White Rhino grazing at Monate Lodge

Wednesday 28 September 2011

It’s World Rhino Day

It is World Rhino Day – but with the animals being poached at a rate of more than one a day, there is little to celebrate.
The news on the day set aside to honour one of Africa’s Big Five has been tainted with news that four more rhino have been killed by poachers in KwaZulu-Natal game reserves over the past few weeks.
The Mercury on Thursday reported that two white rhino were shot and dehorned in the wilderness section of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park at the weekend.
At Ndumo Game Reserve, on the province’s northern border with Mozambique, two rhino – one white, one black, were killed this month.
Approached for comment today, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesman, Waheeda Peters, said 24 rhinos had been poached in KZN and 289 nationally since the beginning of the year. Last year 333 rhino were poached.
She could give no information on the latest incidents.
Those battling against rhino extinction are trying to put across a simple message – rhino horn is not medicine. Local animal rights and conservation groups are convinced that having a day dedicated to the fight against poaching is a step in the right direction.
Ethel Horsman of Animal Action said she was glad a light was being shone on the issue. “My organisation is pro-life, so we hate to see any animal so brutally murdered,” she said.
Chris Galliers, conservation project manager at the Wildlife and Environmental Society of SA, said the day would be key in highlighting the situation.
“Especially with the day falling so close to Heritage Day, it is important to acknowledge these animals as part of our heritage,” he said. -Daily News
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/it-s-world-rhino-day-1.1142976

ACT launches Skydive for Rhinos campaign

30 staff members and supporters of the African Conservation Trust (ACT) will be leaping out of a plane on 6th August to raise awareness and funding for anti-poaching activities that are urgently needed to protect South Africa’s remaining Black and White Rhino populations.
As the number of Rhinos slain for their horns escalated to over 160 in the first 130 days of 2011, so did ACT’s desire to get more involved and support those on the front line of anti-poaching efforts, who are up against what is increasingly organised crime. However, ACT is at full stretch with several large water conservation, food security and heritage projects and does not have spare reserves of funding that can be directed to protecting SA’s Rhinos, particularly those in KZN, ACT’s home province. Hence, the Skydive for Rhinos project was created.
What started out as a group of six female staff members bravely putting aside their fear of heights (and all common sense) to throw themselves out of a plane in a show of support for Rhinos under threat, grew within hours to 30 (equally crazy) people, the maximum number that Skydive Durban can accommodate in one day.
100% of the money raised will go towards Rhino protection activities that are struggling to counteract poaching because of funding shortages. These activities include equipping anti-poaching patrol teams, GPS tracking, Rhino identification and aerial surveillance. Individuals and businesses may sponsor the team in many ways including sponsoring individual members, one off donations, sponsorship of the identification and micro-chipping of individual Rhino’s and donations of equipment.

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/environment/act_launches_skydive_for_rhinos_campaign.html

‘Rhino horn must not be legalised’

