Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

What a sweet boy

[Richprins]

23 Sep

Two men accused of rhino poaching at Kruger National Park

Cebelihle Bhengu


Two men arrested for rhino poaching at the Kruger National Park appeared at the Skukuza Regional Court on Thursday.

The men are foreign nationals who entered the country illegally, said spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

They face charges of illegally possessing unlicensed firearms with ammunition, and rhinoceros horns and violating the Immigration Act.

Mohlala said they entered the park through the Malelane section.

Kruger Park spokesperson Isaac Phaahla told News24 the search ensued after a manager heard gunshots. The men were hiding in the bushes.


Phaahla said, although it was still unclear if they were part of a syndicate or on their own, poachers often acted on the instruction of their handlers.

"One dead carcass of a white rhino was discovered close to where they were arrested," he said, adding the incident was one of the few poaching incidents at the park this year.

Mohlala said police could not rule out the possibility of adding more charges against the two suspects or linking them to other crimes as their investigation continued.

Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela said police in the province were taking a strong stance against poachers.

"This should send a clear message to others who might consider causing injuries to the country's pride in our national parks. We previously indicated that we would never tolerate a situation where people can just illegally enter the park to poach.

"The law will have to take its course against the suspects, and we trust that the investigators working with the prosecution team will do their best to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted without fear or favour," said Manamela.

https://www.news24.com/news24/southafri ... k-20220923

[Lisbeth]

23 Sep


"This should send a clear message to others who might consider causing injuries to the country's pride in our national parks. We previously indicated that we would never tolerate a situation where people can just illegally enter the park to poach.

"The law will have to take its course against the suspects, and we trust that the investigators working with the prosecution team will do their best to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted without fear or favour," said Manamela.

How many times have we heard those words? Poaching continues all the same

[Lisbeth]

The state of Africa’s rhino

Posted on October 6, 2022 by teamAG in the DECODING SCIENCE post series.


Rhino Specialist Groups of the IUCN & TRAFFIC have compiled a report containing the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of rhino numbers, trends, poaching incidents, conservation measures and trade at a national and international level.

In November 2022, the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) will be held in Panama. In preparation, the African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and non-governmental trade monitoring organisation TRAFFIC were tasked with compiling a report on the status of the world’s rhinoceros species. The resultant report’s 90 pages contain the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of rhino numbers, trends, poaching incidents, conservation measures and trade at a national and international level.

This article summarises the report’s main findings on population numbers and poaching statistics, which are accurate up until the end of 2021. Though the report contains information about African and Asian rhino species, we focus purely on the data for African species. All numerical data, such as population counts, should be considered estimates within a confidence interval unless otherwise stated. Poaching rates are based on the number of detected carcasses, adjusted for imperfect carcass detection.


Most recent population stats for African rhinos

In summary:

• There are an estimated 15,942 white rhinos in Africa, 11.8% lower than the 18,067 individuals at the end of 2017. Since 2012, white rhino numbers on the continent have declined by 25.2%.

• Four range States conserve the largest proportion of the continent’s white rhinos: South Africa (81.3%), Namibia (7.7%), Kenya (5.5%) and Zimbabwe (2.6%).

• Total black rhino numbers have risen 12.2%, from an estimated 5,495 in 2017 to 6,195 at the end of 2021.

• The four range States that conserve the largest proportion of the continent’s black rhinos are Namibia (34.8%), South Africa (33.2%), Kenya (15.1%) and Zimbabwe (9.9%).

• 2,707 poaching incidents were recorded in Africa from 2018 to 2021. 90% of these occurred in South Africa. This represents an overall decline from 3.9% of the continental population in 2018 to 2.3% in 2021. Peak poaching levels of 5.3% were observed in 2015.

• Several countries, including South Africa, recorded a decrease in poaching during the 2020 pandemic but then reported a rise again in 2021.

• However, the report acknowledges vigorous law enforcement and conservation efforts within several range states.

• The number of horns entering illegal trade from 2018 to 2020 was estimated at between 4,593 to 5,186, with over half recovered through law enforcement activities. The 2018 to 2020 figures represent the lowest annual estimate in the past decade. However, this could be partly attributed to the 2020 pandemic.

