Rhino Poaching 2013

[Bushcraft]

[Twigga]

Please excuse if this article was already posted, Not sure if this is what Sprocky is referring to but nevertheless alot of comments

Mozambique easy on rhino poachers - KNP
2013-04-14 22:11

NEWS 24

Mbombela - Rhino-poaching is not part of Mozambican culture, says Mozambique Consul to Limpopo and Mpumalanga, Arthur Verissimo.

Verissimo was responding to concerns from the Kruger National Park that Mozambique was not seriously addressing the involvement of its own citizens in the poaching crisis that has crippled the national park.

“People cross the border all the time. These poachers are committing a crime (despite the fact that) we have security measures at the border.... It is not in our culture to poach rhino," Verissmo told African Eye News Service on Friday.

He admitted that some of the poachers come from Mozambique and said that some were even killed in the park.
He also conceded that there is no poaching in Mozambique "because people poach rhino in the Kruger National Park".

Kruger officials raised their concerns during a media tour in the park this past week.
They said that in order for the escalating rhino crisis in South Africa to be reversed, a multitude of problems in Mozambique need to be addressed.

“The root cause of poaching is high demand from Asia, but also at the core of the problem lie numerous issues in Mozambique,” said retired army Major General Johan Jooste, who is now the Kruger’s anti-poaching co-ordinator.

According to Jooste, the poaching crisis revolves around economic problems, an “unlimited recruitment” of foot soldiers and lawlessness which makes the country a safe haven for poachers.

Andrew Desmet, section ranger in the Shilowa region of the park, a known hotspot for infiltrations from Mozambique, said that Mozambican authorities did not have the same harsh attitude towards rhino poaching as South Africa did.
“There is a lot of corruption involved, even at the highest levels. In Mozambique, rangers themselves are often the people who kill rhino,” said Desmet.

Desmet added that legal differences between the two countries were also a major factor.
“Rhino poaching in Mozambique is viewed more as a misdemeanour and is often punishable with just a fine. Poachers can get into more trouble for carrying illegal firearms than for using those firearms to kill rhino,” he said. “I have hardly ever heard of arrests of rhino poachers being made there.”

Robin Hood

Kruger head of conservation Dr Freek Venter said that poachers are seen as “Robin Hood types” figures in their local villages.
“We apprehended a poacher last year and he told us that the whole community had come out to welcome him back with his rhino horns,” said Venter.

Villages close to the South African border are the main abodes for the hundreds of rhino poachers who infiltrate the park yearly.
Venter, who conducted a tour of some of these villages in late 2012, said that residents did not want the poaching to stop.
“Poachers drive the economy of these villages. They bring prosperity to these areas in a very poor country and therefore naturally villagers do not want them to stop,” he said.

Venter added that this situation made the problem of rhino poaching a “socio-political issue” and one which simply made anti-poaching strategies that much harder.

In addition, said Desmet, neutralising poachers simply increases demand for rhino horn.

“With one less poacher, rhino horn becomes less freely available, so naturally demand in Mozambique increases,” Desmet stated. “With such odds stacked against us, it is very difficult for us to eliminate the poaching.”

Jooste is of the opinion that the situation in Mozambique desperately needed to improve.

“It is essential that we improve the situation in Mozambique in order to make progress in this war. We need to form strong alliances with their authorities and address the root causes of greed and poverty,” he said. - African Eye News Service

- African Eye

[Richprins]

Thanks, Twigga!

“People cross the border all the time. These poachers are committing a crime (despite the fact that) we have security measures at the border.... It is not in our culture to poach rhino," Verissmo told African Eye News Service on Friday.

He admitted that some of the poachers come from Mozambique and said that some were even killed in the park.
He also conceded that there is no poaching in Mozambique "because people poach rhino in the Kruger National Park".

I wonder how depressingly illogical the meetings between our officials and their officials are...

[BotswanaConnection]

I have no understanding as to why there is still so much poaching in and around South Africa, But fortunatly there are Anti-Rhino poaching initiatives that are taking place, such as the red plastic Rhino horn that can be purchased. Money from the plastic Rhino is donated to help prevent Rhino poaching. We hope that many more initiatives will take place to put a final stop to Rhino poaching.

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Nice post, Botscon!

This complaint from the Feb. 2013 SP mission statement, regarding poaching:

Inadequate range capacity to conduct frequent patrols as the per the best practise to attend to poaching “hot-spots” areas.
Inadequate tools to conduct night patrols in challenging bushy terrains, such as night vision tools for both rangers and flights, and early warning systems.
Inadequate intelligence at various levels from all agencies
Mozambique (bordering 350 km of Kruger) used by poachers as their safe-harbour and escape route.
Limited and intermittent SANDF and SAPS support – no more than 150 army troops on the ground with two vehicles and helicopters to patrol 350 km Mozambique border line.


The Ministers involved regularly praise army and SAPS involvement?

[H. erectus]

OMW, what more do they need only if by chance, to make a
dent in this vehicle of poaching??? This is why I am beginning
to dispute donations toward that cause, 'cause I feel the good
deed somehow to fall in bad hands!!!!, and abuse!!!

[iNdlovu]

We need to be realists. There is absolutely no way that we have a chance to stamp out rhino poaching as long as the price per average horn works out to R2,360,000 each. We would be naive to think we can. However we can certainly not throw up our hands and capitulate. That fight has to continue.
If we expect the war against poaching will solve the problem we had better think again. There quite simply has to be a plan B and that is where AW and Care for Wild can make the difference. Those rhino in the wild all have a massive price on their heads and unless we can save the orphans and yes even take some of the adult rhino into secure areas or sanctuaries, our rhino are doomed to extinction. It is time for a bit of the old "laager tactics". Part of the plans for the new centre are to be able to accommodate up to 35 adults that can be relocated from Kruger for 'safekeeping'. This war cannot be fought on one front.

H you are correct in some of what you say. Some of the organizations collecting for anti-poaching support do a fine job, but unfortunately some are there to make money for themselves.

[Richprins]

I reckon we do our bit, Boss...and others are fighting hard in other ways too!

Multi-pronged approach works well!

[iNdlovu]

Egzackerrry my point, it has to be multi-pronged if we are to save our rhino.