SA Hunters dispute ‘facts’ on rhino

I REFER to the article “DEA in 180 degree turn on domestic rhino horn trade”, written by Ms Sheree Bega that appeared in The Star on February 11.

The SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SA Hunters) is disappointed with the lack of insight and very poor factual base in the rhino poaching situation demonstrated by the reporter.

She quotes her source, Global March for Elephants and Rhinos, which claims that rhino in South Africa are facing extinction. She also refers to research done by Cardiff University, stating that the black rhino is on the verge of extinction.

There are an estimated 20 000 white rhino left in the world as well as an estimated 5 000 black rhino according to the latest available research.

However, the pièce de résistance is in the last sentence where she referred to black rhino being on the verge of extinction because of “unsustainable poaching”.

Unsustainable poaching? What on earth is this? This phrase is in my view the best example of an oxymoron you could get.

Poaching is illegal. It is a serious crime. Poaching is what it is, an illegal act of theft and killing wildlife, nothing else. There can never be legal poaching or sustainable poaching. What is the correlation between unsustainability and a criminal act?

Ms Bega certainly has easy access to credible and authoritative South African scientists and wildlife experts eager to provide reliable facts on the status of our wildlife.

It is regrettable that the opinion of animal rights activist groups, which depend on emotionally obtained public money to survive, is sought on a serious and very tragic situation. SA Hunters invites Ms Bega, yet again, to contact us on wildlife and conservation matters. CEO: SA Hunters