Legalisation of the rhino-horn trade will strengthen the misconception that rhino horn has “special powers”, while farming rhinos for their prized horns will keep them in depressing, cramped conditions and worsen illegal trade.
These are some of the views garnered from an informal survey initiated by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), in a global poll on whether trade should resume and if rhinos should be farmed for their horns to stop rampant poaching.
In the survey, an overwhelming 78 percent of respondents believe trade in rhino horn should not be legalised, while just 12 percent throw their weight behind the controversial proposal. On the question of whether rhinos should be farmed, 73 percent disagree and only 15 percent approve.
The survey of the IRF – which works to protect the world’s five rhino species – comes at a time when the government is conducting separate studies into the viability of dehorning and the legal trade in rhino horn.
While South Africa is home to most of the world’s rhinos, this year alone close to 300 rhinos have been poached – more than half in the Kruger National Park – a figure likely to outstrip last year’s deadly toll of 333.
“Butchering these animals should carry the highest punishment. Instead of farming rhinos like common cows, these so-called people should invest in bringing rhinos back from the edge,” writes one European citizen for part of the survey. “Any companies linked to such killings for profit should be exposed and massive fines issued to them.”
The survey elicits mixed views. Some commentators remark the trade should only be legalised in a way that benefits conservation.
“I think if farming is legalised a portion of the proceeds must go back to poaching protection and the conservation of wild rhinos,” says a US woman in her 20s.
Another respondent, from Africa, believes farming can be considered only once the species is no longer endangered.
“Inevitably, illegal trade will hide within legal farming fronts. No doubt ‘wild’ horn will be regarded as more potent than ‘farmed’ horn, and will still be more valuable.”
An American citizen agrees: “If the Asian psyche is consuming the horn of a wild rhino, similar to their belief that a wild tiger has ‘greater powers’, than a farmed tiger, farmed rhino will absolutely not solve the problem of poaching!
“Good enforcement coupled with elimination of corruption, if at all possible, might allow sustainable harvesting of a few wild rhinos. Maybe Asia, with its new-found wealth, could actually embark on a conservation model that allows it to sustainably harvest a few animals and help pay for conservation.”
Another American concurs: “I believe that making any form of rhino horn legal for sale would endanger the lives of wild rhinos because it would strengthen the misconception rhino horn has any special powers.”
A respondent, from Africa, comments legalising then rhino trade will only create an additional avenue for those already trading illegally. “Organised criminals are often diversified, (also) operating legal business interests. For them it will only add another structure they can exploit.”
A European agrees: “I believe that the legalisation of trade in rhino horn would cause an upsurge in poaching to meet demand and give poachers a legal avenue to dispose of their horn. Do we really want to see rhinos farmed for horn, kept in cramped, depressing conditions, with no quality of life?”
An African respondent states rhino horn has no medicinal value and it is unethical to promote trade “at great risk to rhino populations. Too little is known about market and drivers. Poaching is linked to international crime syndicates and other illegal wildlife trade and products”.
“The SA industry is involved in poaching and driving the market as well. Conservation efforts should go towards conserving the rhino in situ, with accompanying habitat.
“The canned-lion industry is horrific, tiger farming is appalling. Do we want to add rhino farming to this? Absolutely not.”
Commenting on the survey, Pelham Jones of the Private Rhino Owners’ Association, told Independent Newspapers: “All the people at the rockface are saying legal trade and dehorning are definite possibilities. These are scientists and the most credible conservationists in the country. It’s very easy when you don’t have rhinos to turn around and say no to trade and dehorning.”

http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/rhino-horn-must-not-be-legalised-1.1140700

Good rhino news at last




Hermanus-based sculptor Farayi Mukonde, left, helped by Blessing Jeremani and Bongani Chenera, with his 80kg rhino. The artwork will be auctioned in Joburg at the end of the month and the funds will go to Clive Walker's Living Museum and Rhino Care Centre, which helps rehabilitate ill, injured or orphaned rhinos Picture: ESA ALEXANDER
Samples taken from black rhinos in reserves in KwaZulu-Natal show that the species is as genetically healthy as elephants and buffaloes, even though the rhino population is descended from only two breeding herds.
Black rhinos were hunted to near extinction, and, by 1930, there were only 110 left in the wild in South Africa. This prompted an ambitious relocation programme.
By spreading rhinos around the country, wildlife officials not only helped increase rhino numbers, but also helped to bolster genetic diversity - vital to the preservation of the species.
DNA test results released by Stellenbosch University show that the policy worked. The data werepublished last month in the scientific journal Animal Conservation, the official publication of the London Zoological Society.
The publication coincides with the release of the latest national black rhino population figures, showing that their numbers have risen to more than 2000 in South Africa.
However, according to the International Rhino Foundation, there were 65000 of the animals in Africa in 1970. The World Conservation Union puts rhino figures in Africa today at 4300.
International Rhino Day was celebrated around the world this week, with much of the focus on efforts to prevent the poaching of the animals in South Africa.
Researchers tested 77 rhino samples, collected during the process of rhino tagging, when small pieces of the animal's ear are removed.
Complex molecular testing shows that the local black rhino population is more genetically diverse than expected, given the animals' common ancestry.
The greater the genetic diversity, the better the chances of adapting to a changing environment, scientists say.
Minette Karsten, one of the researchers, said the rhino study was the first of its kind.
"Our findings pay tribute to the well-managed and well-documented efforts of the KZN conservation officials, who, over the past 40 years, have had the survival of South Africa's black rhino populations at heart," she said.
"Our aim was to provide scientific information that can support the management and monitoring of this rare species.
"We hope this will, along with other ecological data, assist any future decisions about translocation of rhinos between reserves in SA and between various countries."
The conservation success story is in stark contrast to a recent upsurge in rhino poaching, which has claimed 287 rhinos in South Africa so far this year.
Last year, 333 rhinos were killed for their horns, used for medicinal purposes in Asia.
The surge in poaching has prompted some private reserves to consider injecting an "anti-parasite" solution - which is known to be harmful to humans - into rhino horns.
Dr Peter Goodman, co-ordinator of biodiversity research in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's biodiversity research division, said the Stellenbosch study would bolster rhino conservation efforts.
"We are grateful to know that our [relocation] strategy thus far has been shown to be scientifically sound," he said.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2011/09/25/good-rhino-news-at-last

