Posted on 01 December
2009 - Geneva, Switzerland – Rhino poaching
worldwide is on the rise, according to a
new report by TRAFFIC and the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The trade is being driven
by Asian demand for horns and is made worse
by increasingly sophisticated poachers,
who now are using veterinary drugs, poison,
cross bows and high caliber weapons to kill
rhinos, the report states.
Since 2006 the majority
(95 percent) of the poaching in Africa has
occurred in Zimbabwe and South Africa, according
to new data.
“These two nations collectively
form the epicentre of an unrelenting poaching
crisis in southern Africa,” said Tom Milliken
of TRAFFIC.
The report, which was
submitted to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) ahead of its 15th meeting
of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15)
in March, documents a decline in law enforcement
effectiveness and an increase in poaching
intensity in Africa. The situation is most
serious in Zimbabwe where rhino numbers
are now declining and the conviction rate
for rhino crimes in Zimbabwe is only three
percent. Despite the introduction of a number
of new measures, poaching and illicit horn
trade in South Africa has also increased.
“Concerted action at
the highest level is needed to stop this
global crisis of rampant rhino poaching,”
said Amanda Nickson, Director of the Species
Programme at WWF International. “We call
on the countries of concern to come to COP
15 in March with specific actions they have
undertaken to show their commitment to stopping
this poaching and protecting rhinos in the
wild.”
The report also raises
concerns regarding the low and declining
numbers as well as the uncertain status
of some of the Sumatran and Javan rhino
populations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
“Sumatran and Javan
rhino range countries need to increase efforts
to better assess the current status of many
of their rhino populations - to enhance
field law enforcement efforts - prevent
further encroachment and land transformation
in rhino areas - and improve biological
management of remaining rhinos to ensure
the few remaining Sumatran and Javan Rhino
numbers increase,” said Dr. Bibhab Kumar
Talukdar, Chair of the IUCN/SSC Asian Rhino
Specialist Group
Most rhino horns leaving
southern Africa are destined for medicinal
markets in southeast and east Asia, especially
Vietnam, and also China. The report highlights
Vietnam as a country of particular concern
– noting that Vietnamese nationals operating
in South Africa have recently been identified
in rhino crime investigations. In addition,
concern has been expressed about the status
of Vietnam’s single Javan rhino population.
However, the report
does note that in some areas populations
of rhinos are increasing.
“Where there is political
will, dedicated conservation programs and
good law enforcement, rhino numbers have
increased in both Africa and Asia,” said
Dr Richard Emslie, Scientific Officer of
IUCN’s African Rhino Specialist Group.
IUCN’s Rhino Specialist
Groups and TRAFFIC were mandated to produce
the report by CITES. The data collection
and report writing for the report was partially
funded by WWF and partners.