• In terms of illegal trade volume, the seven countries most affected by the illegal trade in rhino horn from 2018 to 2020 are (in order): South Africa, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. (Total weight and number of horns seized in each country, as well as seizures where the country was implicated as part of the illegal supply chain.

• Botswana was noted with concern due to the significant decline in the rhino population and unconfirmed reports of high levels of poaching in 2021.

• From 2018 to 2021, there were 1,588 arrests made for crimes involving rhinos across Africa. 751 of these cases were prosecuted, and just 300 resulted in convictions.

• South Africa and Namibia reported a total of 236 white rhinos and eight black rhinos legally trophy hunted from 2018 to 2021.
  rhino horn seizure

The total annual weight (bars) and the number of rhino whole horns seized (line) by the parties from seizures included in the analyses from 2010-2020 (n = 1003). Totals are based on reported data and estimated data for the weight or the number of whole horns © IUCN SSC African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups | TRAFFIC

South Africa

South Africa is home to the majority of white rhinos on the continent; as such, the country’s conservation contributions exert considerable influence on continental trends. White rhino populations in South Africa declined from 15,625 at the end of 2017 to 12,968 at the end of 2021, the lowest population since pre-2005. More than half of these are privately owned. While the country’s white rhinos accounted for 86.5% of Africa’s population in 2017, this has declined to 81.3% in 2021. The country’s total black rhinos are estimated to number 2,056 individuals, an increase of ten since 2017.

South Africa experienced peak poaching levels in 2014 when 1,215 rhinos were killed, after which poaching incidents gradually declined. 2020 saw a decade low of 394 rhinos killed, which increased to 451 in 2021. As of August 2022, 259 rhinos have been poached throughout the country for the year, most of which were killed in KwaZulu-Natal province. From 2018 to 2020, 1,116 whole horns were seized, representing at least 558 individual rhinos and around 4% of the surviving population in 2021.

Trophy hunting of both rhino species is legal in South Africa and Namibia. During the reporting period, 72 rhinos were legally trophy hunted in South Africa in 2018, 58 in 2019, eight in 2020 and 102 in 2021. This equates to a harvesting rate of between 0.37% and 1.78% of the country’s remaining population. Namibia reported that 17 white rhinos were trophy hunted in 2019 and 22 in 2021, along with three black rhinos from 2018 to 2021. The report notes that the revenue raised from these trophy hunts is important in supporting conservation costs, with hunting revenue ranging from US$15,000 to US$300,000 per rhino (black rhino hunts being substantially more expensive than white) in Namibia (South Africa did not report prices for trophy hunts).


Figure 1: Estimated number of black (Diceros bicornis spp) and white (Ceratotherium simum simum) rhinos on private and non-private properties in South Africa. Figure 2: Number of white and black rhino hunted in South Africa and Namibia. Data up to 2017 extracted from previous reports © IUCN SSC African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups | TRAFFIC

Namibia

Namibia reported an increase in black and white rhino populations over the four-year reporting period, from 975 to 1,234 white rhinos and from 1,857 to 2,156 black rhinos at the end of 2021. After South Africa (which reported 90% of all poaching incidents in Africa), Namibia recorded the second highest poaching figures in 2021 – 40 rhino carcasses detected, equating to 8% of approximately 554 rhinos poached across the continent. At least 93 rhinos were poached in 2018, 56 in 2019 and 40 in 2020. A total of 32 seizures yielded an estimated 57 whole horns from 2018 to 2021. Though not included within the report, recent numbers from Namibia indicate a concerning rise in poaching incidents for 2022, which experts suggest is due to a shift in focus by criminal syndicates. By August 2022, 48 rhinos had been poached in Namibia, 11 of which were killed over two weeks in June.

During the reporting period, Namibia reported an estimated US$1,237,575 raised through trophy hunting. The country has once again submitted a proposal for the downlisting of white rhinos from Appendix I to Appendix II (South Africa and eSwatini are currently the only two countries where white rhinos are listed on Appendix II). This would ease export restrictions for legally hunted trophies and the movement of live animals. The ten-page proposal indicates that the movement of live animals would be conducted only for in-situ conservation.

