Latest Figures. Poaching Trends. Training. Funding. National Rhino Poaching Investigation. Dear Rhino Owner

Transcription

1 Dear Rhino Owner As we know the unprecedented rhino slaughter continues with 59 animals killed in the first 14 weeks of 2010 i.e. over 4 a week. A lot of work is being done in attempting to counter this onslaught but we need more support far greater assistance and funding. This letter outlines what is being done and how you can get involved. Latest Figures KNP 17, Gauteng 4, Limpopo 7, Mpumalanga 6, N.West 12, E. Cape 2, Free State 2, KZN 8 = 59. These figures include black rhino and a few cases where post darting the rhino has survived but the horn stolen. Poaching Trends There is a definite increase in the use of helicopters and darting, helicopters have also been used to recce a property prior to ground poaching. We are working with the CAA to communicate with all registered helicopter owners and pilots, to request their assistance not only in conforming to the minimum flight height of 1500 ft but also to assist in identifying who is involved in helicopter poaching. 99% are highly professional and honourable but the 1% must be brought to justice. Training The average standard of game scouts and counter poaching units in the country is poor. To combat the current poaching, much higher standards and the availability or access to provincial and local reaction forces is essential. We are working towards a solution in this area and are interacting with provincial structures and private sector including the Game Rangers Association of South Africa to get training centres and funding so as to provide better training to both government and private land owner game scouts. Once this is finalised we will advise on syllabus, dates and costs but in the mean time increase the standard of training and number of game scouts on your property. Donor funding is needed not only for training of counter poaching units but equipment as well. Funding I have previously raised this issue and unfortunately the response has been poor. funding for 3 main categories. We desperately need Training and field equipment for Regional Counter Poaching Units. Investigation costs including informers Purchase of specialist equipment. If you can assist please advise, also use influence to encourage corporate donations. Among our donors I would like to thank the Professional Hunters Association for their support in this area and their donation. National Rhino Poaching Investigation

2 A template on how to better coordinate the fight against poaching has been presented to and approved by the Minister. This protocol once implemented will better coordinate poaching incidents, investigations, dockets, intel, prosecution and response units from grass root poaching up to organised crime and Interpol. The structure is being finalised and once ready to implement, landowners will be advised. The private owners will play and important role in this proposed structure. April 2010 Dear Rhino Owner As you know the unprecedented rhino slaughter continues with 94 animals killed in the first 20 weeks of 2010 i.e. almost 5 a week. A lot of work is being done in attempting to counter this onslaught but we need more support far greater assistance and funding. This letter outlines what is being done and how you can get involved. Poaching Trends There is a definite increase in the use of helicopters and darting, helicopters have also been used to recce a property prior to ground poaching. We are working with the CAA to communicate with all registered helicopter owners and pilots, to request their assistance not only in conforming to the minimum flight height of 2500 ft but also to assist in identifying who is involved in helicopter poaching. 99% are highly professional and honourable but the 1% must be brought to justice. Training The average standard of game scouts and counter poaching units in the country is poor. To combat the current poaching, much higher standards and the availability or access to provincial and local reaction forces is essential. We are working towards a solution in this area and are interacting with provincial structures and private sector including the Game Rangers Association of South Africa to get training centres and funding so as to provide better training to both provincial and private land owner game scouts. Once this is finalised we will advise on syllabus, dates and costs but in the mean time increase the standard of training and number of game scouts on your property. Donor funding is needed not only for training of counter poaching units but equipment as well. Funding I have previously raised this issue and unfortunately the response has been poor. funding for 3 main categories. We desperately need Training and field equipment for Regional Counter Poaching Units. Investigation costs including informers Purchase of specialist equipment. All donor funding will be controlled by either WRSA or EWT (depending on needs) and is subject to use audit and fiduciary control.

3 If you can assist please advise, also use influence to encourage corporate donations. Among our donors I would like to thank the Professional Hunters Association for their support in this area and their donation. National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit A template on how to better coordinate the fight against poaching has been presented to and approved by the Minister. This protocol once implemented will better coordinate poaching incidents, investigations, dockets, intel, prosecution and response units from grass root poaching up to organised crime and Interpol. The structure is being finalised and once ready to implement, landowners will be advised. The private owners will play and important role in this new structure. The unit head is Ken Maggs we wish him and his team all the best for the huge challenge they are facing Incident Reporting A uniform standard operating procedure SOP for rhino poaching incidents is being finalised and will be provided in booklet form to be distributed to all rhino owners. In addition emergency contact numbers. In many of the poaching incidents forensic evidence has been lost due to bad handling of the crime scene. We are attempting to get these guidelines out asap. Dehorning The ultimate decision is up to each owner but this has been raised as a possible solution. Having now debated the issue extensively the following summary motivates not to dehorn. The animals have horns as part of their social defence needs Black rhino use their horns whilst browsing Once horns are removed, these horns now become a security risk to the land owner. The aesthetic defacing of having rhino horns removed in terms of tourism This policy has not worked in the past as the animals are still shot for the remaining horn plus any regrowth. WRSA At our National Workshop held last year at Vodacom Provincial representatives were nominated to serve on our National Body, it was also resolved to become part of WRSA. This process has now been completed with individuals appointed to key areas of responsibility. We will in future operate as a chapter within WRSA. Conclusion Our rhino assets are at high risk with currently only a 3% conviction rate and an 8% of horn recovery rate of all poaching incidents. It is essential for all to heighten your own security and become actively involved with neighbouring owners to establish task groups and PROACTIVE anti poaching.

