Rhinos are currently experiencing the worst poaching crisis on record, due to an explosion in the demand for rhino horn from east-Asian countries. South Africa has experienced a 7,500% increase in rhino poaching since 2007, with 1,004 rhinos poached in the country during 2013 alone. From February 11-13, world leaders, government officials, conservation experts and wildlife … [Read more...]
Moving rhinos to Botswana to combat poaching
African safari operators and conservation groups said Wednesday they plan to move up to 100 South African rhinos to neighbouring Botswana for safekeeping, as poaching levels spike to new highs. "One hundred rhinos will be captured and safely transported from South Africa... and released in Botswana's remote wilderness," two conservation groups called &Beyond and Great … [Read more...]
Minister Molewa welcomes grant to combat rhino poaching
South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa has lauded the R232.2 million grant made to the Peace Parks Foundation by the Dutch and Swedish Postcode Lotteries. The Dutch Postcode Lottery donated R217 million of the total donation, with R15.2 million being contributed by the Swedish Postcode Lottery, towards the fight against rhino … [Read more...]
How was 2013 for Asian Rhinos?
2013 was a tough year for rhinos all over the world. With the escalating poaching crisis, all five rhino species are at extreme risk. Along with poaching, habitat degradation and human encroachment remain big threats for the three Asian species: the Javan rhino, Sumatran rhino and the Greater one-horned rhino. In April 2013, the Sumatran Rhino Crisis Summit opened with the … [Read more...]
Raising millions with reusable bags
Woolworths customers have helped raise close to R5 million to date by purchasing the cause related reusable bags sold in Woolworths stores. This includes over R2.2 million for rhinos, R2.1 million for other endangered species, almost R400 000 for marine life, and R200 000 for breast cancer awareness. Woolworths launched their first cause related bag in September 2010 - the … [Read more...]
Poachers kill rhino in brazen attack
Poachers slaughtered a rhino in one of Kenya's best guarded wildlife parks, officials said on Tuesday, in a brazen attack highlighting the risks gunmen are taking during a surge of killings. "Poachers infiltrated Lewa's borders during the full moon on 17 November and killed Meluaya", a 17-year-old black rhino suspected to have been heavily pregnant and with a two-year-old … [Read more...]
Mozambique’s Chissano starts campaign to end poaching
Poor Mozambicans must make an income from conservation so they don’t join the army of hunters who’ve helped take rhino poaching in neighboring South Africa to a sixth successive record, former President Joaquim Chissano said. Chissano, 74, is setting up a foundation to work with the government to establish a special anti-poaching force and to help develop commercial projects … [Read more...]
Rhino losses could impact lucrative tourism industry
World Rhino Day in South Africa will see conservationists and concerned citizens reflecting on another tragic year, the fifth in a row, where a record number of rhinos poached will most certainly be reached. To put the current rhino poaching war into perspective, South Africa has lost a total of 2409 rhinos since 2000. However, 95% (or 2289) of these losses have been in the … [Read more...]
At least 635 rhinos down this year
To date, a staggering 635 Rhinos have been reported as poached in South Africa in 2013, with the real numbers possibly being higher. Rhino poaching is considered by some to be a low risk - high reward activity with an increasingly affluent market for rhino horn in the east, and this is responsible for driving the numbers of Rhinos poached ever higher. To date, a staggering … [Read more...]
Shopping bags collect R1.7 for rhino conservation
Since the launch of the first iconic rhino reusable shopping bag in 2010, over R1.7 million has been raised for rhino conservation through a number of initiatives. Woolworths’ new limited edition rhino bag has arrived in stores in time for World Rhino Day on 22 September. Through the sale of each bag (R29.95), R10 (Vat inclusive) will be donated to the Wildlife ACT Fund to … [Read more...]
Campaign launched for threatened species
A campaign is being been launched this month in Bloemfontein to help saving endangered fauna and flora in the Free State and also nationwide. Called the Emoya Save the Species Campaign Free State and based at Emoya Estate outside Bloemfontein, the campaign is each year to focus on a selected endangered species, starting off with the rhino this year. The official launch of … [Read more...]
Art for our rhinos’ sake
A picture says more than a thousand words. Personally I feel that eco art should play a much stronger role in getting our urgent environmental message across than currently happens in our country. Our future demands that – our hearts need to be stirred by all means possible. Why are our musicians not taking up the cause, the artist illustrating our problems, the poets not … [Read more...]
3 suspected rhino poachers arrested
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...]
