetuating the poaching of rhino in SA, a conservation organisation has charged.

"We do believe corruption at the higher government levels continues to play a significant role in the ongoing escaltion of poaching. This also filters through to officials managing border posts and points of export (harbours, airports)," Kevin McCann project manager for the Wildlands Conservation Trust told News24.

The trust recently carried out a darting and tagging programme in Kwa-Zulu Natal to help protect rhino from poachers. They tagged seven rhino and fitted them with GPS devices provided by Wildlife ACT Fund so that rangers have a constant flow of rhino location data.

It has been suggested that at the current rate of poaching, rhino in SA will become extinct within decades.

Poachers killed 668 rhino in South Africa in 2012, a 50% increase over the previous year.

Armed poachers

Vietnam has emerged as one of the key destinations of rhino horn where it is ground down and used for a number of medical ailments as well as a status symbol.

Despite an "action plan" signed between SA and Vietnam in May, conservationists have lamented the Asia country's record in fighting rhino horn trafficking.

"Our rhino war is going to be won or lost in Asia, not in Africa," World Wide Fund for Nature CEO Dr Morné du Plessis, recently told News24.

According to Cites (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), poachers are heavily armed in their determination to kill rhino.

"AK47 assault rifles and 303 calibre rifles have been the most commonly used weapons but, recently, heavier calibre arms (eg .375s and .458s) are now being used," Cites said.

The WWF said that the prosecution of poaching "foot soldiers" would not stem the tide of the illegal activity.

"At the moment we're mainly hammering these okes on the ground, but they just replicate themselves," said Du Plessis.

Corruption

McCann added that sophisticated syndicates are involved in rhino poaching.

"To our knowledge complex, well resourced syndicates are running these poaching operations and recruiting military trained individuals to carry out these sorts of activities.

"The exact process is not known to us but the fact remains that they are extremely well resourced and have the ability to offer large sums of money to individuals in order to get them on board."

Cites said that corruption among Vietnamese officials had contributed to the escalation of rhino poaching.

The African and Asian Rhinoceroses - Status, Conservation and Trade publication compiled by Tom Milliken, Richard H Emslie and Bibhab Talukdar, says, in part, that investigations revealed "the repeated involvement of Vietnam Embassy personnel or vehicles in the illegal procurement and movement of rhino horns within and out of South Africa, one of whom invoked 'diplomatic immunity' to avoid arrest".

[Richprins]

This is a major reason for the ease of exit for rhino horn..."Ports of Entry"...on both sides of the Indian Ocean, are often corrupt. Cases have occured from OR Tambo to Cape Town harbour to Maputo to Mombasa.

The diplomatic bags are on a smaller scale, hopefully, but a nightmare to contest, and extend to the highest level, IMO!

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Roedtan area.

[Bushcraft]

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Polkwane

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Northern section of Marakele

[Sprocky]

Rhino carcass discovered in Marakele National Park

A fresh rhino carcass, with its horn removed, was discovered yesterday in the northern section of the Marakele National Park near Thabazimbi in the Limpopo Province.

South African National Parks field rangers, who were out on a routine patrol, detected the tracks of three unidentified people, and followed the tracks to where they exited the Park. Upon backtracking on the same tracks the carcass of a dehorned rhino bull was found at around 17:00 yesterday afternoon, 17 July 2013. The crime scene was secured and is currently being investigated by the SAPS forensics team together with SANParks officials.

The Marakele National Park has not had any rhino poaching incidents for the last two years according to Mr Paul Daphne, SANParks Head of Communications, who said “We are distressed at the loss of this rhino, as SANParks had put in place a number of enhanced security measures to prevent further rhino poaching in Marakele since the loss of a number of animals at the end of 2011. Our ranger teams have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure that rhino poachers do not establish a foothold in the Marakele National Park.”

“We will continue to fight the battle against rhino poaching, and we will be implementing further measures in order to ensure greater rhino security. We are continuing to work together with other role players to develop more effective anti-poaching strategies for the Park and also in the Greater Waterberg Biosphere area.” said Daphne.

Anyone with information can contact Poaching tip-off anonymous lines on 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Northern Region Communications
Tel: 012 426 5304

Enquiries:
Divhani Maremba
SANParks Regional Communications Manager: Northern Region
Tel: 012 426-5304; Cell: 082 941 9980
Email: divhani.maremba@sanparks.org

or

Paul Daphne
Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: (012) 426 5072; Cell: 082 806 5409
Email: paul.daphne@sanparks.org

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Update

[Toko]

DEA: Rhino poaching update 18 July 2013

The total number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 488 with 142 alleged poachers being arrested.

The Kruger National Park has borne the brunt of rhino poaching since the start of 2013. A total of 300 rhinos have been poached in the Park since January 1. A total of 53 rhinos have been poached in North West, 52 in Limpopo, 43 in KwaZulu-Natal, 35 in Mpumalanga, three in Gauteng and two in the Eastern Cape.

Of the 142 alleged poachers arrested, 62 have been caught in the Kruger National Park and 30 in KwaZulu-Natal. A total of 27 suspected poachers have been arrested in Limpopo, 11 in North West province, nine in Mpumalanga and three in Gauteng. Five people have been charged with being couriers.

South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.



For media queries contact:

Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871

[Toko]

The Marakele National Park has not had any rhino poaching incidents for the last two years according to Mr Paul Daphne, SANParks Head of Communications