Cross-Border Poaching KNP - Mozambique

[Toko]

Mozambique poaching has regional effects

(2013-08-01) Mozambique says it is committed to fighting wildlife crime, especially elephant and rhino poaching. Thousands of elephants were killed in the country between 2009 and 2012. Poachers also use Mozambique as a base for regional criminal activities.

Mozambique has been under growing pressure to take a much tougher stand against poaching. Neighboring South Africa and conservation groups want the government to adhere to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. A CITES meeting earlier this year in Thailand singled-out Mozambique for its lack of action on poaching.

“Mozambique increasingly has become one of the major exit points for both rhino horn and elephant ivory. We’re facing a crisis for both species. And, in particular, the Vietnamese syndicates that are behind the rhino horn trade – it’s very clear with the improved law enforcement effort being made in South Africa that they’ve moved next door to Mozambique,” said Tom Milliken, elephant and rhino coordinator for TRAFFIC International, a wildlife trade monitoring network.

He said that action taken by Mozambique will have a direct effect on South Africa.

“Mozambique nationals are heavily involved in the poaching of rhinos in Kruger National Park, which is the premier wildlife site in South Africa. Hundreds of rhinos are being killed in that park and mostly by Mozambican nationals, who are crossing over the border killing the animals -- bringing the horns back --selling them to the Vietnamese syndicates behind the trade. And then the horns are leaving for Asia out of airports and seaports from Mozambique.”

But poachers have taken a big toll within Mozambique itself.

“Mozambique’s largest elephant population is in the north of the country along the Ravuma River in a place called the Niassa Game Reserve. This is the largest population hey have and it’s a shared population with Tanzania. But we think just in the last three years or so about 2,500 elephants have probably been killed. I recently saw mortality data of carcasses that have been found. And we’re sometimes seeing family groups of six to eight elephants all gunned down at the same time,” he said.

It’s unclear how much money poachers get for a rhino horn or elephant tusk, but Milliken said you can get a pretty good idea.

“Some of the poachers who go into Kruger National Park from Mozambique – they’re the only people in their village that have houses with a solid foundation and sometimes they even drive Toyota Land Cruisers. So, it’s hugely lucrative for some individuals; and unfortunately, even though they’re criminals, they become the role models for the youth in that society because they’re so economically successful,” he said.

Mozambique is now reviewing its penal code to eventually make poaching a criminal offense that carries stiff penalties.

Milliken said, “We also rolled out identification materials in the Portuguese language. Getting customs officials and other people at the border crossings to accurately identify some of these products is really important. And up until now there haven’t been any materials in the Portuguese language.”

Mozambique must also submit a series of progress reports to the CITES Secretariat by next January. Representatives from TRAFFIC International, the World Wildlife Fund and others met recently with country officials to jump start the process.

Concerns over poaching go beyond Mozambique’s wildlife. Milliken said it can harm the country’s national security.

“So many of these criminal syndicates that are driving the rhino horn and ivory trades are Asian nationals, who are operating from bases within African countries. And if they’re operating successfully, it also means that they’re expanding their activities. They’re becoming more entrenched. Organized crime is not shy about using corruption or intimidation to get what they want. And so all of this is unfolding in these countries.”

He said the same crime syndicates involved in poaching may also be involved in drugs and human trafficking.

Source: VOA News

[Toko]

End of poachers' safe haven

SCHALK MOUTON | 02 August, 2013

South African and Mozambican conservation enforcement agencies met yesterday to fine-tune a plan to crack down on poaching.

The plan is to "trigger" cross-border operations to pursue and arrest Mozambicans who kill rhinos in the Kruger National Park.

The plan also calls for the extradition to South Africa from Mozambique of criminals suspected of poaching. Up to 90% of poachers are from Mozambique, said General Johan Jooste, head of all anti-poaching operations at SANParks.

The meeting followed discussions between Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and her Mozambican counterpart, Alcinda Abreu, who agreed on the need for cross-border operations.

"Law enforcement should not be sidelined by the international fence," said Jooste.

The "implementing instructions" are to be revised in six months' time, added Jooste, a retired SANDF major-general who was contracted by SANParks to coordinate its anti-poaching operations.