Kenya

Kenya has the third highest number of rhinos in Africa. At the end of 2021, it was home to 15.1% (938) of Africa’s black rhinos and 5.5% (873) of the continent’s white rhino, including the last two remaining northern white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum cottoni). Both black and white rhinos have increased overall since 2017, from 745 black rhinos and 513 white rhinos. Kenya’s black rhinos are the eastern black rhino subspecies (Diceros bicornis michaeli), making it home to the largest population of the least numerous black rhino subspecies.

There were no known poaching incidents in Kenya in 2020, but six rhinos were poached in 2021. Before that, four carcasses were detected in both 2018 and 2019. Three seizures representing an estimated four whole horns were made from 2018 to 2020.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s rhino populations have increased since 2017, from 367 to 417 white rhinos and from 520 to 616 black rhinos at the end of 2021. Poaching levels peaked in 2019 when 82 carcasses were discovered, followed by 12 in 2020 and four in 2021. Six seizures were made over a three-year period from 2018 to 2020, amounting to an estimated 19 whole horns. The country is in the process of dehorning its entire rhino population.

Botswana
Botswana did not provide the compilers of the report with information on population breakdowns, poaching data or law enforcement activities for 2021 – the only rhino range state not to do so. Their rhino population has been decimated from 452 white and 50 black rhinos in 2017 to 242 white and 23 black rhinos (a 46% and 54% decline, respectively) in 2021. Poaching incidents began to escalate in 2017 when nine rhinos were killed, followed by 18 in 2018, 31 in 2019 and 55 in 2020. The authors suggest that poaching levels in 2021 were likely similar to those of 2020. Two seizures equating to four whole horns were made from 2018 to 2020.

Despite this, Botswana has also proposed downlisting white rhinos to Appendix II.

Mozambique
Mozambique is an important transit country in the illegal trade of horn, supplied by poaching incidents in neighbouring South Africa. 75% of the seizures in the country (where the destination could be identified) were destined for Vietnam. The report did not mention the recent translocation of over 40 white and black rhinos to Zinave National Park from South Africa in 2022.

Additional country information on rhino populations

A new white rhino population of 30 individuals from South Africa was established in Akagera National Park in Rwanda at the end of 2021. The country’s reintroduced black rhino population has grown from 19 at the end of 2017 to 28 at the end of 2021. Zambia’s black rhino population grew from 48 to 58 in four years, but the white rhino population is now estimated at just eight individuals. Uganda’s rhinos were driven to extinction in the 1980s, but a small sanctuary is now home to a growing population of 35 white rhinos. Tanzania’s white rhino population is extinct, but the country reported an increase in black rhinos from 160 to 212. This can be partly accounted for by the translocation of rhinos from South Africa to Serengeti National Park in 2019. eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) has a population of 98 white and 48 black rhinos. The countries above all reported zero detected poaching incidents in 2020 and 2021.

A full breakdown of Africa’s rhino populations by country can be found in Table 2 on page 25 of the report.

Final thoughts on the state of Africa’s rhinos

The new report by the IUCN and TRAFFIC contains a comprehensive analysis of rhino numbers and poaching statistics across Africa and Asia but also details conservation measures, horn stockpiles, national and international law enforcement efforts, education initiatives and challenges. The exact impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the rhino horn trade is unknown. However, Sabri Zain, TRAFFIC Director of Policy, emphasised that “2020 did represent an abnormal year with low levels of reported illegal activity, law enforcement, and government reporting”. As such, the report strongly urges the continued and consistent monitoring of illegal trade.

Furthermore, most of the remaining rhinos are found in small populations, with a median reported population size of nine. 94.7% of Africa’s rhino population comprised fewer than 200. As a result, they are particularly vulnerable to stochastic processes such as droughts and disease. While the overall decline in poaching is encouraging, it remains the single greatest threat to Africa’s rhino species, and recent increases are a cause for considerable concern.]

Further Reading
For a better understanding of CITES, read this: What exactly is CITES and how does it work?

For more on Botswana’s apparent lack of transparency, see: Rhino poaching in Botswana – why the smoke and mirrors?

