Rhino will not be extinct, says expert

More than a third of the world’s rhino poaching cases occur in Mpumalanga, but although we are at risk of losing countless individual animals to poaching, rhino as a species will not become extinct, says retired Major-General Johan Jooste, commanding officer of special projects at SA National Parks.

Jooste, who is responsible for anti-poaching strategies, planning and execution, was among the speakers who addressed the South African Rotary Club at Ingwenyama Conference & Sports Resort in Mpumalanga on Friday on important issues in the country.

During his speech, aptly titled “The So-Called Rhino War”, Jooste highlighted the “successful” operations that Mozambican rangers had been involved in and the importance of community cooperation in the war against poaching.

Because of the sensitivity of reporting on poaching, numbers cannot be revealed in the media, but it has been reported that South Africa’s cooperation with Mozambique has been beneficial in the war against poaching.

“Our cooperation with our neighbours has become vital. The sad reality is that the Kruger National Park (KNP) has become a supermarket for poachers,” Jooste said. “The south of the KNP is the hottest target. The borders have basically become fault lines across which rhino horn travels.”

According to him, rhino horn is the most expensive commodity in the world and trading it is the fourth largest criminal activity on the globe. He further pointed out the prevalence of poaching has increased tenfold over the past 10 years.

“There are no quick solutions because the increase in poaching activity is ascribed to one major driver – lifestyle. Consuming rhino horn has become a matter of status and lifestyle, rather than medicinal.

“One long-term solution is for the community to own all the national parks, but that would be too late for the rhino.

“Another is more technological, and that is social media. I believe spreading knowledge and encouraging global cooperation will help our cause if we do it right, if we mobilise our resources and expose poachers; it can be done with the help of everyone,” Jooste said. – Caxton News Service

Consuming rhino horn has become a matter of status and lifestyle, rather than medicinal Major- General Johan Jooste Anti-poaching expert