4 Assist in fund raising and provide intel, lastly get involved we need assistance at all levels. Kind Regards Pelham Jones June 2010 Dear Rhino Owner As you have seen there is now huge public and media awareness of the rhino plight, one of the most important issues is the man in the street is now getting involved to help fight the battle. Since my last correspondence there have been many meetings and some highly successful actions, I will summaries in this the highlights. It is however very clear to me, this is a time for ALL to act in one way or another to protect our rhino and not waste time and energy on turf war or political games. Since the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) came into existence at the Vodacom national meeting, we have managed with zero resources to bring an action plan into being which is today proven to be highly successful, these include; The Conserv Security communication and reaction plan, the establishment of 8 rhino security nodes. We have established excellent relationships and working success with other NGO`s, initiated fund raising needs, stimulated huge National and International media coverage, pressurized government national and provincial, established very good lines of cooperation with the National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit (NWCRU) and SAPS investigators, we have provided valuable information to help secure arrests and have attended numerous meetings with senior government and private sector executives to achieve our objectives. I have pointed out that the protection of the private sector rhino populations at this moment in time is the most critical issue, the poachers have identified that it is easier to poach on smaller properties. Many properties do not even have game scouts and the standard of security training is low. Many reserves are purely reactive and as a result an increase in poaching on private vs. state land, this has resulted in the collapse in rhino values and rhino are seen as a liability not an asset. It is the private sector that dictates value and demand and for these reasons the situation has to be reversed. Accordingly we are looking at number of actions and appeal for ALL owners to become PROACTIVELY involved to help protect your asset, with the help of donor funding. Rhino poaching is now addressed as High Priority Crime by the SAPS and thus falls in the same category as ATM bombings, murder etc and falls under the Hawks, the NWCRU in turn work in close cooperation and share Intel, we the rhino owners are not doing enough to assist the investigators in providing information on suspicious activities or incidents. Please report via the incident report form you hold, call Conserv or use the national crime line numbers. If you are aware of an individual be it a poacher, vet, individual in game capture, land owner or pilot, that is involved and not reported, it is indirectly aiding the criminal and frustrating investigators who are trying to protect our asset. I am in discussion with Ken Maggs to look at a better report back system to the private sector in terms of successful convictions and arrests. Dehorning, CITES and trade in rhino horn remains a matter of hot debate all receiving attention. We are looking at trying to better understand what is driving market demand in the Far East and have asked for an international research company to assist. There have been a number of incidents of rhino poached that had been dehorned, also the TOPS legislation prescribes you must get a permit prior to the removal of rhino horn and the required registration of the horn.

5 Thanks to corporate and private donations, we will now be able to roll out a security initiative, which has been work shopped on a national Needs Analysis. There is still a lot of detail to follow but in summary this is what we are looking at; Needs identification; Training On private, provincial and national reserves a much higher standard of anti-poaching staff training, urgent funding is required to hire regional training centers and supplement course costs from field ranger to security management. Equipment The purchase of high-tech electronic equipment that can be used nationally in anti poaching operations. Reaction teams The ability to use specialist trained and equip reaction teams on a needs basis. Investigations Funding to provide for informers, investigation costs, legal in the case of civil prosecution. Administration costs Basic office, a small personnel, telephone and operational costs. Conclusion The above is a broad stroke outline which will need to be broken down into detail and priced. I know certain individuals would argue many of the services are SAPS functions, but when you look at the situation on the ground i.e. in N West we have 53 dead rhino and not a single arrest! Any donation will be welcome. We must give recognition to LeadSA, Jacaranda, Stoprhinopoaching.com, EWT, WRSA and Phasa for their actions involvement and fund raising. In conclusion, be in no complacent attitude regarding the protection or preservation of your rhino. The organized crime syndicates are ruthless and unless we stand together and become involved we will suffer the same fate as what has happened to the North of us. It is now known that in the period 1970 to Black rhino were slaughtered (4000 a year)!! The world stood back and allowed it to happen. In South Africa, , , , animals killed now in 2010 we are losing 1 animal a day, are we going to allow our heritage and asset to be stolen from us? Please circulate the . Regards Pelham Jones September 2010

6 Incident Reporting A uniform standard operating procedure SOP for rhino poaching incidents is being finalised and will be provided in booklet form to be distributed to all rhino owners. In addition emergency contact numbers. In many of the poaching incidents forensic evidence has been lost due to bad handling of the crime scene. We are attempting to get these guidelines out asap. Dehorning The ultimate decision is up to each owner but this has been raised as a possible solution. Having now debated the issue extensively the following summary motivates not to dehorn. The animals have horns as part of their social defence needs Black rhino use their horns whilst browsing Once horns are removed, these horns now become a security risk to the land owner. The aesthetic defacing of having rhino horns removed in terms of tourism This policy has not worked in the past as the animals are still shot for the remaining horn plus any regrowth. Conclusion Our rhino assets are at high risk with currently only a 3% conviction rate and an 8% of horn recovery rate of all poaching incidents. It is essential for all to heighten your own security and become actively involved with neighbouring owners to establish task groups and PROACTIVE anti poaching. Assist in fund raising and provide intel, lastly get involved we need assistance at all levels. Kind Regards Pelham Jones pelham@yebo.co.za Private Rhino Owners Association of S.A.