PRIVATE RHINO OWNERS ASSOCIATION (PROA) – RHINO ADDIO?

Do we portray the kingfisher as a criminal or a beneficiary of a sustainable utilisation system? As a member state of CITES, South Africa finds itself in a very challenging position. Our constitution describes ‘sustainable utilisation’ of our wildlife, but we are bound by an international ban on rhino-horn trade. We are faced with a highly complex challenge if we hope to save our rhino from long-term extinction in the wild as a result of the current poaching onslaught. There are various interest groups within the circle of ‘rhino conservation’: a. Rhino custodians and owners, unified in a consensus position that in addition to various demand management strategies, better law enforcement, and other actions, will bring much-needed revenue back to rhino conservation and security from income earned from legalised trade in horn. b.…

John Hanks is a zoologist with a PhD from Cambridge on elephant population dynamics. He has 45 years’ experience in a wide variety of applied conservation management and research projects, working in several African countries. He was previously director of the Africa Programme for WWF International (based in Switzerland). For more information, contact Dr John Hanks: hanksppt@iafrica.com It should by now be evident that there is no single solution to addressing the growing illegal trade in rhino horn, in spite of some of the simplistic options promoted by genuinely concerned individuals sickened by the reports of appalling suffering by rhinos at the hands of poachers. Unfortunately, the strong case that is being presented for a legal trade in rhino horn is being seriously undermined by individuals and NGOs who are against any…

Chairman of the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA), Pelham Jones has over 30 years’ conservation experience and is a private reserve and rhino owner. In September 2009, PROA was established under his guidance and today it is recognised as a national body to lobby for and co-ordinate assistance to private reserves faced with ever-increasing poaching pressure. For more information, contact Pelham Jones: pelham@vibe.co.za By the end of 2016, we will have lost in excess of 6 000 animals, of which over 1 200 have been poached on private reserves. Despite the controversial introduction of the CITES international trade ban in 1977, overall rhino populations have suffered severe decline. It is estimated that over 100 000 rhino have been poached, 23 African range states no longer have rhino, and certain countries that still…

Born and raised on a game farm in the Limpopo Waterberg, JC was a platoon leader for six years during the Bush War. JC was part of the Kruger Park Unit formed to counter insurgents and ivory poachers from Mozambique and Zimbabwe in the Kruger National Park. He formed Eco Ranger in 2000 to train wildlife rangers and dangerous game guides. For more information, contact JC Strauss: africa@ecoranger.co.za or visit www.ecoranger.co.za The challenges facing Africa’s rangers are greater than ever before in the face of a continental poaching epidemic that threatens the very existence of our continent’s remarkable wildlife. Maintaining the motivation and morale of those at the front line of African conservation defence is of paramount importance if we hope to win what can only be described as a war against our…

This is a hard-hitting piece, bold, direct and definitely real... the voice of a ranger. It may not appeal to those who prefer to be passive about rhino poaching – but the fact is, our rangers are fathers, sons, uncles and friends and they literally put their lives on the line every day. In our endeavours to stop rhino poaching, have we become completely desensitised to loss of human life, too? Are we going to accept that losing our sons and fathers is the price we will have to pay? Be brave enough to face these facts, be honest enough to admit being passive, or skip this article. There is no easy way to convey this reality – only to be direct… As a first line of defence and the guardians…

Mavuso Msimang was formerly CEO of SANParks for six years and retains his interest in nature conservation, serving on the boards of organisations such as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal, WWF South Africa, the Peace Parks Foundation and African Parks. He is currently SANParks’ rhino conservation issue manager. He holds a BSc in entomology. For more information, visit: http://www.tambofoundation.org.za/trustees The ban on the trade in rhino horn was instituted in 1977 and yet, 39 years later, it is very clear that the objective of the ban – that is, to save the rhino from being hunted for its horn – has been unsuccessful. Year after year, there has been a serious escalation in rhino poaching, in spite of the fact that the South African government and others are involved in protecting…