MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PLAN TO END RHINO POACHING DELIVERING DIVIDENDS
THE late Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, believed that the battle against rhino poaching would only be won if all the relevant government departments and institutions, such as SANParks, worked together.
Rhino poaching was one the largest bugbears for the Minister, who believed that the extinction of a key member of the Big Five would not only harm tourism to South Africa, but ultimately result in job losses and the further improverishment of communities reliant on tourism and wildlife for their livelihoods.
She was proud of South Africa’s conservation record which counted amongst its successes bringing the rhino back from near extinction in the 1960s, contributing to the healthy black and white rhino population the country boasts today.
Despite poaching, South Africa is home to more than 80% of the world’s rhino population, and 93% of Africa’s rhino. While the Kruger National Park bore the brunt of rhino poaching in South Africa ON 3 May 2018 six black rhino set foot on soil in Chad for the first time in 46 years.
The translocation of the rhino to Chad followed the conclusion of an agreement between South Africa and the Central African country to ensure that a species that had become extinct would once again roam the area.
It was a joyous occasion for the late Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, who had hailed the safe arrival of six black rhino from South Africa at the Zakouma National Park in Chad as a major contributor to expanding the range of black rhino, and contributing to the future survival of the species.
“I am delighted that South Africa’s conservation success is able to contribute to the return of such an iconic species to a sister country. My fervent hope is that these rhino will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, particularly in the conservation and tourism fields, in Chad,” said Minister Molewa.
On 8 October 2017, Dr Molewa and the Minister of Environment and Fisheries of the Republic of Chad, Dr Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat, signed a Memorandum of since the upsurge in 2008, poaching patterns have shifted to provinces such as the Eastern Cape and KwaZuluNatal. This is because of the successful implementation of the government’s Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros Approach adopted by Cabinet in 2014. Its key pillars are Compulsory Interventions, Managing Rhino Populations, Long-term Sustainability Interventions, National and International Co-operation and new interventions.
This Approach draws together the work of the Department together with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Departments and Agencies. These include the Departments of Defence, Correctional Services, the Ministry of State Security, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation or Hawks and the SAPS. It is supported by the work of South African National Parks (SANParks), the provincial conservation authorities, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Financial Intelligence Unit in the Ministry of Finance and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Rhino poaching, alongside all wildlife crime, remains a National Priority Crime.
It is as a result of this collaboration, and the role the ranger corps in conservation, that there has been a decline in rhino poaching in particularly the Kruger National Park, and an increased number of people being arrested for rhino and elephant poaching.
This belief The Department of Environmental Affairs has reported back on the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros. The report back covers the period 1 January to 30 August 2018.
Only a day before her death, the Minister reported that rhino poaching was continuing to decrease, with dramatic declines reported in most provinces in the first eight months of 2018. This is a continuation of the decreases in poaching in 2016 and 2017. A total of 1 054 rhino were poached in 2016, compared to 1 175 in the same period for 2015. In 2017, a total of 1028 rhino were poached in South Africa.
The statistics released on 21 September 2018 show that between 1 January 2018 and 31 August 2018 508 rhino were poached, compared to 691 for the same period in 2017.
Rhino poaching numbers in the Kruger National Park also continue to decline. In the period under review, a total of 292 rhino were poached, compared to 332 in the same period last year.
This decline comes despite a dramatic escalation in poacher activity inside the Park, ranging from sightings, to poacher camps found, to incursions. A total of 1873 incidents were recorded in the period under review. This is compared to 1 702 in 2017.
It is also particularly pleasing to note the decline in the numbers of rhino poached in KwaZulu-Natal during the period under review.
In the same period in 2017, 163 rhino were poached, whereas this year the number stands at 83. This is extremely
noteworthy and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, working in collaboration with the SAPS, are to be commended.
Of concern to the Minister was that elephant poaching was increasing, particularly in the Kruger National Park. In the first eight months of 2018, 58 elephants had been poached in the Park. The lessons learnt from the actions being taken to address rhino poaching are now being implemented to bring an end to the illegal killing of elephant. Specific risk areas have been identified and strategies to address the threat are being adapted and implemented.
Achievements in the past 5 years and work in progress include:
National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations implemented and presently under review
The publication of the revised Norms and Standards for the Marking of Rhino Horn and for the Hunting of Rhino for trophy purposes on 21 September 2018 tightening controls for the issuing of rhino hunting permits, hunting of rhino and the transportation of the horn, which resulted in a significant reduction in the number of hunting applications received.
The re-publication of draft regulations relation to the domestic trade in rhino horn for public comment on 21 September 2018. The notices also relate to the prohibition of the intentional powdering or shaving of rhino horn and the domestic sale and export thereof; and the listing of the Eastern Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) as a protected species in South Africa. The public have until 22 October 2018 to comment.