Rhino Poaching 2013

[Tshukudu]

I am at a total loss for words regarding the ineptitude of sanparks management.

[Sprocky]

Sick to my stomach!!!

Come on SANParks WTF are you doing???

Dr. Mabunda, it is now time for you to move on to a less responsible job. All your talk is just a meaningless smokescreen!!!

My suggestion to you Dr. is to CLOSE KNP totally. Allow one month to get all guests out of the park, then send in a the United Nations military wing with a shoot to kill policy on any individual in the park. When you start feeling the pinch due to lack of income from your flagship National Park then maybe you will wake up and do what has been needed for years now, that is to resign your position! In the mean time also declare KNP disaster zone or or state of emergency!

[Amoli]

Herewith a posting from Beeld this morning - I will try and find a translation.

It basically says everything possible has been done to protect RHINO within the Reserves of the government.
They have planted a chip in the horn and they have treated the horn with a chemical - MAKING IT USELESS FOR ANY TRADE.....!!!!!

I said this 18 months ago and I say it again - I will support any means that makes the horn worthless.

Lugmag spuit horings met chemiese stof2013-02-06 22:22
Erika Gibson
Die lugmag en bewaringsowerhede het die voortou geneem om renosters op staatsgrond teen stropers te beveilig.

Renosters in die Hoedspruit-lugmagbasis se bewaringsgebied se horings is pas met ’n chemiese stof behandel wat die horings onbruikbaar maak.

Terselfdertyd is dit met ink behandel soortgelyk aan dié waarmee geld teen rowers beveilig word, wat beteken dit is waardeloos vir horing-handelaars.

Volgens lt.kol. Philip Oosthuizen, bewaringsoffisier op die basis, was die voorval verlede jaar die laaste strooi toe daar vyf renosters op ’n aanliggende wildplaas gestroop is.

“Ons het by drie geleenthede spore op ons basis gekry wat daarop gedui het dat die stropers ons renosters dophou. Dit plaas geweldige druk op die basis om die renosters te beskerm en ons moes dus aan alternatiewe metodes begin dink,” vertel hy.

Oosthuizen en die kundiges by die renosterreddingsprojek (RRP) het saamgespan om stropings aan bande te lê.

“Maak nie saak wat ’n mens doen nie – dis steeds geen waarborg dat jou renosters nou veilig is nie. Ons is egter die eerste staatsdepartement wat tot dié uiterstes gaan om ons diere op te pas,” vertel hy.

Die renosters se horings word eerstens met die chemiese stof behandel wat horings ongeskik vir menslike gebruik maak.

“Dit sal nie die gebruiker doodmaak nie, maar dit gaan hom afskrik om weer te koop. Die ink kan ook nie af- of wegwas nie, so niemand gaan dit wil koop nie. Dan plaas ons ’n mikroskyfie in albei die horing en die dier, wat beteken ons gaan altyd weet watter horing is waar gestroop, sou ’n mens die inligting in ’n hofsaak wou gebruik.

“Laastens het ons elkeen van ons diere se DNS op ’n sentrale databasis aangebring. Ons het dus ’n volledige rekord van hulle wat onbetwisbaar is.

“Ons glo ons het nou elke moontlike voorsorgmaatreël getref op Hoedspruit en elders waar die lugmag ook renosters het.”

[Penga Ndlovu]

I have heard people talk about reinstating the former 32nd Batallion.
Now would that not be a grand idea.
Just as long as they have the same mandate they had back then.

[Flutterby]

We need something to happen!!

[Sprocky]

Now, if the SA Air Force can do this, why can't SANParks??? The SAAF's main role is protection of the country, not conservation, but they get it right. SANParks main role is supposed to be conservation, but they care more about finances and supporting the local population, the same ones that aid in poaching. Please SANParks, concentrate on your primary objective.

[RobertT]

Think this was done through Oscap or an affiliated group, don't believe there was gov funding or airforce involved.

[Sprocky]

It was initiated by Lt.Col Philip Oosthuizen, the AFB Hoedspruit Conservation Officer.

[Flutterby]

Media Release: Update on the rhino poaching statistics

Date: 7th February 2013

The Kruger National Park remains the hardest hit by rhino poachers this year, having lost 61 rhinos to mostly foreign poachers in since January 1. The total number of rhino poached since the start of 2013 is 82. A total of eight have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal, six in North West, four in Mpumalanga and three in Limpopo. Twenty one poachers have been arrested, 14 of them in the Kruger National Park.

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, has noted with concern the increase in rhino poaching and is confident that SANParks is on the verge of a turnaround given the initiatives presently being implemented against rhino poaching. Minister Molewa emphasised the fact that the rhino poaching is fought at various levels that is field coverage, public awareness, regional engagement and at a global level, hence there’s continued investments at all these levels.

In the upcoming CITES meeting, the Minister plans to engage with the regional groupings on the issue of rhino poaching. She will give further details closer to the meeting that will be held in March 2013. On the 22nd February, the Minister is meeting her Mozambican counterpart in a follow up meeting to last year’s engagement on the rhino safety and security co-operation. Minister Molewa has also welcomed the recently announced signing of a declaration by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, banning the import of all white and black rhino specimens.

"The South African government welcomes the announcement by the Government of Vietnam that the prohibition on the export, import and trade of specimens of rhino will come into effect," said Minister Molewa. The prohibition follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of Biodiversity Conservation and Protection by Minister Molewa with the Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Dr Cao Duc Phat. The MoU was signed in Hanoi, Vietnam on 10 December 2012.

The objective of the MOU is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the field of biodiversity management, conservation and protection. Particularly aimed at curbing the scourge in rhino poaching, the MOU seeks to promote cooperation in law enforcement, compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and other relevant legislation and Conventions on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Officials from both countries are currently working on a draft Plan of Action with short and long term activities which include activities to curb the illegal trade in rhino horn.

In terms of the decision by the Government of Vietnam, signed on 24 January 2013, products derived or made from white rhino, black rhino and the African elephant – all listed in terms of the Appendices of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – may no longer be exported or traded.Live rhino and elephant and its products may, however, be imported for diplomatic purposes, scientific research, biodiversity conservation, zoo displays, exhibitions, non-profit circus performances, law enforcement or exchanged as specimens in terms of CITES management provisions.

The declaration also states that specimens may be imported only for non-commercial purposes in accordance with the cooperative agreement between the CITES Management Authority of Vietnam and the CITES Management Authority of exporting countries, and that specimens for which CITES import permits had already been granted would not be affected.Anyone caught violating the articles of the decision by the Government of Vietnam will be charged either with a criminal or administrative offence subject to the nature and seriousness of the violation in accordance with the country’s existing legislation on management, protection, trading, transportation, export and import of wild species of fauna and flora.

"We believe that this latest development is important for South Africa and will assist our law enforcement authorities to effectively deal with the current scourge of poaching," Ms Molewa said.Last year 668 rhino were poached for their horn in South Africa. Since the start of 2013, 57 rhino have been poached, 42 of these in the Kruger National Park.South Africans are urged to report any information or tip offs that they may have in relation to rhino poaching to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or CrimeLine on 32211.

Rhino poaching statistics:



Rhino poaching arrests statistics :



For media queries, contact:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871, DEA Spokesperson

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs on 06 February 2013

[Penga Ndlovu]

1 Rhino down in Modumela Limpopo.

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