Who slew the last standing rhino in Krugersdorp?

Rhinos are being massacred! Almost as many Rhino have been killed as there were when I first went on Umfolozi Game Reserve in 1952. It is a situation where SA previously could hold its head high. Operation Rhino, which was the capture and translocation of the white rhino, has been hailed internationally as one of the greatest success stories in wildlife conservation.

Are we going to put that in jeopardy now? By allowing people who really should know better, to fly over in helicopters, do reconnaissances, and then use modern drugs to come down and kill the rhino and just take away their horns, and sometimes before the rhino is even dead. The animal is lying there writhing in pain and the horn is cut off … No, No, No!

We know who many of the people are, I would appeal to them for God’s sake: If you consider yourself a South African, if you’re proud of your country, you love this country – don’t do it! Don’t do it!

Dr. Ian Player – Rhino Conservationist & Environmental Statesman

In 1952, Dr Ian Player joined the Natal Parks Board. He spearheaded significant and far-reaching conservation initiatives. One of which was Operation Rhino that saved the few remaining southern white rhino that were on the brink of extinction. He has also founded the Wilderness Leadership School.

I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Ian Player in May 2010. He is a gentle, elderly man, full of soulful charm and an innate passion for his cause. We were sitting under the starry skies at the Wilderness Leadership School in Durban, listening to him share his stories and adventures of his experiences in conservation from when he first started in the Umfolozi. Sitting around the campfire, equipped with our tin mugs full of red wine, we learnt how he had dedicated most of his adult life to successfully rescuing Africa’s rhino population and raising the awareness of conservation in Southern Africa. It saddens me that in his lifetime, he has to experience the re-emergence of this shocking and terrifying increase of rhino poaching in recent months.

Helicopters, machine guns, bullet-proof vests, R250,000 night-vision binoculars, prescription tranquillisers, axes and electric chain saws. These are some of the tools used in modern poaching methods. The whole topic of rhino poaching poses more questions than answers. Who is pay-rolling the organized operations? Why the sudden increase in poaching in recent months? Who are the masterminds behind purchasing the rhino horns?

The most sophisticated operations use helicopters. Am I being naïve in thinking that all helicopters in South Africa and neighbouring countries need to be registered with the civil aviation authorities? What control is there over approving and monitoring their flight plans? Who are the pilots and what code of ethics are they meant to abide by? Are civil authorities in cahoots with these illegal activities? What regulations control importation of rhino horn into different countries?

And lastly, what are the solutions? What organizations can people join or donate to, to help combat the poaching?

We asked Getaway fans on Facebook what they thought should be done to stop rhino poaching. Their responses were varied. Fans suggested everything from farming rhino horn, poisoning or cutting off their horns, educating the masses on ‘shoot to kill’ policies and even cutting off the poachers’ prized bits and pieces! Someone else wrote ‘Researching an article about it won't do anything. Lots of articles have been researched and written. We need to know how to help.’

I set about researching current rhino poaching statistics and news reports. I became extremely saddened by the articles reporting the escalation of rhino poaching at an unprecedented rate. I tweeted and facebooked my rants and vents about the information I found, but overall I felt that there were few reports on what is actually being done about it.

Another suggestion was ‘Pass some good laws now to protect our wildlife – no wildlife in Africa, no tourism!’ This got me thinking, what effect does rhino poaching have on tourism in Southern Africa? Would increased policing have an adverse effect on tourism and tourists’ feeling of safety?

Then I thought about the state of our country. What are our authorities doing to police and curtail the scourge? Why is the military not being called on to deal with this sudden onslaught? A theory called Maslow’s hierarchy of needs says people need to meet lower order needs, such as food and shelter, before they can think about higher concerns, such as morality. For many people living close to the breadline, conservation is a low priority. Could this be a reason our government can’t afford to give it much attention, especially when facing high unemployment rates and labour unrest?

When you juxtapose people living close to the breadline with the temptation of making a quick buck by co-operating with poachers, the temptation is going to be difficult to resist. This is especially the case if the risk of detection is low in remote areas that are difficult to police. It takes 10 minutes to shoot and cut off a rhino horn. That’s the draw for poachers – instant moneybags and few consequences.

Is the key educating the global population, especially local communities about these conservation plights? One of our fans suggested ‘involving rural communities in the anti-poaching efforts and raising awareness where possible. The creation of alternative livelihoods to reduce the need to poach is obviously critical, but tricky’.

In some cases, familiarity breeds contempt. Are people who have grown up with wilderness less likely to be appreciative of it than people largely deprived of it? On the other hand, will someone who has never experienced nature in its purest state ever understand it either? Education is vital.

Is it unrealistic for the public simply to expect the state authorities to counter this problem? When we have no rhinos left, when the last rhino horn is hacked off, are we going to seek someone else to blame? Should we not also be redoubling our efforts to make it more difficult for a climate of poaching to exist?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 – Poachers kill last adult rhino in Krugersdorp Game Reserve. A nine-month old calf was made an orphan. She walks around looking for her mother who was killed for her horns. Game Warden Japie Mostert said: “Nou kan julle my ook maar doodmaak, dan is als nou dood.” – Now you can kill me too, then everything is dead.

NUMBER OF RHINO REPORTED POACHED SINCE JANUARY 2010: 188 (182 white, 6 black)

10 ways YOU can help:

1. WWF SA launches September action month for rhinos. Get ready to take a stand and to make some noise! On 22 September, Rhino Day, WWF calls on all concerned citizens of the world to dust off their vuvuzelas, toot their horns and make as much noise as possible, at 1pm, as a symbolic act to send a powerful message to leaders that the time to take serious and effective action against rhino poaching is now.

2. WWF has a new, dedicated rhino campaign to tackle the alarming increase of poaching of wild Rhinos. WWF co-founded TRAFFIC – the global organisation that works specifically to prevent the illegal trade of such things as Rhino parts. To make a donation visit their website.

3. At the Lead SA rhino poaching summit in August 2010, a resolution was taken to look at urgent interventions. The summit resolved to set up a committee to tackle the rhino poaching problem.

4. Jacaranda 94.2 takes aim at poachers with a 12 hour telethon to be held on Friday 10 September to raise funds towards rhino protection.

5. An anti-poaching ranger training program is now offered at SanWild Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Sanctuary.

6. Call the Rhino Poaching Hotline: 082 404 2128 of the Endangered Wildlife Trust.  To donate click here.

7. Show your support by going to this website where you can offer donations for rhino conservation, learn more about saving rhinos and share this information with others.

8. Mission rhino is offering a reward of R25 000 to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of rhino poachers.

9. Make a donation to Stop Rhino Poaching.

10. The Wildlife Society of South Africa proposes to raise funds and awareness to help curb the current illegal rhino hunting. Make a donation by SMSing “Rhino” to 40706.