Rhino poaching now a priority crime

Rhino poaching is now a priority crime.

This was confirmed by Environmental Affairs Minister Mrs Edna Molewa, ahead of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Thailand. This top-level meeting of the world’s major environmental bodies started on Monday and will conclude on 14 March. Molewa spoke at a Cabinet meeting last Thursday.

The decision to make rhino poaching a priority crime was made by the National Joint Operations Centre, due to the fact that a total of 128 rhinos have been killed since the beginning of the year. This is far more than the 80 that were killed in the corresponding period last year. The operations centre is co-ordinated by the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations.

By this week, according to the Kruger National Park’s statistics, the park has lost 92 rhinos. Other provinces that were hard hit included North West, which lost 12, another 12 in KwaZulu-Natal and eight in Limpopo.

Molewa also said Cabinet had emphasised the need for more technology, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), by the anti-poaching forces. These forces include SANParks rangers who are supported by elements of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), as well as police, customs and excise inspectors from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and a number of non-governmental organisations. 

Currently, the SANDF is deployed for border protection in the KNP. Where manpower allows, soldiers assist rangers in anti-poaching operations. The South African Air Force (SAAF) has also made some of their assets available in the war against poaching. At the same time, SANParks chief executive Dr David Mabunda said intelligence and its gathering, which has proven successful, as well as community involvement, would also be heightened. This would be done by bringing home to neighbouring communities the importance of protecting the rhino in an effort to deny poachers, couriers and others involved safe passage in and around the KNP.
Last year, poachers killed 668 rhino in South Africa, with the KNP losing 425. Between them, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North West collectively lost 202 rhino last year, with both private and provincial game and nature reserves targeted by poachers.

News - Date: 07 March 2013

Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

Email: [email protected]