Home arrow Network News arrow Network News arrow Poachers wiping out rhino
Poachers wiping out rhino
THE World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that South Africa’s rhinos are disappearing at a record rate.





WWF and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife leader Jacques Flamand told The Times that the high number of rhinos killed by poachers this year shows that South African rhinos were under “serious threat” — particularly black rhinos.

“There is a huge increase in rhino poaching and horn smuggling in the country. The number of rhinos that have been poached this year alone is a record high. So far nine have been poached,” he said.

Flamand said there are only about 4000 black rhinos left worldwide. WWF SA said there was a surge in rhino poaching in SA , Namibia and Zimbabwe, which was hardest hit.


“Since January 2000, approximately 70 rhinos have been killed in Zimbabwe’s Lowveld conservancies, and the numbers are rising .

“About 20 rhinos were shot in the Lowveld during 2008,” said Raoul du Toit, Lowveld’s conservation project manager .

Flamand said the increasing demand from China and Asian countries for African rhino horns directly contributed to poaching in the southern African countries.

He said the Kruger National Park and private land in KwaZulu-Natal was mostly affected by rhino poaching, with the animals being either killed cruelly or severely injured.

“We are fighting an uphill battle in trying to protect the rhinos against poaching, and this has placed black rhinos among the endangered species in the world. Although white rhinos are the most sought after for their long horns, black rhinos are not spared.”

Flamand said it was costly to protect the rhinos against poaching because it required employing and arming a large number of game rangers by the state and private owners .


Flamand is working closely with the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project which finds large partner sites where significant founder populations of black rhino can be released.

There are four partner sites in KwaZulu-Natal so far. The project also contributes towards protecting Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s existing black rhino populations.

http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=852393
 

Sponsored Links