Activists march for legal rhino hunting moratorium




Animal rights activists, game reserve owners and members of the public marched to Parliament to call for a moratorium on legal rhino hunting yesterday.
The march was also in celebration of World Rhino Day.
Close to 300 rhino have been poached since the beginning of the year.
Tracy Armbruster, a member of the Outraged SA Citizens Against Poaching (Oscap) Facebook group, said licences were issued to people who abused the system and exported rhino horns for a huge amount of money.
“We want to get a moratorium set in place before October 31 to stop the hunting of rhino. It’s an endangered species. Handing out permits left, right and centre needs to stop – at least until they can sort themselves out. That will give the animal time to recover,” said Oscap member Marché Poole.
Also at the march was Searl Derman, owner of the Aquila Private Game Reserve that recently lost two rhino to poaching.
He stressed that although beefing up security at game reserves and lodges was a necessary move towards protecting rhino, it was very expensive.
“The government needs to step in, increasing security is extremely expensive. We need bigger sentences (for poachers), more people investigating, more surveillance and the government needs to take Asian markets to task.”
Gareth Morgan, the DA’s spokesman on environmental affairs, confirmed the DA’s support in the fight against rhino poaching.
“On Tuesday, the DA raised a motion that was passed condemning the cowardly act of rhino poaching,” Morgan said.
“The whole of Parliament noted World Rhino Day. We will continue to raise this issue at the highest levels to ensure it remains at the forefront of the national agenda.”
Roopa Singh, spokesman for the Water and Environmental Affairs Department, said the department was taking the issue of rhino poaching seriously.
“Minister Edna Molewa indicated that it is her intention to also engage the various provincial Environment MECs to look at the possibility of placing a moratorium on the hunting of rhino.”

Tuesday 13 September 2011

South Africa has taken the first step on the long and controversial road to lifting the world ban on rhino horn trading.

South Africa has taken the first step on the long and controversial road to lifting the world ban on rhino horn trading.
The ban has been in place for more than 30 years.
Last month, the Department of Environmental Affairs placed two advertisements on its tenders website to initiate a series of studies that could pave the way for a resumption of controlled rhino-horn trading.
The studies will include a detailed assessment of whether there are “options and opportunities available to South Africa to access a legal market”.
A separate study will look into the feasibility of dehorning thousands of rhinos as a way of saving them from poachers’ bullets.
Department spokesman Albi Modise said yesterday no decisions had been taken on the question of trading horns internationally, and the preliminary studies were to guide future decision-making on “various options” to safeguard the country’s rhino population.
International trade in rhino horns was banned in 1977 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) after a wave of poaching threatened to decimate rhino populations in Africa and the Far East.
South Africa, which still allows trophy hunting under a permit system, also imposed a moratorium on the domestic sale of rhino products and horns in 2009.
This followed an upsurge in rhino poaching in this country in recent years.
Fed by international criminal syndicates chasing sky-high profits, the black market demand for horns has reached the point where more rhinos were killed in South Africa last year than the combined total over the previous decade.
Earlier this week, Environment Minister Edna Molewa said she was considering imposing a moratorium on rhino hunting because of the abuse of rhino trophy-hunting permits.
As the death toll continues to climb, there have been several calls to reopen the debate on whether the international Cites trade ban remains an effective tool to combat unscrupulous and well-organised crime syndicates. - The Star


http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/sa-eyes-lifting-of-rhino-horn-ban-1.1130604

Cele muzzles police on rhino poaching

Skukuza - The office of National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele has banned all provincial and regional police communication officers from commenting on issues concerning rhino poaching.

The ban followed the death of two suspected rhino poachers who were killed during a shoot-out with South African National Defence Force soldiers in the Kruger National Park on Thursday.

On Friday, provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Hlathi refused to comment on the shoot-out and referred all questions to national police spokesperson Brigadier Sally de Beer.