The plan will be handed to the ministers next week.

Mozambique - where poaching is not a crime - has been put on notice by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) to amend its legislation to make the possession of ivory or rhino horn a criminal offence.

Molewa has warned Mozambique that the South African government intends re-erecting the 80km fence between the Kruger and Limpopo parks that was removed to create a transfrontier "peace park". Should this happen, Mozambique stands to lose up to R13-million in donor money from international aid organisations for its role in maintaining the peace park, said Jooste.

He said coordination between South Africa and Mozambican law enforcement agencies was "dismal".

"The poacher will run across the border and fire victory shots. He will go and sit in the sight of the ranger and smoke because [rangers] dare not cross that line."

Should a SANParks official or SANDF soldier shoot a poacher across the border, it would create a serious international incident, and might be seen as an act of war, he said.

Because of high unemployment and poverty there are an almost unlimited number of young men - most just out of their teens - eager to get their hands on poaching money.

"There are a lot more poachers than rhino in this world . They [get paid]R30000 to R40000 [per rhino] and they come and hunt."

Flip Nel, section ranger at Tshokwane, said it takes only seven minutes from when the animal has dropped until it has been dehorned.

"It takes them half an hour from when the animal is shot to when they cross the border," he added.

Jooste said the "insurgency war" was changing the face of the Kruger National Park.

Plans are in place to improve access control at the park's entry gates and new security technology is to be introduced.

This includes laying cables that pick up vibrations in the ground, and aircraft with highly sensitive surveillance equipment that will be able to see 50km beyond the borders of the park.

Apprehending poachers, and successful prosecutions leading to lengthy jail terms, would serve as a deterrent and would be the most effective measures to protect our wildlife, Jooste said.

"The final victory will be in the courtroom before a judge - not in the bush."

[Richprins]

Mozambique is now reviewing its penal code to eventually make poaching a criminal offense that carries stiff penalties.



The plan is to "trigger" cross-border operations to pursue and arrest Mozambicans who kill rhinos in the Kruger National Park.

The plan also calls for the extradition to South Africa from Mozambique of criminals suspected of poaching.

This is very important indeed!

[H. erectus]

Rather unexpected news!!!

[Bushcraft]

Very important

[Penga Ndlovu]

A month and a half or so ago I made a post that a big change is coming.
This is part of the change.
More is coming.
This is only the first part.

[Richprins]

Ja, as far as I know the relocation of villagers has been completed on a small scale within the Moz sector of the GKTNP. (Shingwedzi River) What remains within that area is villages along the Limpopo River, which were never destined to be moved. Also villages along the Massingir Dam, which cannot be moved, and sort of fall outside the Park.

I think Jooste means the villages between the Olifants and Komati rivers, which are on a hotchpotch of private land, Cutadas (Govt. land) and lodges.

These were never part of the initial Peace Parks deal, neither the original GKTNP Park deal.

Aha!

Got some info from a parent today explaining the situation regarding the villages!

Quite complicated!










The problem villages are mostly on the Shingwedzi River, and indeed being relocated! (2 soon to be, hopefully)


(Map courtesy of SANParks)

[Richprins]

The red lines indicate villages within range of Kruger and possibly involved in poaching. All of this is not a state secret, BTW! Part of a long-standing resettlement plan!

The black lines indicate resettlement.

No. 1 is Makendezulu to Salane on the Limpopo

No. 2 is Bingo to Chake

No. 3 is Mavudze 1 to Mucatine

All above in progress or completed, with Moz.gov support, with the new locations sort of outside the Park!

[Richprins]

No. 4, Massingir Velho and Mavudze 1, look to me to be a problem, as they can move either to Cubo or the other areas downstream of the Olifants, (dotted line). So not a good idea if they go to Cubo, as it is still close to Kruger...my opinion only!

Chimangue and Machamba are recalcitrant, but part of the process, hopefully? Don't know!

So only these four villages in question, I think, judging from the conversation.

Don't have any more details.

[Mel]

Thanks for providing this info - especially with the map it's
much easier to comprehend.