On Kruger National Park rhino poaching: Kruger rhino poaching update: 75% population reduction in 10 years

[Lisbeth]

‘Godfather’ and SA man nabbed in major rhino horn busts in New York, Singapore


A white rhino in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal. (Photo: Tony Carnie)

By Tony Carnie | 11 Oct 2022

Sniffer dogs, secret recording devices and the long arm of international law have helped to ensure the apprehension of at least two men linked to the slaughter of numerous rhinos. The arrests took place thousands of kilometres from the killing fields of southern Africa.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Both suspects appeared in court last week — one in the US, the other in Singapore. They face several charges relating to the illegal transnational trade in threatened or endangered wildlife.


Teo Boon Ching, as captured in an undercover screengrab recording. (Photo: Environmental Investigation Agency, UK)

Teo Boon Ching, a 57-year-old businessman known as “The Godfather”, appeared before federal magistrate judge Gabriel Gorenstein in New York on 7 October, charged with allegedly participating in a conspiracy to traffic more than 70kg of rhino horns valued at more than $725,000 (more than R13-million).

Ching, a citizen of Malaysia, was arrested in Thailand in June at the request of the US following a lengthy undercover operation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and other law enforcement agencies.

The second suspect, 32-year-old South African national Sthembiso Joel Gumede, appeared in court in Singapore on 6 October after being arrested at Changi Airport during an apparent attempt to smuggle rhino horns from Johannesburg to Laos. Airport sniffer dogs led their handlers to two bags containing 34kg of rhino horns that originated from a Johannesburg flight.


Some of the horns found in the baggage of Sthembiso Joel Gumede in Singapore. (Photo: National Parks Board of Singapore)


Seized rhino horns in Singapore. (Photo: National Parks Board of Singapore)

According to a report in Singapore Today, Gumede said he had no lawyer, but was “pleading innocent” and was unsure if he could raise bail.

Extradition to US

In a press release issued by the US Department of Justice, the US Attorney’s Office and US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that Ching was brought to New York following an extradition request to the Royal Thai government and police force.

According to an indictment unsealed in the Manhattan federal court on Friday, Ching came unstuck largely due to secret recordings of conversations held with undercover sources while negotiating the sale of several horns. Subsequent testing by forensics experts found that two horns came from black rhinos and another 10 from white rhinos, both species native to Africa.

According to the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which specialises in covert investigations of environmental crimes across the world, Ching was arrested in Thailand in 2015 for possession of 135kg of African elephant ivory.

“Despite his arrest, he evaded prosecution and continues his wildlife smuggling exploits,” the EIA said in a statement earlier this year, adding that he had been implicated in another rhino horn seizure in August 2018.

In a report titled Exposing the Hydra, EIA investigators documented Ching’s alleged role as a specialist transporter assisting Vietnamese and Chinese syndicates in trafficking wildlife between Africa and Asia.

US wildlife trafficking laws

This time, however, Ching will have to contend with US justice officials and a battery of laws crafted specifically to combat international wildlife crime.

This could include the Lacey Act which prohibits international and domestic wildlife trafficking — including wildlife, fish and plants that have been taken in violation of other federal, state or even foreign laws.

The Endangered Species Act and regulations also protect fish, wildlife and plants that are, or may become, imperilled due to demand in international markets, while the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act makes it a crime for anyone to knowingly sell, import or export any substances derived from any species of rhinoceros.

The US Justice Department has not yet responded to our queries on whether Ching was being held in custody or has been released on bail, but a report in The Diplomat magazine suggests Ching is in custody, and that he also faces sanctions designed to deny him access to any property or financial assets held in the US.

According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office on 7 October, Ching has been charged with conspiracy to traffic in more than 70kg of rhino horns and also with laundering the proceeds of his illegal horn sales. The US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control had also sanctioned Ching and his associated business entities.

‘Transnational criminal enterprise’

US Attorney Damian Williams said: “Teo Boon Ching is alleged to be the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise trafficking in rhinoceros horns, enriching poachers responsible for the senseless illegal slaughter of numerous endangered rhinoceros, and furthering the market for these illicit products.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, this defendant has been caught and brought to the US to answer for his alleged crimes.”

US Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Assistant Director Edward J Grace said: “This extradition is a major success for wildlife and people… Wildlife traffickers run complex international criminal enterprises that require a multinational law enforcement effort to investigate, arrest and prosecute them for their crimes.”

