Rhino Poaching 2017-2025

[Anton]

You have a captured audience in me here, yes absolutely the pleasure I have to confess has been all mine and for quite some time. Thus prompting me and perhaps unwisely to go ahead and finally register. The dangers of me waffling inappropriately are so extreme that I wouldn't be in the least bit concerned if this post or any others that manage to completely ravage threads are removed entirely.

Before that happens though I do want to say thank-you for all for the great information on this site! So much fantastic information collected in one place. Im slowly getting through it, trying to get my head around it all, backwards and forwards, referencing and following leads. Taking bits and pieces of the puzzle to get that all important big picture.

Anyway many many food for thought right here. Thank you. I will I promise try very hard at least and quietly plough on!

I will be in the Kruger soon, solely to be with the elephants as those in Hluhluwe are at this moment (at last report at least) still quite fond and logical it must be said of sticking deep to the wilderness areas. So short of finding our accommodations completely roofless you shouldn't hear a word. Committed anyway even if Hluhluwe's ellies have suddenly changed their minds and are crawling all over Hilltops. A quicker than planned dash to the coast is also not yet entirely out of the question of course.

Meantime Im in Singapore literally chocking on the smoke from the devastation happening (yes right as I speak) across in Indonesia as they burn their and the planets natural heritage to the ground in favour of that mono-crop mania, oil palm plantations!

Altijd wat! As they say back in Kaas territory.

[Lisbeth]

Don't worry, Anton, we are rather tolerant around here

I hope that people will soon learn NOT to buy anything with palm oil among the ingredients

[Flutterby]

Looking forward to hearing about your Kruger trip!

[Richprins]

The dangers of me waffling inappropriately are so extreme that I wouldn't be in the least bit concerned if this post or any others that manage to completely ravage threads are removed entirely.


We are not like that, Anton...dunno what forums you have been following?

It is great to have an erudite member for a change...

Dutchie?


But ja...we'd better move somewhere else later, good point!

[nan]

welcome Antone
your are right, Indonesia is a very big problem

[Lisbeth]

ShockWildlifeTruth: Pregnant rhino and calf found dead at Pilanesberg National Park

2017-11-03 13:23 - Unathi Nkanjeni



As the whole world continues to battle the intense rhino poaching war, an unborn rhino calf, its mother and sibling have been brutally killed by poachers at Pilanesberg National Park.

The Pilanesberg National Park reported the news in a Facebook post on Thursday, 2 November, writing that the mother had been roaming on grounds in the Park that is situated in Mogwase when the animals were gunned down in a brutal attack.

The park rangers were able to scare off the poachers before they could make off with the rhino's prized horns.

While the mother rhino and her calf were instantly killed in the attack, the staff at the park desperately tried to save the unborn calf, but it died inside its mother's womb.

Heartbreaking images of the rhinos were also shared on Facebook. Staff say they are "devastated" by the loss.

"There are no words. Mom and calf shot and killed by poachers. Horns are still on as the murderers fled the scene when they heard a game drive approach. Mom looks very pregnant as well. We are devastated," the park wrote on their Facebook page.

According to MailOnline, a spokesman from the park says the unborn calf was expected to be born in February and the rhino family is the latest loss for the Pilanesberg Park.

"We have lost 16 rhino and three unborn calves so far in 2017 that we are aware of."

"This loss is not due to lack of interest or effort from Park management, as this is a large park with many valleys and hills, which is a difficult territory to operate in," adds the spokesman.

The Pilanesberg Park has offered a reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the poachers.

Rhino crisis highlighted
More than 6 000 rhinos have been shot and butchered for their horns in South Africa alone.

In the midst of the controversial rhino horn online auction, Kruger National Park rangers were involved in two contact incidents with suspected poachers on Friday 18 August, and Sunday 20 August, in the southern part of the park near Mkhuhlu and Cork areas.

Poachers also attacked Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage in KwaZulu-Natal, which has subsequently decided to close down after a heavily armed gang hit the orphanage on the night of 21 February.

In June, SA’s special investigative police unit arrested poaching suspects at OR Tambo International Airport who were trying to smuggle rhino horn out of the country. The two alleged smugglers were arrested on 12 June, with 10 rhino horn to the value at R2.8 million recovered.

