Being faced with an image of a mauled rhino carcass on the front page of the newspaper is in all likelihood enough to make people splutter as they peacefully sip that first cup of coffee and gently welcome the start of a bright new day. What normally makes it even more disturbing is when that image shows a rhino calf anxiously milling around unable to grasp why its mother is not responding to its pleas.
On the other hand though, these images have also been met with a rolling of the eyes because, and arguably so, there are bigger problems facing our society than rhino poaching.
It’s hard to argue with families who may be struggling to put food on the table in this economically turbulent time that they should concern themselves with the fight against rhino poaching. It may even be harder to argue for more resources to fight poaching when resources are spread so thinly.
Inevitably, the more passionate conservationists among us question the government’s sincerity about tackling the problem.
Rhino poaching should concern us all. It is without doubt that all South Africans would want to leave a rich fauna and flora heritage for future generations. Rhinos are fundamental in maintaining a balanced and healthy ecosystem, with various organisms depending on their activities as part of the larger ecosystem.
The rhino is also a key attraction in our popularity as a Big Five destination. According to South African Tourism’s 2011 annual tourism report, more than half of the 8.4 million international tourists who visited South Africa last year undertook wildlife activities while in the country. Tourism supports one in every 12 jobs in South Africa.
Communities around Big Five parks and reserves heavily depend on the pulling power of the rhino to draw tourists to rural areas. These visitors create a market for local crafts and produce, while the hospitality industry generates much needed jobs. The disappearance of rhinos from an area could have a detrimental effect on the livelihood of a community.
As South Africans we need to join hands in protecting our endangered species. When commenting about the illegal killing of the rhinos, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, said: “I would like to assure you that the government of South Africa views the illegal killing of this national treasure in a very serious light and will continue to prioritise our fight against this crime jointly with our law enforcement agencies.”
To protect our national treasure the government has amended and gazetted the norms and standards for the hunting of rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes and marking of rhinoceros horns.
These standards state that all rhino horns, whether acquired by a legal dehorning procedure, natural mortality or any other means; must be microchipped. Also, DNA samples of the rhino horn and blood must be collected from all live rhino darted for translocation, treatment or any other management purpose.
The DNA bank has to date over 5000 rhino samples and can make a match with either hunted or poached animals. In cases of criminal activity evidence can be used in a court to assist obtain a guilty verdict. This enables South Africa to identify and link confiscated horns to a specific rhino, thereby identifying the source of the horns and whether or not they were removed illegally.
To assist with the process, the Council of the Global Environment Facility has approved funding of R25 million to strengthen our current wildlife forensic capabilities.
Moreover, the amended norms and standards also require that a hunter applying for a rhino hunting permit should present proof that he or she is a bona fide hunter. In addition, a hunting client may only hunt one white rhino for trophy purposes within a specific calendar year.
Since the above measures have been implemented the number of applications for rhino hunting has dramatically declined.
South Africa and Vietnam will soon sign a memorandum of understanding in the field of biodiversity conservation and protection. This memorandum covers cooperation in the field of biodiversity management, law enforcement, compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and other relevant legislation.
In addition, a delegation from the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and our law enforcement authorities recently visited Hong Kong to meet with the authorities, NGOs and the media there to discuss cooperation as well as creating awareness and educating locals on the subject.
This engagement followed the seizure of rhino horns by Hong Kong customs officials last year. The government is hoping that DNA samples from the seized rhino horns will aid us in establishing their origin and lead to possible prosecutions.
On the African continent, South Africa and Mozambique are in continuous discussions on the tightening of security and elevating offences to receive more severe penalties.
For our own law enforcement agencies Operation Rhino still remains a standing agenda item for the National Joint Committee, which comprises of senior members of the South African Police Service, the National Prosecution Authority and the South African National Defence Force.
This committee is responsible for coordination, joint planning and implementation of high priority security measures. As a result of this cooperation 232 people were arrested in 2011 and 205 this year for rhino poaching and related activities.
Our country has a proud track record of successful rhino conservation. We have the highest number of white rhinos on the continent and we are home to about 22000 white and black rhinos, of which 12000 are found in the Kruger National Park. And even with the high incidence of rhino poaching in our country’s rhino birth rate is still positive.
But the daily fight to protect our wildlife continues. We urge all stakeholders to continue working with law enforcement agencies. But mostly we call on South Africans to be vigilant and to report any illegal rhino activities to 0800 205 005.
Together we can protect our national treasure and leave a rich heritage for future generations.
Phumla Williams is Acting CEO of the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS)
