Two innocent lives lost because of myths and greed.
The year’s third confirmed killing of a rhino in South Africa has turned out to be a double tragedy, as the rhino was pregnant. The horrifying discovery was made at a game farm in the Hoedspruit area of Limpopo Province.
She had been shot with a high-caliber hunting rifle.
In 2010, at least 310 rhinos were brutally slaughtered in South Africa to fuel a demanding market for illegal rhino horn in China and Vietnam.
Last week, Nepal also lost one of its greater one-horned rhinos to the illegal rhino horn trade.
‘Insiders’ involved in illegal rhino horn trade
The continued killing on African soil points to “insiders” from within the South African conservation community, who are apparently operating with unrestrained greed and cruelty, hoping to cash in on the ignorance and myths surrounding the use of rhino horn.
There is an in-depth look at this disturbing topic at Are ‘Insiders’ Intentionally Fueling Demand for Illegal Rhino Horn?, which notes that nefarious business alliances, private stockpile leakage, dehorning scams, and legalized trade speculation are exacerbating South Africa’s rhino crisis.
Current system of ‘bail and release’ not a deterrent
It is also believed that the South African courts are a weak link in the battle to protect the country’s rhinos.
Despite diligent intelligence work and the subsequent arrests of 147 people in 2010, the South African courts have repeatedly granted affordable bail amounts as “punishment” for rhino-related crimes, rather than administer serious deterrents.
Continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional ‘medicines’
Illegal rhino horn is in 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.
It has also been noted that the spreading Chinese footprint in Southern Africa has placed the demand for rhino horn perilously close to the supply, and counter poaching reports have linked the increase in rhino and elephant killings to a flood of Chinese weapons in the region.
Abuse of CITES research loopholes
There are further concerns that state-funded rhino horn use proposals from China served as one of several catalysts for the surge in rhino killings across Southern Africa.
Such proposals, which surfaced in 2008 and 2009, encourage the use of rhino horn, and strongly suggest the PRC government is attempting to circumvent CITES research provisions by blurring the lines between research and commercial trade in rhinos.
Source: “Pregnant rhino poached in Hoedspruit.” Times LIVE. 10 January 2011
Image: istockphoto.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==)
God, I wish that there was more that I could do to help save these beautiful Rhinos.
Why is the South African Goverment not taking drastic action? Makes one wonder about their “involvement”. Why does the Minister of Enviromental Affairs, Ms. Edna Molewa, Minister of Tourism. Marthinus “kortbroek” Van Schalkwyk, and Minister of Defence, Lindiwe Sisulu, not get around a table and sort this shit out once and for all???!!! If there is a ‘political will’ they WILL be able to do something!!!
There should a be a huge campaign held in China and Vietnam informing people that horn is not a medicine. The demand needs to stop. I hope that this dream will become tru one day. We need to save these wonderful creatures.
Not a good way to start the new year, lets hope all involved in counter poaching, intelligence gathering, public involvement, increased police involvement, and SANDF, can change the tide this year, i believe we can.
Well put, Kevin. As long as we can keep the debate going, by whatever means, and keep the awareness programmes up, things should hopefully change for the better in 2011. Just think more presure should be put on the South African goverment to do more to assist the rangers and game scouts with the remarkable work they do.
Best of luck to all of these good people who are prepared to put their lives at stake to protect our wildlife!!! It takes a special person and lots of commitmen to do such a job….been there, done it!!!They need all the support they can get!!!!
When are we going to see actual action from the government? It is about time the various activist start targeting the visitors to SA. How about starting with the hunting fraternity, then the golfers, participants of any and all sporting events. There just has to be more done for this cause and that of the overturning of the lion canning legislation, in SA, too. Imagine fondling a young lion cub and then being able to shoot it a few years later to add to your trophy collection. Very sick people these are.
What would it take to have a protest march along Jan Smuts Ave. JHB or Sandton centre, followed by viewings of the Rhino on huge screens, make it a huge event, surely there are those who have the know how and funds to organise something no one will miss. Wish I had the know how and funds and I would do it even if it means a few days in a cell (horrors I am claustrophobic and don’t walk well). Also how about including our Proteas and other sporting celebs, surely they would join in some way or other.