The indictment describes Ching as the leader of a transnational criminal enterprise based in Asia with significant operations in Malaysia and Thailand which engaged in the large-scale international trafficking and smuggling of rhino horns.

“Ching served as a specialised smuggler, transporting horns from rhinoceros poaching operations primarily in Africa to the eventual customers, primarily in Asia.”

Undercover operation

It said Ching met with a confidential source to negotiate the sale of rhino horns in July 2019. He had told a confidential source (CS-1) that he served as a “middleman” — one who acquires rhinoceros horns poached by co-conspirators in Africa and ships them to customers around the world for a per-kilogram fee.

In August 2019, CS-1, at the direction of law enforcement, bought 12 rhino horns from Ching with money he believed was the proceeds of other illegal wildlife trafficking and was in bank accounts in New York.


Some of the horns allegedly offered for sale by Teo Boon Ching. (Photo: US Department of Justice)

At Ching’s direction, law enforcement deposited the purported proceeds into numerous Chinese bank accounts at an underground banking facility in Thailand to disguise the origins, source and purposes of the monetary transactions.

It is alleged that Ching later arranged for his co-conspirators to deliver 12 horns to undercover law enforcement personnel in Bangkok, Thailand.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.

Activities recorded

Ching’s meetings, voice calls and messages sent via an electronic messaging application were all recorded, including the account numbers for five different bank accounts at Chinese banks into which CS-1 was instructed to deposit money to pay for the horns.

Regarding trafficking violations of various US codes, an application would be made for the forfeiture of “all wildlife imported, exported, transported, sold, received, acquired and purchased”, along with “all vessels, vehicles, aircraft and other equipment used to aid in the importing, exporting, transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring and purchasing of such wildlife”.

Ching should also forfeit to the US “any and all property, real and personal, involved in said offence, or any property traceable to such property, including but not limited to a sum of United States currency representing the amount of property involved in said offence”. DM/OBP

[Richprins]

Great!

[RogerFraser]

Rhino poacher gets 17 years, accomplice still on the run

Ernest Mabuza
JOURNALIST

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... um=twitter



A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to 17 years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences, including killing a rhino. Stock photo.
Image: 123RF/albund

The Skukuza regional court in Mpumalanga on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Sylvester Zitha to 17 years’ imprisonment for poaching-related offences.

Zitha, 40, was convicted of trespassing, possession of a firearm with a silencer, possession of ammunition, killing a rhino, possession of an axe and conspiracy to commit an offence.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on October 19 2019, rangers at the Kruger National Park found a dead rhino and followed tracks.

“They found Zitha and Ricardo Phiri in possession of a hunting rifle and two fresh rhino horns.

“Both were subsequently arrested. Phiri was granted bail and absconded,” said NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.

In court, Zitha pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutor Lot Mgiba led evidence which led to the conviction of the accused for killing the rhino.

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

They don't say when they were arrested. It would be interesting to see if the time from arrest to sentence has been shortened

[Richprins]

Poacher arrested in Kruger Park sentenced to 11 years
By Staff Reporter - 24 November 2022 - 18:13
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences. Stock photo.


The Skukuza regional court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a 42-year-old man to an effective 11 years’ imprisonment for poaching-related offences.

Isaac Sithlangu was convicted of trespassing inside the Kruger National Park, conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Sithlangu was initially charged with co-accused Abel Manyike, who earlier pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced in October this year, said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa. 

She said Sithlangu absconded after he was granted bail in 2019 and was later re-arrested.

South Africa has dehorned dozens of rhinos in three popular game parks, aiming to prevent armed poachers taking advantage of the post-COVID-19 crash in tourism to kill them for their horns. Soraya Ali reports.


In August 2019, the rangers were doing their daily routine in Stolznek section using a helicopter when the accused were spotted. They were found in possession of a firearm, ammunition and hunting weapons and were arrested.

In aggravation of sentence, prosecutor Lot Mgiba handed in a ballistics report which revealed the firearm that was found in his possession was meant to poach rhinos. 

Though Sithlangu was sentenced to 14 years for these offences, the court ordered that the terms run concurrently, resulting in an effective 11-year jail term.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... -11-years/