Both species of African rhino will be placed on the auction block by Shamwari Game Reserve on May 22, 2010.
Update 05/21/2010: Shamwari has released a statement ensuring that the animals up for auction will go to safe environments. Read the statement here.
In the midst of one of the worst assaults on rhino populations by poachers – and allegations that legal trophy hunts are linked to illegal rhino horn trade – Shamwari Game Reserve will be auctioning both white and critically endangered black rhinos to professional hunters, game farms, and “businessmen.”
A celebration – of hunting
Auctioning wildlife to the highest bidders – which are often trophy hunting operators – is touted by hunting advocates as “conservation” and “population control.” Shamwari’s website states the auction is to “celebrate” its conservation efforts.
Shamwari Game Reserve wants to celebrate the successes of its breeding efforts and conservation initiatives by hosting a wildlife auction on the 22nd May 2010 on the reserve.
According to the Times Live, bidders are expected to include professional hunters, game farmers, and “businessmen who own game farms.”
We expect the white rhino to sell in excess of R200000 for the older animals and R120000 for the younger ones … The black rhino hopefully will sell in excess of R400000 each …
Apparently, the money is too tempting to resist.
Link between trophy hunting & illegal rhino horn trade?
Recent events indicating that trophy hunts in South Africa have served as a front for illegal rhino horn trading raise concern about what will happen to the rhinos once they are acquired at the Shamwari auction.
This disturbing development in the South African trophy hunting industry was revealed in a recent report prepared by the IUCN/SSC and TRAFFIC for CITES. The report stated that Vietnamese nationals were participating in trophy hunts in order to obtain rhino horn.
Investigations in South Africa have revealed disturbing evidence of organized crime, including the frequent involvement of Vietnamese nationals in rhino hunting, often on the same game ranches repeatedly;
… numerous cases whereby Vietnamese “trophy hunters” paid above market price for rhino hunts, but then had to be instructed how to shoot and would forego any proper trophy preparation;
… the issuance of export permits for rhino trophies to Vietnamese nationals who had previously been identified in ongoing rhino crime investigations …
If auctions supplying animals to trophy hunting operators cannot be stopped on ethical grounds, then at least post-auction controls should be in place.
- Who is monitoring the rhinos after the auction? If no one is responsible for this, then why not?
- What controls are in place to ensure the rhinos purchased are not killed by rhino horn traders posing as safari “clients”?
- Are the game farms that have been tied to the Vietnamese nationals prohibited from participating in the auction? If not, why not?
- Are the rhinos that are up for auction microchipped? Are there separate microchips in the horn and the body?
‘Excess’ rhinos?
Auctions such as Shamwari’s are spun as “managing” wildlife balances.
Game auctions are one of the management tools available to help maintain the ecological balances within the reserve, especially the herbivore and vegetation dynamics.
Or as a “conservation” tool.
In order to conserve the veld it is wise to remove animals that are in excess.
Consider this: The total population of all five rhino species is less than 25,000 worldwide – and only 4,250 critically endangered black rhinos remain.
Quite frankly, I find the notion of “excess rhinos” absurd: Killing threatened and endangered species is not conservation.
Image source: istock.com
Source: African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade, 20 November 2009. Download the report from CITES.
![Rhino Horns and Trophies Exported to Asia from South Africa 2000 – 2010 [Infographic]](http://www.rhinoconservation.org/wp-content/plugins/special-recent-posts/lib/phpimage.php?width=100&height=100&rotation=no&file=L2hvbWUyL2Jpb2RpdmUxL3B1YmxpY19odG1sL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDEyLzA1L1JoaW5vVHJvcGhpZXNIb3Juc0luZm9ncmFwaGljVGh1bWJuYWlsLmpwZw==)
I am astounded by this and agree with your sentiments. They must be stopped from going ahead with this…but how ?
Thank you fo this provocative article. There is much to think about here but not a lot of time in which to act !
Hi Jenni -
Yes – I personally would love to see all of this stopped. But … it’s about the money. Sadly … many people are in favor of the auctions and trophy hunting because of the large sums of money. There seems to be a large contingent of people out there who pay big money for the “thrill” of killing a rhino (or other animal).
If these auctions and trophy hunts are going to continue (again, I am not in favor of such activities), then I think there must be tight controls and monitoring on what happens to the rhinos after they are “purchased.”
The poaching syndicates have become deeply entrenched and are apparently building connections with some of the trophy hunt operators. It is no longer “business as usual” in these industries … and I think game farms, trophy hunt operators, etc. must now be held accountable for maintaining transparent records of their clients and any export of trophies.
