Botswana sets record straight on rhino keeping
‘ Calls for Botswana to review trade data on rhino horns are misplaced’
Botswana went all out to prove to the world this week at the ongoing CITES COPP19 in Panama, that it has instruments in place to protect her endangered species including the rhinos.
The two- week long Convention in Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Fauna ( COP19) started this week in Panama and will end next Friday. There are some pressure groups calling for Botswana to review trade data on rhino and rhino specimen ( of CoP19. Doc75 ( Rev 1).
Botswana argues that she keeps its rhino horns in a strong room that is well secured to prevent leakages of horns into illegal markets. Live rhino, and rhino specimen, are not traded at all in Botswana, and so calls for Botswana to review trade data on rhino and rhino specimen ( of CoP19. Doc75 ( Rev 1)) are misplaced.
The detailed update published on CITES Website, titled ‘ Update to cites parties on the population status of rhinoceroses ( Black and White) and measures in place to address rhino poaching in Botswana,’ includes Botswana’s rhino conservation interventions, update on the historical rhino population trends and re- introductions, rhino poaching trends and response measures in place to counter rhino poaching.
Botswana states that there is a significant decline in rhino poaching incidences between 2020 and 2022, following the peak in 2020 where 62 rhinos were poached. A total of 140
rhinos have been poached between 2012 and 2022.
Botswana argues that the decline is a direct result of the government response in the form of various interventions. It stated that misguided calls by some western NGOs calling for each of the interventions to be evaluated in isolation such as whether dehorning by itself curbed poaching, are misleading and divert attention from the key indicator that matters, which is whether overall rhino poaching is decreasing or increasing.
It is clear that conservation and anti- poaching efforts have been intensified to combat poaching across the country since COP18, and there is explicit evidence of a decline in rhino poaching in 2021 and 2022, relative to the 2020 peak.
Moreover, the government has improved the ecological management of rhinos in fenced- in areas for better breeding performance to ensure that the targeted growth rate is met. These measures are being implemented through a combination of governmentonly programmes, Public- PrivateCommunity Partnerships, and through the support of International Cooperating Partners, who have all committed substantial resources to intensify antipoaching measures.
Botswana has intentions to maintain the current decline until it reaches negligible levels, working with agencies that genuinely want to lend assistance. As of 13 November 2022, there are an estimated 285 white rhinos and 23 black rhinos in various properties across Botswana.
A National Rhino Conservation Strategy was adopted in January 2005 and the Botswana Rhino Management Committee established in the same year. The Botswana Rhino Management Committee consists of members of security agencies from Government, Non- Governmental Organisations with rhino interests, Botswana Wildlife Producers Association, Private veterinarians specialising on rhinos, National Rhino Coordinator ( government), Conservation managers from different private rhino sanctuaries, Chairman of the committee, who is a member of one of the rhino sanctuaries, and the Director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
The overall purpose of the Committee is to advise the Director of Wildlife and National Parks on all issues related to rhino conservation in Botswana. The National Rhino Conservation Strategy was revised again in 2011 but only adopted in 2013. The new Strategy under review for the period 2022 to 2027 will address shortcomings in the previous 2013 Strategy; this Strategy is undergoing stakeholder consultation, and is scheduled to be launched by March 2023.
The Government has deployed a large contingent of the Army into the rhino range area, including in Private Reserves and game farms, to support the Department of Wildlife and National Parks and private game ranchers to fight poaching by armed and highly organised criminal gangs involved in rhino poaching.
Similarly, the Police and State Intelligence are involved in counter- poaching operations in order to augment the Department of Wildlife and National Parks’ efforts to combat wildlife crime.
The National Anti- Poaching Strategy provides among others Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs) that govern the inter- agency relationships, and so there is clarity in how the law enforcement agencies work together on anti- poaching and illegal wildlife trade operations. Inter- agency cooperation and collaboration government has enhanced inter- agency collaboration such that all law enforcement agencies work together to deal with poaching.
Inter- agency committees have been established both at national and district- levels, and they meet weekly in order to share intelligence and other crucial operational information, and also to plan and implement law enforcement operations together.
Botswana has also been engaging all her neighbours through Joint Permanent Commission on Defense and Security structures, chaired by Cabinet Ministers of the respective countries. Most of these structures have since been elevated to Bi- National Commissions ( BNCs) chaired by Heads of State.
Wildlife crime, most of which is transnational, is one of the major thematic areas covered by these Commissions. Resolutions on commitments during these meetings are implemented at district- level especially joint border patrol, joint investigation, sharing of intelligence, and conduct of joint/ synchronised transboundary law enforcement operations.
Botswana also has a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) with South Africa on rhino management, and is finalising one with Zimbabwe. The MoUs permit sharing of technical information and requests for capacity building when necessary.
Over and above the bilateral structures, Botswana is an active member of a number of regional and international structures meant to build collaborative relationships with other regional States to combat transnational wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade.
Has an estimated 285 white, 23 black rhinos
These include the SADC/ Interpol Rhino and Elephant Security group, Interpol Wildlife Crime Working Group, Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ( KAZA TFCA) Safety and Security Group, among others.
Through these platforms, Botswana coordinates its anti- poaching operations with those of its neighbours, such as for example epitomised by implementation of the SADC Law Enforcement and Action Plan ( SADC LEAP), which has further been cascaded for implementation within the KAZA TFCA landscape by Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
On establishing secure and safe rhino havens/ sanctuaries, government took a deliberate decision to move all rhinos in high- risk- areas to areas that are safer, with the intention of reintroducing them back into wilderness areas once the situation improves.
In addition, security has been strengthened at all rhino- holding facilities including those under private ownership. “To date the vast majority of rhinos which were remaining in the delta have been translocated to fenced establishments.”