The rhino struggle

Just over one thousand rhinos were poached in South Africa last year; 668 were poached in 2012, and 448 were poached in 2011.

This is according to Irene Huysamen, chairperson of the Green Wall of Africa S.E.E. Projects, which is a non-profit organisation that oversees the Rhino SA project.

According to the organisation, up to three rhinos are poached in South Africa every day – at this rate the country’s rhino population in the wild will be wiped out by 2026.

As it stands 146 rhinos have been poached so far this year. “The youth of South Africa are having their heritage taken from them by highly sophisticated crime syndicates who support crimes like drug trafficking, arms smuggling and human trafficking,” she said.

“These criminals have no respect for South Africa or its people and the implications these wildlife crimes will have on future environmental eco-systems, tourism, job creation and the economy of this beautiful country if we are only left with the Big Four.”

She said South Africa has 90 percent of the world’s rhinos and the public should voice their concerns to the government to put pressure on countries where the demand for rhino horn is highest, like Vietnam.

According to the organisation, rhino horn is sold on the black market for about $75 000 (approximately R814 164) per kilogram.

They suggested the extinction of the rhino would have consequences on South Africa’s economy because of tourism and job losses, as well as on the environment as animals, insects and plants depend on the rhino for survival.

Rhino SA is a youth-based outreach awareness project aimed at educating the youth of South Africa and the rest of the world about the poaching of South Africa’s rhinos.

The project is looking to conduct presentations at more schools in Randburg.

Details: Rhino SA, schools@rhinosa.co.za