Rhino award winners
THOSE who have made a impact in the war against rhino poaching were honoured by Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa at the Rhino Conservation awards at a gala dinner held at Montecasino on Monday.
The awards honour those that strived to limit risks and vulnerabilities within their specific areas of expertise: from field rangers to conservation practitioners; conservation supporters; political, investigative and judicial supporters; and endangered species conservationists.
“The loss of our rangers to the bullets of criminals is a stark reminder of the severity of the threat posed by the transitional illicit wildlife trade. Our abundant biodiversity has made us a target for unscrupulous gangs with little regard for the long-term consequences of their actions,”Molewa said.
“Luckily for us, for every criminal syndicate lacking in conscience, we have men and women with deep and abundant love for this country and its heritage.”
She clarified “misconceptions” on the commercial trade in rhino horn.
Since the conclusion of the 17th Conference of the Parties to Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Johannesburg last year, as well as the Constitutional Court retrospectively setting aside the moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn in April, the department had been hard at work, she said.
South Africa remained committed to a well-regulated process that managed the trade in endangered species, such as rhino in line with domestic legislation, as well as all CITES provisions, Molewa said
““This includes the release for public comment of a set of draft regulatory measures on the domestic trade, but also the export of rhino horn for non-commercial purposes. We are conducting an audit of all existing stockpiles of rhino horn to ensure the country has full and accurate information on the number of horns at any given time, as well as the registered owner of each horn. This is vital to prevent the smuggling of illegally-obtained horn out of the country.
“The men and women whose efforts we are acknowledging here today have played an instrumental role in combating poaching in our country, and it is our responsibility to support them in any way we can.”
In the field ranger category, Tyson Maluleke and his K9 Kilalo, and Julius Sibuyi were announced as winners, while Wilson Siwela was rewarded as the runner-up.
Maluleke and Kilalo are an anti-poaching tracking team. They have helped ranger teams in making many arrests in their area of operation.
Sibuyi’s courage and commitment to his work as a field ranger despite the daily challenges and continuous onslaught are inspiring, the citation read.
The winner of the conservation practitioner award was the entire Kruger National Park’s Marula South ranger team.
The rangers were responsible for the conservation and protection of the majority of the continent’s rhino population.
The runners-up were the Namibian Conservancy Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme, and SANParks’ Regional Ranger Don English and Section Ranger Craig Williams.
Adam Pires and the EWT Wildlife in Trade Programme scooped the award for the best rhino conservation supporter.
Pires and his team provide unique skill sets to enforcement agencies, increasing awareness within the judicial system and undertaking research and monitoring activities which target multiple contact points along the supply chain.
Richard Mabanga, cultural ambassador for the Rhino Art – Let the Voices be Heard campaign, and husband and wife team, Steve and Perry Dell from the Pilanesberg Wildlife Trust and the Rhino Poaching Unit, were runners-up.
The winner in the best political, investigative and judicial support category was Jabu Qayiso, who has more than 20 years experience in environmental crime investigation.
IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi was announced as the first runner-up.
For the first time, the awards offered a special award for endangered species conservation.
African Parks took first prize. African Parks is responsible for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks across Africa, in partnership with governments and local communities.
Buthelezi said he was honoured by the recognition of his life’s work in conservation.
“But I’m far more gratified that I didn’t win, because the fight for our rhino must be taken up by the next generation.
“As much as the conservationists and patriots of my generation did, this fight is no longer ours. This is your fight now.
“All that I have done for the past six decades to protect our natural heritage has been done with an eye on the future.
“When a country is waging a liberation struggle, giving attention to wildlife is seldom considered a priority.
“But to me, it was important, because I wanted more than a political victory for South Africa. I wanted a rich inheritance.” See Oped P9