“I suggest you telephone the national office for comment because we are not allowed to comment on stories concerning rhino poaching,” Hlathi told African Eye News Service (AENS) on Friday.

Hlathi's senior, Brigadier Lindelani Mashego confirmed that local or provincial police were no longer allowed to comment on rhino poaching incidents.

"There's an agreement between the affected parties and other government departments that the issue of rhino poaching has to be communicated through the national office of the police.

"The national office has come up with a joint operation working with the intelligence and they are the ones who are handling questions from the media about rhino poaching issues," said Mashego.  

20 suspected rhino poachers killed


However, when AENS contacted De Beer, she also refused to comment on the grounds that the police did not release a statement concerning the matter.

“The Kruger National Park should comment,” said De Beer.

Attempts to get SANDF joint tactical head office provincial spokesperson Captain Albert Mathonsi to comment were futile.

"We don't speak to the media, we are only here to assist the police deal with rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park," said Mathonsi.

South African National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli confirmed that two suspected poachers were killed on Thursday following a shoot-out with soldiers.

"The shoot-out ensued after three armed men confronted the soldiers and started firing without uttering a word. One of the soldiers was short in the leg and the soldiers shot back, killing the two men and injuring the other one,” said Thakhuli.

He said an AK-47 and a hunting rifle were seized from the scene.

Thakhuli said at least 20 suspected rhino poachers had been killed this year alone while 69 were arrested.

This year, more than 159 rhino have been killed in the Kruger alone. Altogether, about 150 suspected rhino poachers have been arrested nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve has suggested that rhino horns be poisoned to deter poachers.

The idea was put forward during discussions held at Kromdraai, outside Pretoria, last week.

Reserve spokesperson Lorinda Hern said poisoning rhino horns may reduce the demand in Asian countries, where rhino horn is used for medicinal purposes, most notably as an aphrodisiac


http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cele-muzzles-police-on-rhino-poaching-20110911

King lashes out at rhino poachers



ZULU King Goodwill Zweli-thini has condemned the killing of rhinos, saying that wildlife and the environment were critical for the well-being of the nation.
Addressing thousands of Zulu maidens at the Reed Dance ceremony at his eNyokeni Palace in Nongoma at the weekend, he dubbed those responsible for killing rhinos “heartless” individuals.
“Stop this rubbish of destroying the wildlife and killing rhinos and other animals,” the king said.
“You are really behaving like dogs that do not care about their futures. These animals are a wealth given by God to the people of KwaZulu-Natal. Change the way you are behaving because the killing of rhinos is a defiance of my order as your king to respect and protect wildlife,” he said.
The king, a known environmentalist, said he was aware that some members of his Usuthu tribe were involved in rhino poaching.
“May I warn you today that I will personally hunt you down and deal with you accordingly if you carry on with this unbecoming behaviour,” he said.
The king said the killing of rhinos was no longer something that could be ignored, as it was spreading like wildfire.
“Last year alone, a total of 333 rhinos were illegally killed. This year, which has not yet come to an end, 274 rhinos have been killed. Stop this, I urge you,” said the king.
At the ceremony this year the Zulu maidens, joined by President Jacob Zuma, the king and Premier Zweli Mkhize, planted more than 30 000 trees around the palace.
The trees were donated by the Champion of Environment Foundation in South Africa, headed by Bantu Holomisa, who also participated in the planting of trees.
Addressing the maidens, the king warned them of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, urging the youth not to indulge in such substances.
“Please stay away from criminality. Please purge from your hearts any hero-worshipping of criminals.
“Do not buy anything from criminals.
“Do not be lustful of anything that is ill-gotten,” said the king.
Revived in 1985 by the king, the Reed Dance ceremony is held annually to instil a sense respect and promote the preservation of virginity as part of the fight against the spread of HIV/Aids.


http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/king-lashes-out-at-rhino-poachers-1.1135527

Monday 5 September 2011

SA eyes lifting of rhino horn ban


Copy of rhino poaching
INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

A MORATORIUM on rhino hunting could be on the cards to prevent unscrupulous individuals from manipulating the permit system, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said. Photo: Moloko Moloto

