Zimbabwe is currently home to the world’s fourth largest population of critically endangered Black Rhino. Although rhino killings in Zimbabwe have more than doubled in the past year, poachers continue to walk away without punishment for their crimes.
In a recent IRF press release, rhino conservation experts called upon international agencies and the Zimbabwe government to take immediate action against poaching of endangered species and to crack down on trade in wildlife products.
Tackling the situation in Zimbabwe is especially challenging because the rhino poaching in this area is planned and carried out by organized gangs. The attacks have become increasingly brazen – not only are rhinos being slaughtered, but the criminals have begun firing at the people protecting them.
Earlier this year, Raoul du Toit warned that Zimbabwe’s rhino poachers were not villagers desperate for food, but organized criminal gangs - people with “cars, cell phones, and expensive lawyers.”
And when poachers are apprehended, they are not punished.
Law enforcement inadequate; involvement of officials “covered up”
The escalation in rhino poaching is compounded by the lack of consequences for poachers who are caught:
Earlier this month, a park ranger charged with having killed three rhinos in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge Safari Area, was acquitted without any satisfactory explanation for the verdict, according to the three conservation groups who say there was “overwhelming evidence against him.”
In September 2008, a gang of four Zimbabwean poachers who admitted to killing 18 rhinos were freed in a failed judiciary process.
Recently, allafrica.com reported that police investigations have implicated two politicians in the illegal rhino horn trade – but that a “cover-up” is most likely under way:
Officials keen to see the prosecution of the senior government officials yesterday expressed frustration at the way the matter was handled.
They said a heavy lid slammed on the case could discourage detectives who were keen to stamp out poaching activities …
While Attorney-General Johannes Tomana could not be reached to explain circumstances surrounding the case, Environmental and Natural Resources Management Minister, Francis Nhema admitted on Thursday that senior Zanu PF officials had been implicated in the resurgent cases of rhino poaching.
“Growing purchasing power of Asian countries” driving the demand for rhino horn
According to the International Rhino Foundation:
The growing purchasing power of many Asian countries, combined with organized gangs of poachers who have an outlet for selling rhino horn on has kept the poaching threat great.
Lowveld Rhino Trust’s Raoul du Toit also stated recently to VOA that the reduction in law enforcement in Zimbabwe, coupled with the growing Chinese and Vietnamese footprints in Africa, were driving forces behind the recent increase in poaching.
And it’s not just the horns of Zimbabwe’s rhinos that are making their way to demanding Asian wildlife markets.
It has now become apparent to the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa that poachers had been posing as trophy hunting clients in order to gain access to rhino horn and have it shipped to Asia for illegal sale.
Earlier this year, conservationists reported to the Standing Committee of CITES that there is
… growing evidence of involvement of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai nationals in the illegal procurement and transport of rhino horn out of Africa.
Along with rhino horn, ivory and tiger parts are highly prized in illegal wildlife markets
Poaching of elephants has now resurfaced in Kenya, and the total number of wild tigers has been reduced to approximately 4,000.
Rhino horn is in demand because it is believed to treat fever and other common conditions, not as an aphrodisiac, as widely believed.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the horn, which is shaved or ground into a powder and dissolved in boiling water, is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, and other disorders. According to the 16th century Chinese pharmacist Li Shi Chen, the horn could also cure snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, food poisoning, and “devil possession.” (However, it is not, as commonly believed, prescribed as an aphrodisiac).
Despite the wide availability of inexpensive, proven products available to treat all of the aforementioned ailments (and I’m confident there is even an alternative to “devil possession”), the myth persists, and demand for rhino horn continues to grow.
And when the last rhino is exterminated from the wild, what will we have to say for ourselves?
Image source: flickr.com/tambako/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
“Zimbabwe’s Rhino Poaching Crisis Compounded by Lack of Law Enforcement” by Rhishja Larson originally published July 22, 2009 on EcoWorldly.
