Rhino losses dip, says minister
Since the beginning of January, 206 alleged poachers have been arrested in South Africa.
AT a media briefing on rhino poaching, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa highlighted events which have led to the drop in rhino poaching over the first four months of this year.
She said the Kruger National Park was still hardest hit with 232 rhinos poached during that period.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 51 rhinos were killed, the second highest number over this period, while Limpopo Province lost 30.
Numbers of rhinos poached in the other provinces were in the North West (15), Mpumalanga (14), Eastern Cape (13), Northern Cape (5) and Free State (3) bringing the total number to 363 rhinos killed.
Law enforcement
Since the beginning of January, 206 alleged poachers have been arrested in South Africa.
Some of these have attracted media attention and are still before the courts or are being processed.
One of these is the case against Groenewald and 11 others under the pseudonym ‘Project Umvelo’ where the accused are facing 1 840 charges.
Their next appearance will be on 28 June.
In another case, Ras and 10 others (Project Wolverine) are facing 318 charges and the case has been set down for trial from 27 July to 15 December.
Between April 2015 and March this year, 49 cases were finalised, with 103 accused appearing in various courts.
Of these accused, 80 were convicted.
Ports of entry
Since January, the department has increased its detection capacity at the ports of entry by training another 712 multi-disciplinary border officials.
This brings the number trained by the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) on the Illicit International Cross Border Movement of Endangered Species to 1 759 officers.
The translocation programme has seen rhinos moved to selected locations which meet strict criteria.
Through the Rhino Protection Programme, implemented with the Peace Parks Foundation, support has been extended to the rescue, care and rehabilitation of rhino orphans.
There are currently 20 orphans under the care of the Kruger National Park and 10 with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
The reintroduction of these young rhinos into the wild is vital to the rhino populations affected by poaching.
Regulatory standards
Amendments to the ‘Norms and Standards for the Marking of Rhinoceros and Rhinoceros Horn’ and the ‘Hunting of Rhinoceros for Trophy Hunting Purposes’ are being finalised.
This is particularly important in addressing the movement and safekeeping of rhino horns and the management of the hunting of rhino.
The department is also implementing Biodiversity Management Plans for White and Black rhino.
The department has, through its Integrated Strategic Management Approach, brought communities into the mainstream of conservation.
By creating real opportunities for the people living near reserves, this should make them less vulnerable to exploitation by poachers.
Internationally, Memorandum of Understanding have been signed by Vietnam and Mozambique.
Outstanding signings are Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania.
