Another weapon in rhino fight

‘THIS is just another arrow in the quiver in the fight against rhino poaching in the province.’

These were the words of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize at the launch of a pilot project involving the infusion of dye and toxin into rhino horn at the Tembe Elephant Park.

Among the guests at the launch were delegates from Mozambique government offices and media as well as KZN MEC for Agriculture and Environment Affairs, Dr Meshack Radebe.

Also present were members of the KZN Environmental Portfolio Committee, led by chairman Omar Singh.

The project is being rolled out to the Ndumu Game Reserve over the next few days and then at other reserves hit by poaching.

Due to its close proximity to the Mozambican border, the Tembe Elephant Park has become a hotspot for rhino poaching and 11 rhinos have been killed this year.

The project is being funded by the Peace Parks Foundation as part of their broader involvement in the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area, which aims to connect protected areas in northern Zululand borders of Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.

The infusion of the dye, as used by the cash-in-transit industry, and poisoned insecticide (ectoparasiticides) is described as safe for rhino by its founders, Dr Charles van Niekerk and Dr Lorinda Hern.

The poison and dye, which is totally safe for rhino, is easily injected into the base of both rhino horns.

The dye is a warning to any end-user that the horn is not safe for human use and is visible on x-ray scanners, even when ground.

externally, the horn has only a slightly pink coloration at its tip.

As part of the pilot project, all rhinos treated with the infusion will have their DNA recorded and transponders inserted.

Dr Radebe said that the KZN provincial government will support the EKZNW initiatives aimed at tackling the rhino poaching scourge in the province.

He says that is the main reason for inviting the Portfolio Committee to see for themselves what is happening in the field regarding the ‘rhino war’.

He appealed for the full support of the justice system when dealing with poachers. Without their support, all efforts in the fight will come to nothing.

In his address, Dr Mkhize said that he will not allow the last rhino to be shot ‘under his watch’.

‘We will try pretty much anything to dampen the motivation for killing our rhino,’ said Dr Mkhize.

TUESDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 4PM

RHINOS in the Tembe Elephant Park had their horns infused with dye and toxins to make them unusable in the Eastern  ‘muti’ trade.

KZN Agriculture MEC, Dr Meshack Radebe, and members of the environmental portfolio committee witnessed the event with local and Mozambican delegates today.

The project is being rolled out to the nearby Ndumo Game Reserve in Maputoland over the next few days.

More on the project to follow