Question No 571
Mr G R Morgan (Democratic Alliance) to ask the minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
(1) Whether white rhinos from the Kruger National Park by South African National Parks (SANParks) will be sold to entities for hunting; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether any studies have been conducted to determine the impact of the capture operation on the social structure of affected white rhino populations; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) (a) how many white rhinos are expected to be sold this year and (b) what is the expected revenue from the sales;
(4) How will the funds raised from the sales be used by SANparks?
Reply:
1. No, white rhinos are sold to a wide variety of stakeholders who may have different legal and legitimate conservation business interests.
2. Yes, studies are ongoing and they all indicate that there is no detectable negative impact on current and future growth patterns on the population. There are no visible social pattern disruptions. Below is a graph that shows the population growth of rhino since 1970, and I would like to point out that rhino sales have been happening for approximately 25 years:
Figure 1: Estimates of white rhino population size in the Kruger National Park. From 1977 to 1997 estimates are based on total counts for which the likely 95 percent confidence interval was estimated from the relationship between CVs and the inverse of the square root of the estimate, derived from estimates and CVs calculated from distance sampling conducted between 1998 and 2007. Rhinos continue to increase exponentially.
3. (a) An excess group of 200 to 350 has been identified for removal, however it is impossible to remove such a large number within a year as sales depend on demand. We do not set estimates on wildlife sale; they are treated in the same way as we treat donations and fund-raising.
b. Prices vary, based on market conditions and as stated above. The number sold is always dependent on our ability to move the animals, i.e. logistical requirements.
4. The funds realised will be used for land acquisition to expand the rhino range, anti-poaching programmes and equipment where necessary
Issued by: Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs
10 July 2009
