Fight against rhino poaching gets R255m
A private American organisation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, donated R255 million to the South African National Parks (SANParks).
The foundation, together with the Nature Conservation Trust and SANParks, made the announcement in Rosebank on 14 March.
Howard Buffett, son of billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett, handed a cheque over to SANParks, which is meant to contribute to a three-year initiative aimed at investing in a long-term fight against rhino poaching in Kruger National Park.
The funds will go towards testing anti-poaching tactics that can be applied in other regions of Africa, where poaching can be a source of funding for armed groups.
Howard Buffet said SANParks have provided a unique opportunity to test new technology and new ideas within the best operating national parks system on the continent.
“This effort joins our foundation’s historic support for conservation with our current focus on conflict mitigation in Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes region,” he said.
SANParks CEO David Mabunda said the strategic value of the initiative was truly unique for SANParks, and that it would be transformative in SANParks’ ongoing efforts to address poaching and the decimation of the rhino population in Kruger National Park.
“We believe the lessons we hope to learn and share across SANParks and the continent will develop new and more effective ways to combat the illicit wildlife trade, particularly where it is financing armed groups.”
The Minister of Water and Environmental affairs, Bee Molewa, said that South Africa was experiencing an increase in the problem of illicit wildlife trade.
“As the world opens its borders and travel between countries becomes easier, cross-border crimes increase,” said Molewa.
“It is a sad reality that increases in certain crimes, such as the illicit wildlife trade, can be partly attributed to modern development and growing economies.”
Molewa, on behalf of the South African government, acknowledged the new partnership and said the funding received would go a long way in addressing the scourge of rhino poaching in the country.