While government says it is doing all it can to reduce poaching and increase arrests, some conservationists have alleged that there is massive corruption within the court system, resulting in the release of several suspects. It is alleged the ongoing delays in trials are sometimes engineered to go nowhere - while poachers become more brazen in their attack and go unpunished.

[Richprins]

some conservationists have alleged that there is massive corruption within the court system, resulting in the release of several suspects. It is alleged the ongoing delays in trials are sometimes engineered to go nowhere - while poachers become more brazen in their attack and go unpunished.

Not really corruption, just delaying tactics...learning from our chief!

[Lisbeth]

Still corruption it is!

[Richprins]

Traditional leaders: Govt not doing enough to fight rhino poaching

The tribe leaders say they are afraid that the animals may become distinct which they say could eventually lead to a decrease in their area.


Pelane Phakgadi | 36 minutes ago

JOHANNESBURG - Traditional leaders around the Kruger National Park in Limpopo and Mpumalanga say that government’s fight against rhino poaching is not enough.

The tribe leaders say they are afraid that the animals may become extinct, which they say could eventually lead to a decrease in their area.

This is after the tribal leaders, together with the park’s officials and police, visited a crime site at the park, whereby a rhino was killed and dehorned.

Kgoši Mathibela Mokoena of the Mokoena Tribal Council has urged authorities to include intelligence services in their operations, and find out who the horns are sold to and for what reason.

He says if the market is identified, it could be easier for the park and police to fight the scourge.

Mokoena has also called on communities to form part of committees which seek to discourage people from poaching.

“If our intelligence services are powerful and strong, they’ll be able to identify some of these elements which are unwanted in our areas,” he said.

Mokoena says park officials should also be vetted.

The chiefs made an announcement through Mokoena, saying it would be important to have a joint meeting with all stakeholders, including police, national and private parks and communities in an effort to increase tourism in the area.

The Kruger National Park’s Managing Executive Glenn Phillips responded that the park has a yearly ranger budget of over R200 million a year, and says it is already trying its best to fight the scourge.

He says patrolling over 2 million hectors of land needs excessive manpower.

He says, however, that people should understand that the park can not control external factors from it, and has urged law enforcement agencies, to help out where possible.

“We are more reactive as opposed to being predictive, and those external law enforcement agencies could help a great deal in preempting the situation.”

Phillips has also shared that legal charges brought against ranger’s, amounting to over a R1 million yearly, also poses challenges to the park.

“Some rangers shoot and kill poachers during standoffs with poachers, and are charged with murder…. we ought to represent them, in order to motivate those who remain on duty that they too will be represented if the tables were turned,” he said.

Phillips says the regular shootings create a long term psychological impact on those rangers.

The park is in talks with the Forest and Fisheries Department on having a joint management effort at the southern boundaries of the park.

Phillips has also assured that tourists are well scrutinised while entering the premises, to identify those who attempt to enter the park under false pretense to poach.

There have also been several arrests of staff members who were believed to be part of rhino poaching syndicates.

In attempting to cut the number of rhino’s killed yearly, the park employs at least 450 rangers, but says they are simply not enough.

Phillips says rangers are forced to focus on combat and patrol, as opposed to conservation and observation as expected of them.

"We are however bringing in special services from police in investigations to tighten prosecution in hope for harsher sentences, to set a precedent."

Speaking to that precedent, the tribal authorities have suggested to the park’s management that assets of those convicted should be sold, and to have the money invested in anti-poaching technologies.

At least 120 poachers have been apprehended on the park this year alone.

(Edited by Leeto M Khoza)


http://ewn.co.za/2017/11/28/traditional ... o-poaching

[Richprins]

Three rhinos killed at Kruger National Park

Pelane Phakgadi | about 22 hours ago

JOHANNESBURG - SANParks has confirmed that three rhinos have been killed at the Kruger National Park overnight.

Three suspects have been arrested for the crime.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa announced earlier that over 530 rhinos had been poached in the first half of this year.

Three rhino carcasses were found on Sunday.

The three suspects are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

In a report issued by the Environmental Affairs Department earlier this year, Molewa indicated that almost 400 alleged poachers and traffickers had been arrested nationally.

http://ewn.co.za/2017/11/27/three-rhino ... ional-park