South Africa’s rhino population has been at the centre of international attention for the last five years. Our government, ordinary citizens, private sector (rhino owners), non-governmental organisations and the media are concerned about the plight of these animals – especially since they have become the focus of alleged international poaching syndicates.
As I stand here today at this 16th meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties the number of rhinos poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year stands at 146. Fifty alleged poachers, three of them believed to be couriers, have been arrested since the beginning of the year.
South Africa’s participation at CITES COP16 is informed by, and based on, sustainable use principles with the long term conservation of species as the overall objective. Prior to departing for CITES, I presented the key recommendations emanating from the national consultation process relating to the rhino conservation report to Cabinet. The Cabinet of South Africa was provided with an overview of the four thematic areas that emerged during the Rhino Issue Management (RIM) process: funding, rhino conservation, safety and security, and commerce (trade).
As part of our work at COP16, three rhino related side events were conducted: on rhino conservation; safety and security and rhino economics. During the rhino conservation side event we demonstrated our conservation success history and how we deal with the changing conditions as part of our adaptive management approach to rhino conservation.
Rhino mortalities and birth rates were at the centre of our engagement as we wanted to demonstrate that we are monitoring these trends in order to make informed and scientifically proven conservation interventions.
We showed our willingness to continue working with the rhino range states especially in the SADC region, and that expanding ranges for rhino conservation is done in a responsible manner. We always check habitat suitability and viability before we agree on any transfer of live animals as we do not want those to be soft targets of criminal syndicates.
The participants commended South Africa for its conservation efforts and successes and people felt that we should continue doing what we do in the interest of conservation in South Africa and other range states.
During the safety and security briefing on Wednesday, the National Joint Operations initiative set up by our government to coordinate the war against poaching was highlighted. Since the implementation of the joint effort to address the scourge of rhino poaching – also known as “Operation Rhino” – South Africa has experienced a number of successes.
Our observation and analysis is that the value chain of the syndicates is a complex one. They recruit ordinary people from communities adjacent to these rhino reserves as “sharp shooters”. The so-called couriers transport the horn to main cities from where it gets exported to consumer states. The initial number of arrests indicated that we were only succeeding with catching those at the bottom of the pyramid.
We are now succeeding at other levels too. This was evident with the recent case of the Thai national who was convicted and sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for illegal trade in rhino horns. Our third side event was concluded last night on the issue of Rhino Economics. During the robust discussion, we shared our analysis of the markets and the rhino economic model. It became clear that the so-called consumer states have the buying power and their citizens especially the middle class can afford to buy the horn.
The willingness to pay and willingness to buy are prevalent in these consumer states. The need to deal with the existing black market is inevitable and we need more dialogue at a global level to stop it. We don’t have answers to this problem, but we feel that this is an area the world is reluctant to talk about.
We are here for solutions to the problem of increasing rhino killings. The South African government is investing a lot of funding in conservation and security and that liability continues to grow. It is our understanding that someone out there is creating the demand for the rhino horn. The law of supply and demand is relevant in any commodity that is tradable and it is for this reason that we want this discussed.
One of the issues that I would like to address is the linkage between trade and poaching. As you will recall, we were allowed with Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana to hold a CITES-controlled once-off sale of our ivory stockpile. As far as South Africa is concerned there is no linkage between that once-off sale and poaching.
While we know what is happening in other range states – as seen in the media where elephant are, for example, being poached to fund rebel forces in internal conflicts – we would like to emphasise that no elephant have been poached in South Africa since the once-off sale. We are only aware of two elephant that have died in the past decade after being caught in snares set for other antelopes.
I must state categorically that there is no decision by South Africa on whether to apply to CITES at CoP17 to legalise the trade in rhino horn, or to permit the once-off sale of rhino horn stockpiles to fund conservation efforts, has been made.
All efforts to protect the country’s rhino population are not just aimed at protecting a species from extinction, but also securing and conserving all South Africa’s natural resources. The fact that the criminal syndicates involved in rhino poaching also undertake other crimes means that this current situation can be considered a national security risk.
It is therefore imperative that the national response be comprehensive as it threatens not only the sustainable development path of the country but also the heritage of future generations. The consultations here in Bangkok are a further step to the series of discussions held with stakeholders last year in South Africa, to facilitate a common understanding of key issues concerning the protection and sustainable conservation of our rhino population.
On other issues, we welcome yesterday’s withdrawal of Kenya’s proposal to halt the trade in rhino trophies and rhino products until CoP18 is indeed welcomed. Kenya’s proposal had requested that members amend the annotation for white rhino populations in South Africa and Swaziland by placing a zero export quota on hunting trophies until at least CoP18.
This would mean that hunting trophies from South Africa would be subjected to a “zero quota until at least CoP18” and that trade in all other rhino specimens be strictly regulated. If the amendment had been adopted it would have prevented South Africa and Swaziland from using a management option that can be sustainable and beneficial for the conservation of the species.
Also withdrawn yesterday was a proposal by Kenya, Burkina Faso, Togo and Mali that would have affected all African Elephant range states. The coalition had requested that all states be added to the annotation for African Elephant, adopted in 2007 that allowed South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique to partake in a controlled sale of ivory stockpiles, also be subjected to the nine-year moratorium imposed on the four states.
South Africa had opposed the application on the grounds that other nations should not be disadvantaged because of an existing agreement affecting only four Southern African states. The only way to deal with the scourge of rhino poaching, and indeed other poaching as well, is if we work cooperatively.
Having demonstrated what we have done at national level, it has become clear that no country can fight this battle alone. To refer to the South African government’s motto that “working together we can do more”, it has become clear that we all need to conserve rhino for this and future generations.
Through the relevant bodies such as the international consortium to combat wildlife crime we can develop legislative frameworks, and ensure new technological approaches are implemented. We must also ensure that there is greater research at all levels, as well as coordination of law enforcement efforts to address the scourge of trans-national organised wildlife crimes, such as rhino poaching and smuggling of rhino horns.
Research has shown that the bandits responsible for rhino poaching in South Africa are from outside the country. We therefore need to share intelligence and law enforcement efforts with our neighbours and consumer states to reduce demand for rhino horn. In other words, we need greater safety and security cooperation and research development.
Let the criminals not stay ahead of us, but we be ahead of them. An important call needs to be made to the international community in protecting our rhinos is everyone’s responsibility!
Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen.
For media inquiries contact:
Roopa Singh
Cell: 082 225 3076
Email: RSingh@environment.gov.za
Eleanor Momberg
Cell: 083 400 5741
E-mail: EMomberg@environment.gov.za
Reyhana Mahomed
Cell: 073 473 0398
Tel: 012 395 1795
