Police in Limpopo have arrested three suspected rhino poachers believed to have been on their way to shoot and dehorn rhinos in Phalaborwa. The trio was arrested on Sunday in Hoedspruit after police received information about suspected poachers with the aim to shoot and dehorn the animals at a private game farm. Police spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the … [Read more...]
Ending illegal wildlife trade with British Royalty
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the UK government hosted a conference on Tuesday to call for action at the highest level to end the trade in illegal wildlife – a trade that presents a grave threat not only to the natural world, but also to national and regional security. Charles told a conference at St James' Palace in London that action must be taken against the … [Read more...]
Helicopter crash kills 5 soldiers in Kruger National Park
A helicopter crash in South Africa's Kruger National Park has killed five members of the military who were patrolling in an anti-rhino poaching operation. The helicopter's patrol was routine and an investigation into the cause of the crash is now under way. A military statement identified the aircraft as an Agusta A109 light utility helicopter. Rhino poaching is rampant … [Read more...]
86 elephants killed in Chad poaching massacre
Poachers in south-west Chad have killed at least 86 elephants including 33 pregnant females in less than a week, in a potentially devastating blow to one of central Africa's last remaining elephant populations. Groups of elephants follow traditional migration routes during the dry season from Central African Republic, through Chad to Cameroon. Thirty years ago there were … [Read more...]
People vs. poachers
Global activism site Avaaz recently got Thailand's Prime Minister to promise to shut down her country’s ivory trade. But for every victory, there are hundreds more animals facing extinction, and time is running out. To truly win, they need to grow a team focused on beating the poachers and profiteers. Every day, a long list of majestic creatures are cruelly slaughtered by … [Read more...]
A contribution to rhino anti-poaching considerations
The Sophia Foundation supports and promotes a reverence and love for all living beings and the natural environment. The impulse to write this paper comes out of a deep concern for the rhino that are being killed for their horn. We ask why it is that despite all the money and efforts being spent on anti-poaching the rhino death toll is escalating at a rate that threatens the … [Read more...]
Rhino trade implicated in deaths
It's time to halt SA's rhino trade until we can sort out our poaching problem. If we don't do this, we will likely lose them forever, according to Margot Stewart of online advocacy website Causes. Since 1995, after a few unsuccessful attempts, South Africa was granted permission (by annotation) to trade in live white rhino to 'appropriate and acceptable destinations.' … [Read more...]
Rhino poaching rise threatens to undo years of conservation
World Wild Fund for Nature SA (WWF-SA) CEO Morné du Plessis said on Friday the conservation organisation was concerned that the escalation in rhino poaching — from 13 in 2007 to 668 in 2012 — "threatens to undo years of successful conservation effort." Poachers seeking rhino horn to sell in East Asia, where it fetches an estimated $60,000/kg, have already killed at least … [Read more...]
Former army general joins war against rhino poaching
In an ongoing fight against rhino poaching, South African National Parks (SANParks) has acquired the services of a retired army Major General to oversee the overall anti-poaching operations in Kruger National Park, the area hardest hit by poaching. Dr David Mabunda, SANParks Chief Executive Officer, said that the introduction of sixty-year-old Major General (retired) Johan … [Read more...]
Clamping down on rhino terror; army might be next
North West Premier Thandi Modise is confident that police are closing the net around the syndicate responsible for rhino poaching and are getting closer to the kingpins. This follows the arrest of 8 suspects in connection with poaching of eight rhinos in Klipkopspruit farm last month. "Though the network of the syndicate of cruelty and brutality against the rhino as a symbol … [Read more...]
Senior Officer suspended over rhino deaths
A senior conservation manager with more than 20 years experience has been suspended by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife following investigations into the “Black September” rhino massacre at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in Zululand. With the investigation still ongoing, Ezemvelo’s executive director of operations Bheki Khoza confirmed the “precautionary suspension” on Friday of the senior … [Read more...]
Nearly 500 rhinos poached in SA this year
With two months of the year still to go, a record number of rhinos have illegally been killed this year in South Africa. Poachers have slaughtered 488 rhinos so far in 2012, surpassing the 448 killed during the whole of 2011. Over half (296) of the rhinos killed were in Kruger National Park. These horrific figures show the dramatic rise in rhino poaching over the past … [Read more...]
Orphaned rhino doing well at rehab centre
An orphaned Timbavati rhino calf whose mother was slaughtered for her horns last week is adapting well at a specialist wildlife rehabilitation centre. Veterinary surgeon Dr Ferreira du Plessis and wildlife management manager Ertjies Röhm of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) joined forces with Dr Greg Simpson of the University of Pretoria and veterinary students … [Read more...]