South Africa has taken the first step on the long and controversial road to lifting the world ban on rhino horn trading.
The ban has been in place for more than 30 years.
Last month, the Department of Environmental Affairs placed two advertisements on its tenders website to initiate a series of studies that could pave the way for a resumption of controlled rhino-horn trading.
The studies will include a detailed assessment of whether there are “options and opportunities available to South Africa to access a legal market”.
A separate study will look into the feasibility of dehorning thousands of rhinos as a way of saving them from poachers’ bullets.
Department spokesman Albi Modise said yesterday no decisions had been taken on the question of trading horns internationally, and the preliminary studies were to guide future decision-making on “various options” to safeguard the country’s rhino population.
International trade in rhino horns was banned in 1977 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) after a wave of poaching threatened to decimate rhino populations in Africa and the Far East.
South Africa, which still allows trophy hunting under a permit system, also imposed a moratorium on the domestic sale of rhino products and horns in 2009.
This followed an upsurge in rhino poaching in this country in recent years.
Fed by international criminal syndicates chasing sky-high profits, the black market demand for horns has reached the point where more rhinos were killed in South Africa last year than the combined total over the previous decade.
Earlier this week, Environment Minister Edna Molewa said she was considering imposing a moratorium on rhino hunting because of the abuse of rhino trophy-hunting permits.
As the death toll continues to climb, there have been several calls to reopen the debate on whether the international Cites trade ban remains an effective tool to combat unscrupulous and well-organised crime syndicates. - The Starhttp://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/sa-eyes-lifting-of-rhino-horn-ban-1.1130604

THAI RHINO ACCUSED A FLIGHT RISK

SHAUN SMILLIE
A SHOUT of “Amandla!” and applause. That was how the women in green greeted magistrate Eric Mhlari’s decision not to grant Chumlong Lemtongthai bail.
The women in green were ANC Women’s League members, and they and several animal rights organisations were relieved yesterday.
“I thought it was going to go the other way, I was just so stressed. I thought he was getting bail,” said rhino rights activist Selomie Maritz.
The court found that Thai national Lemtongthai was too much of a flight risk, even though he had handed in his passport to authorities, and his attorney, Alwyn Griebenow, had argued that his client had yet to be convicted and constitutionally was eligible for bail.
It took Mhlari more than an hour to read his detailed judgment yesterday afternoon.
ST p5secRhinobail14
0014 01/09/2011 Members of the ANCs Women League hold up their posters in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court calling for bail to be denied during the bail application of Chumlong Lemtongthai, a Thai national concerning the killing of rhinos in South Africa. Picture: Ihsaan Haffejee
He told the court he had had to weigh up several issues that had been raised during the two days of the bail hearing.
These included the fact that Lemtongthai had no family in South Africa, had no fixed address, and the difficulty experienced in extraditing someone from Thailand.
He said another important consideration had been the possibility of Lemtongthai interfering with witnesses.
“It is not impossible for a person to obtain travel documents, or even flee without any at all,” the magistrate said.
He told the court that “the State fears that there is the possibility the accused might flee the country, as there is nothing binding the accused to the country. Thus it is my inevitable conclusion that bail is refused.”
Earlier, State prosecutor Allen Simpson had a protesters’ banner brought before the magistrate. He told the court that the case had generated a lot of public interest and this had to be taken into account during the bail application.
The defence countered that this had nothing to do with the legal system and amounted to little more than a lynch mob.
Lemtongthai is accused of running a syndicate that used Thai prostitutes and strippers, who would pose as hunters.
His modus operandi allegedly was to obtain legal trophy permits to shoot rhinos. The permits would be in the names of the Thai women.
Earlier, the court heard that the women didn’t shoot the animals, but posed alongside the carcasses for photographs.
The State said 26 rhinos had been shot this way, and Lemtongthai had sold the horns for R65 000 a kilogram.
He is charged with contravening the Customs and Excise Act, and fraud.
However, Griebenow told the court yesterday his client made R25 000 a month, but that he owned a Hummer worth R300 000 and had furniture valued at more than R800 000.
He had two houses worth R500 000 and another R3.5 million in Thailand.
“We had considered getting one of his family members to come over,” said Griebenow yesterday after the hearing. “If his family was willing to travel all the way here, why would he be a flight risk? My client told me that if bail was not granted, he will pursue the case.”
Lemtongthai will be in court again on September 15 to decide on a trial date.
Outside court yesterday, the leader of the ANC Women’s League contingent, Sally Peterson, said it was just one small victory for animal rights.
“You touch an animal, you touch a woman,” she said. http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/thai-rhino-accused-a-flight-risk-1.1129950