- Rhishja
Anytime someone kills another creature in a celebration of they lose all credibility. This auction is a farce. It’s a slap in the face to all who fight to save African wildlife.
This was replied by SHAMWARI – evaluate for yourself:
21st May 2010
Statement regarding the sale of Rhino at Shamwari Game Reserve on the 22nd May 2010
Following various emails regarding the pending sale of Rhino at Shamwari we comment as follows:
1. Black and White Rhino cannot be purchased in South Africa unless the buyer is in the possession of a TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) permit which is issued by provincial government authorities.
2. We scrutinize all buyers and can assure all doubters that the animals will end up in a safe environment.
3. We operate a professional and highly skilled wildlife department and visitations to this centre by tourists is a daily practice and we certainly have nothing to hide or be ashamed of.
4. The support and recognition of our work is acknowledged world wide and has set an example for many other conservation initiatives both in the area of South Africa and other parts of the world which includes the stocking of Rhino purchased from us and other sources.
5. We, more than most private parks understand fully just how endangered both species of Rhinos are in the world. We have the most sophisticated and respected anti poaching outfit in South Africa which costs us millions of dollars to operate. This is an indication of just how much the specie and its safety means to us.
6. Detractors would do well to read the book “The White Rhino Saga” written by Dr Ian Player who together with his team saved the White Rhino from extinction. Dr Player is fully aware of our sale and the sale of Rhinos in South Africa and fully respects what we are doing and have done in the past.
7. Shamwari would not have been able to breed Rhino if in the first instance we were unable to purchase them from other sources.
8. We operate a managed environment and are suffering from the worst drought in living history and thus we have to manage the stock numbers.
9. We would like to remind our detractors that 20 years ago, Shamwari was a drought ravaged, overgrazed abused piece of land overrun by cattle and sheep and many exotic plant species.
10. National Parks are selling 250 White Rhino this year and the KZN (Kwazulu Natal Parks) 41 White Rhino.
Adrian Gardiner
Chairman
Shamwari Game Reserve
Hi Irma -
Thank you for sharing this. I received it (along with a personal email from a Shamwari representative), and posted it yesterday. For me, something doesn’t seem right between “safe environment” and the fact that the bidders are to include “professional hunters”. I am hoping to find out who purchased the rhinos. I will keep the blog updated.
Rhishja
Having a Masters Degree in Conservation management i’m astounded by the amount of emotional irrationality you display in your article. Auctioning of animals (regardless of whether there are rhinos or not) is common practice among game reserves and is necessary to keep a a genetically healthy breeding stock. Yes these are commercial businesses but without them there would be very little conservation left in Africa. If there was no wildlife management implemented on these game farms, they would be little else but an open air zoo, since the animals would deplete the natural resources and would have to be fed, watered, etc… Most of the reputable game farms (and shamwari is founded and run by conservationists) manage the whole ecosystem, not just a single species and will therefore not allow animals populations to exceed the carrying capacity of their property, not even if it’s a precious rhino. If you want to do your bit, rather try to secure more land to host rhinos, rather than preventing legitimate game farms from implementing the best long term strategy.
Hi Rhishja,
These auctions form a major part in protecting the rhinos and maintaining a healthy gene pool. The funds raised by these auctions are ploughed back into conservation & tourism.
Wildlife conservation in Africa works best if it creates real jobs, and game farmers create those jobs through tourism. They pay much money for their stock and most certainly do their utmost to protect their endangered animals. I haven’t been to Shamwari, but have visited a number of other private game reserves; and these guys, do a fantastic job in protecting wildlife whilst boosting tourism & conservation awareness.
Whilst their are professional hunters, they won’t be able to purchase endangered specie to hunt. The”trophy hunts” you are referring to, is poaching and not legal. It is unfortunate that you misrepresent the facts by linking game auctions to poaching. Rather support the legal trade in wildlife, thereby aiding the conservation effort.
Regards,
Adriaan
Hi Adriaan -
Thanks for your comment!
Please note the only reason trophy hunting is mentioned here is because of the growing number of cases involving unscrupulous trophy hunt operators who have been found to be cooperating with rhino poaching syndicates.
In the current environment, any possible link in the illegal trade chain needs to be considered. Game auctions can be the first link in that chain. In cases where rhinos are auctioned to professional hunters, then it is fair to ask for transparency and/or follow-up regarding auctions, in the event one of these buyers is later found to be on the wrong side of the law.
The aforementioned report,”African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade” prepared by the IUCN/SSC and TRAFFIC in November 2009, contains additional information. You can download the report from CITES.
Thanks again,
Rhishja