For the third year in a row, rhino killing in South Africa has increased at an alarming rate.
Today, the number of rhinos slaughtered in South Africa has reportedly reached 304, more than doubling last year’s body count of 122.
Sadly, this trend has been in plain sight since 2008.
By the numbers: Rhinos killed for their horns
2007 – present:
- 2007: 13
- 2008: 83
- 2009: 122
- 2010: 304 (as of December 8, 2010)
And yet, despite these figures, the killing continues without even a hiccup. Why?
One of the (many) reasons is a lack of appropriate deterrents.
There is a growing concern – shared by this author – that the South African courts are a weak link in the battle to protect the country’s rhinos.
Insufficient punishments for rhino-related crimes
Despite diligent intelligence work and the subsequent arrests of 147 people in 2010, the South African courts have yet to impose any serious punishment for dealing in rhino horn or slaughtering one of the country’s most iconic treasures.
For example, eleven rhino horn syndicate suspects were granted bail – on World Rhino Day – and the following month, another syndicate case was thrown out.
Even alleged rhino horn syndicate “mastermind” Dawie Groenewald’s bail of R1 million (current USD $144, 519.00) is ridiculous, considering that one pair of white rhino’s horns can fetch up to USD $175,000.
Unfortunately, the case of a Vietnamese rhino horn smuggler receiving a 10-year prison sentence appears to be the exception, rather than the rule.
Bail not a deterrent
Recently, world-renowned expert in ivory and rhino horn trade, Dr. Esmond Martin was interviewed by Wildlife Direct‘s Paula Kahumbu about the rhino slaughter in Southern Africa.
Dr. Martin explained that the system of granting bail for rhino-related crimes is indeed a major concern. He pointed out that rhino poaching in Swaziland is a non-bailable offense, and that in Nepal, the forest department – not the court system – administers punishment to rhino poachers.
Listen to the interview here:
In addition to the court system failures, “insiders” from within the South African conservation community are apparently operating with unrestrained greed and cruelty, hoping to cash in on the rhino horn myth.
There is an in-depth look at this disturbing topic at Are ‘Insiders’ Intentionally Fueling Demand for Illegal Rhino Horn?
Five suspected rhino killers arrested
Arrests are still good news. In fact, five suspected rhino killers were arrested today inside Kruger National Park, according to Eyewitness News.
Fortunately, no rhino carcasses were found.
But the question is: Will the courts do the right thing, or will these five thugs be out on bail within the week?
Illegal rhino horn trade driven by continued use of traditional ‘medicines’
Illegal rhino horn is highly sought after for use in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam, despite the fact rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and contains no medicinal properties.
Research conducted by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC found that most rhino horns leaving Southern Africa are being smuggled to China and Vietnam.
There are further concerns that a state-funded 2008 rhino horn research proposal from China served as one of the catalysts for the surge in rhino killings across Southern Africa by encouraging the use of rhino horn, and that the researchers are attempting to circumvent CITES research provisions by farming rhinos.
Source:
“Eyewitness News: Five Suspected Rhino Poachers Arrested.” Eyewitness News: In Touch, In Tune and Independent. 08 Dec. 2010.
Image: istock.com
![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==)
Please help protect the Rhino species; they are part of the ecosystem where they live and are endangered.
very happy to see that U.S. Ambassador report from Kenya, leaked by Wikki leaks, highlights what many of us have been saying for a long time, Where ever there are chinese contract workers in Afica, there is a marked increase in elephant and rhino poaching, never mind the lessor species such as pangolin.