LASTSTAND: THEBATTLETOSAVE
RHINOSFROM EXTINCTION"
“Thelionsfightsforsurvival”
SAVETHERHINOS:
JOINTHEFIGHTAGAINSTRHINO POACHING
TAILSOF RESISTANCE:
INSPIRINGSTORIESOF WILDLIFECONSERVATION
RHINO POACHING AND ILLEGAL TRADE DECLINE BUT REMAIN CRITICAL THREATS.
"WILDLIFE WONDERS: MARVELS OF THE NATURAL WORLD"
RhinoPoachingandillegaltradedecline butremaincriticalthreats
South Africa is home to about 80 percent of the world’s 28000 remaining rhinos Unfortunately, over the last decade poaching has led to rapid declines in the populations of the two species found in the country, the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis bicornis and D bicornis minor) and the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) Today 93% of the world s remaining white rhinos and 39% of world s black rhinos are protected in South Africa About one quarter of all rhinos are held within private reserves in South Africa Rhino Poaching and illegal trade decline but remain critical threats From January to end of June 2022 82 rhino were poached for their horns in the Kruger National Park 2022 Poaching statistics show a loss of 210 rhino on state properties and 49 in privately-owned parks A total of 259 rhino have been poached for their horn in South Africa in the first six months of 2022
TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF RHINO NUMBERS, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CONTINUE
Recent trends in rhino poaching show a move away from the Kruger Park to private reserves and KwaZulu-Natal where the majority of rhinos have been killed this year This makes it all the more important for national government to shift its focus to supporting provincial authorities and private reserves in the war on rhino poaching said the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Ms Barbara Creecy The demand for rhino horn remains a constant threat to our rhino populations as crime syndicates continue to operate within our borders The number of successful arrests and prosecutions recorded over the past 6 months can be attributed to the continued successful collaboration between the law enforcement agencies including the SAPS DPCI and the Green Scorpions Customs officials and the National Prosecuting Authority These efforts are supported by private security
AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING WORK OF INTEGRATED ENFORCEMENT TEAMS AT OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 4 ALLEGED RHINO HORN TRAFFICKERS WERE ARRESTED BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE THIS YEAR FOR TRYING TO SMUGGLE 56 PIECES OF RHINO HORN OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN ONE INSTANCE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE HAWKS, MALAYSIA AND QATAR AUTHORITIES LED TO THE ARREST OF ANOTHER ALLEGED RHINO HORN TRAFFICKER AND HIS HAUL OF RHINO HORN PIECES AT DOHA AIRPORT IN QATAR THIS ARREST DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF COUNTRY-TOCOUNTRY COOPERATION TO COMBAT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL THE HAWKS ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IN AN INVESTIGATION ARISING FROM THE DISCOVERY IN JUNE OF A SUSPECT PARCEL AT FEDEX THAT WAS DESTINED FOR THE USA THE PARCEL CONTAINED 8 KILOGRAMS OF RHINO HORNS PIECES CONCEALED AS WOODEN ART PIECES
A NUMBER OF SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATIONS TOOK PLACE COUNTRYWIDE, WITH THE HAWKS ARRESTING ONE SUSPECT AND CONFISCATING 29 RHINO HORN DURING AN OPERATION AT STORAGE AND PACKING FACILITIES IN BEDFORDVIEW WHERE RHINO HORNS ARE PREPARED AND PACKED FOR THE ILLEGAL MARKETS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
“The
demand for rhino horn remains a constant threat to our rhino populations as crime syndicates continue to operate within
our borders”.
5 495 to 6 195 individuals. (Photo by Dave Hamman Photography)
AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING WORK OF INTEGRATED ENFORCEMENT TEAMS AT OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 4 ALLEGED RHINO HORN TRAFFICKERS WERE ARRESTED BETWEEN JANUARY AND JUNE THIS YEAR FOR TRYING TO SMUGGLE 56 PIECES OF RHINO HORN OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN ONE INSTANCE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE HAWKS MALAYSIA AND QATAR AUTHORITIES LED TO THE ARREST OF ANOTHER ALLEGED RHINO HORN TRAFFICKER AND HIS HAUL OF RHINO HORN PIECES AT DOHA AIRPORT IN QATAR THIS ARREST DEMONSTRATES THE SUCCESS OF COUNTRY-TOCOUNTRY COOPERATION TO COMBAT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AT AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
THE HAWKS ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IN AN INVESTIGATION ARISING FROM THE DISCOVERY IN JUNE OF A SUSPECT PARCEL AT FEDEX THAT WAS DESTINED FOR THE USA THE PARCEL CONTAINED 8 KILOGRAMS OF RHINO HORNS PIECES CONCEALED AS WOODEN ART PIECES
A NUMBER OF SEARCH AND SEIZURE OPERATIONS TOOK PLACE COUNTRYWIDE WITH THE HAWKS ARRESTING ONE SUSPECT AND CONFISCATING 29 RHINO HORN DURING AN OPERATION AT STORAGE AND PACKING FACILITIES IN BEDFORDVIEW WHERE RHINO HORNS ARE PREPARED AND PACKED FOR THE ILLEGAL MARKETS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
** Meembers of the public can report any suspicious activities around wildlife to its environmental crime hotline which is 0800 205 005 or the SAPS number 10111