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Update on rhino poaching: December 2015

This update provides key facts on rhino poaching from December 2015 to January 2016, including a slight decrease in poaching, increased arrests and convictions, seizure of firearms, and training initiatives. The update also covers previous engagements and departmental responses to address the issue.

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Update on rhino poaching: December 2015

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  1. Update on rhino poaching: December 2015 27 January 2016

  2. Key Facts on Poaching 31 December 2015 • Slight decrease of 3.3% in rhino poaching from 1 215 (827 in KNP) in 2014 to 1 175 (826 in KNP) at the end of 2015, which is a decrease of 40 rhino (1 less in KNP); • 317 poachers were arrested in October 2015, of which 202 were arrested in the KNP and 115 in the area adjacent to the KNP. This is an increase from the 258 arrests in 2014 (Increase of 59); • 48 accused convicted of the following charges: • Possession of Rhino Horn (6); Dealing in Rhino Horn (2); Illegal hunting of Rhinos (8); Conspiracy (6); Illegal possession of fire- arm or ammunition/ supplying firearms in relation to rhino poaching (25); Trespassing (25); Other charges (3); • Conviction rate of 88.8%; • 24 convicted poachers were given prison sentences, 21 fines and three (3) suspended sentences; • 15 were Mozambican citizens, of which 14 is currently serving prison sentences; • A total of 125 firearms were seized inside the KNP and 63 adjacent to the KNP, which is a total of 188 compared to the 148 of the previous year (2014)(40 additional firearms); • A total of 400 Magistrates and Prosecutors have been trained during 2015; • A total of 1 047 border enforcement officials have received training in combating rhino poaching; • The DPCI arrested 15 high-level members of a poaching syndicate during 2015; and • In November 2015, President Zuma officially opened the Mission Area Joint Operations Centre in the KNP.

  3. Previous Engagements 2015 • Oversight visit to KNP: 01 February 2015 • Follow-up meeting: 18 February 2015 • Second follow-up meeting: 09 September 2015 • 18 February 2015 • Main area of concern was the lack of an integrated approach to curb rhino poaching. • 09 September 2015 • Cooperation with neighbouring countries, especially Mozambique; • Employment of customised strategies to address different challenges in different parts of the KNP; • Addressing syndicates, in terms of level 4 and 5 crimes; • Push and pull factors attracting syndicates to South Africa; • Vetting of personnel; • Adequate resourcing, especially in terms of equipment and vehicles; and • Proposals were made for the SAPS to liaise with Kenyan counterparts in successes achieved in stemming rhino poaching.

  4. Departmental Responses 09 September 2015 Meeting In summary: • Interventions in place and successes achieved with regard to level 4 and 5 crimes. The DPCI focusses on national, transnational and international criminal networks and the building of law enforcement capacity and networks to address wildlife crime. The areas of focus include: • Mutual Legal Assistance: The DPCI is dealing with 4 Mutual Legal Assistance Programmes, including the USA (2), Czech Republic and Australia. • Operations with INTERPOL and SARPCCO, which include: • Operation Waylay focussed on control deliveries between countries, as well as training and development of equipment to assist in control of deliveries between countries. • Project Infra Terra focusses on tracing of international wanted suspects with the focus on environmental criminal groups operating transnationally. • Project Conexus is a new investigative response for Environment and Supply Chain Security programme. The programme is still being developed and will investigate the linkages between environmental smuggling syndicates and other crime syndicates, like human trafficking. • Asian-Wen Operations, specifically Project Cobra 3 focusses on the transnational and international smuggling of rhino horns, elephant ivory, pangolins (anteaters), big cats and apes. • DNA Programme: The DPCI in cooperation with the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort (University of Pretoria) developed a crime scene tool kit for investigators to obtain Rhino DNA samples for investigative purposes in rhino poaching crimes to identify individual rhino DNA. • The DPCI also focussed on transferring skills and skills development through training detectives and SADC training on wildlife crime.

  5. Departmental Responses cont. 09 September 2015 Meeting • Vetting: The vetting of personnel is an ongoing process. • Staffing requirements of the DPCI: An extended capacity will be able to benefit the DPCI on provincial, as well as the national structures dealing with complex matters (levels 3 – 5 crimes). • The SAPS was presented with training by the USA Fish and Wildlife Agency at ILEA, Botswana. • In terms of public awareness, the National Rural Safety Strategy, communities are informed of the seriousness of rhino poaching. • The SAPS indicate that they do not have any information of internal leakages to date, but that it is suspected that there is internal leakages.

  6. Key Concerns • The Committee should request the Department to elaborate on the 88.8% conviction rate, as only 48 persons arrested out of a total of 317 arrestees were convicted of rhino-poaching and associated crimes. • The Committee should request the SAPS to elaborate on the nature of the Mutual Legal Assistance applications currently dealt with and whether this will be expanded? • Status of development of Operation Conexus – Supply Chain in syndicates? • Has the staffing level been increased for the DPCI teams working with environmental crime, especially at national level? • Has the SAPS received any additional foreign training of environmental crime? • The Committee should request the Department to elaborate on the suspicion that there is internal leakages of information within the SAPS regarding rhino poaching. Has any information been gathered to support or disproof this suspicion? • The Committee should request an update on the resourcing of the anti-rhino poaching team and whether the team has appropriate equipment and vehicles to support their functions.

  7. Dog Unit/Tracker dogs/K9 Capacity • Relatively new environment of oversight for the Committee • Should include in oversight visits, in-line with focus on specialised units • Several allegations of mistreatment of dogs • Valuable asset, especially in environmental crimes, like rhino poaching • Example: K9 Killer tracker dog deployed in KNP • Received 2016 PDSA Gold Medal for bravery (International) • Tracking skills led to 115 arrests over the past 4 years, of which 77 were poachers • Part of a research team that visited Cape Town Harbour, Port of Entry yesterday (26/01/16). Main challenge was the lack of K9 capacity, which will significantly expedite rummaging operations.

  8. Thank you ~ Questions Nicolette van Zyl-Gous Researcher: Portfolio Committee on Police nvanzyl-gous@parliament.gov.za 021 403 8416 8

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