The assault on South Africa’s rhinos continues.
A sobering announcement released today by South African National Parks (SANParks) confirms that the country’s iconic rhinos are still being slaughtered at an alarming rate. SANParks’ CEO David Mabunda confirmed that 21 rhinos have been killed in South Africa during the month of January.
It was also stated that 31 arrests for rhino crimes have been made since the beginning of the year in South Africa.
The arrests include 16 in North West Province, 10 in the Kruger National Park, three in Gauteng, and two in Limpopo Province. Five suspected rhino killers also got a taste of their own medicine when they opened fire on rangers in Kruger National Park earlier this month.
Rising death toll
During 2010, 333 rhinos were slaughtered in South Africa, and 2011′s death toll is rising.
Some of the killings have been noted here, including the country’s most recent rhino tragedy in the Western Cape, where a rhino was darted and overdosed at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve.
Just a few days earlier, a rhino was murdered in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, near the town of Senekal, in South Africa’s Free State Province.
Two weeks ago, a rhino was killed in KwaZulu-Natal. Prior to that, two rhinos were murdered in Kruger National Park, a pregnant rhino was slaughtered in the Hoedspruit area, and another near Musina. Still another was killed in the Eastern Cape, at Kariega Game Reserve near Kenton-on-Sea.
In addition, at least seven rhinos have been gunned down in Zimbabwe, one in India, and another in Nepal.
Private game reserves vulnerable
Although South Africa’s large national game reserves have taken steps to increase security measures and expand intelligence networks, small private game reserves do not necessarily have these resources, leaving them vulnerable to attack by rhino horn syndicates.
Private reserves and game farms are advised to step up perimeter patrols, check for tracks, change patrol routines frequently – and refrain from discussing plans with outsiders. In addition, smaller operations are urged to take preventive measures by requesting assistance from police, local farmers, and security companies.
Continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional ‘medicines’
At the root of the rhino crisis is the continued use of rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine.
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 revealed that most rhino horns leaving Southern Africa are being smuggled to China and Vietnam.
In Vietnam, a wildlife trade researcher found that rhino horn could command USD $40, 000 per kilogram. Other sources, including a 2008 Chinese research publication, suggest that the price could be even higher in China, perhaps as high as USD $60, 000 per kilogram.1
Average weights for rhino horns are three kilograms for black rhinos, and five and half for white rhinos.
Lack of convictions in rhino horn crimes
Although South Africa’s aforementioned 31 arrests are encouraging, the outcome remains to be seen.
While there is no shortage of “talk” when it comes to cracking down on rhino horn crimes, there does indeed seem to be an appalling lack of convictions.
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:
It turns out that an alarming number of “insiders” from within the South African conservation community have been busted for cashing in on the ignorance and myths surrounding the use of rhino horn.
So far this month, a South African hunter and a veterinarian have been arrested in connection with rhino horn trafficking, in two separate incidents.
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, loophole abuse, private stockpile leakage, dehorning scams, and legalized trade speculation are exacerbating South Africa’s rhino crisis.
Source: “Rhino poaching update for January 2011.” SANParks Corporate Communications. 31 January 2011
Image: istockphoto.com
Other references:
1. Yanyan, D., Qian, J. (2008). Proposal for Protection of the Rhinoceros and the Sustainable Use of Rhinoceros Horn. State Soft Sciences Project, Development Strategy for Traditional Chinese Medicine Research
![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==)
This is like War. We are being invaded and our most precious charges killed for big money. I think our Govt should talk to the Chinese Govt and make a deal with them so that they put an end to illegal trade and poaching. We can’t fight against the poachers alone, there’s too much money and too many people involved. We have to get the Chinese Govt to help us fight the crime, to co-operate with us to ensure the survival of rhinos in the long term.