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RHINO POACHING – GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

RHINO POACHING – GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS. Portfolio Committee of Water and Environmental Affairs Public Hearings Presented by Fundisile Mketeni: DDG Biodiversity and Conservation 26 January 2012. BACKGROUND.

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RHINO POACHING – GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

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  1. RHINO POACHING – GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS Portfolio Committee of Water and Environmental Affairs Public Hearings Presented by Fundisile Mketeni: DDG Biodiversity and Conservation 26 January 2012

  2. BACKGROUND • The Rhino population in South Africa was on the brink of extinction in the early 1960’s, but at the end of 2007 South Africa had conserved 35% of Africa’s Black rhino and 93% of Africa’s White rhino respectively • South Africa currently has a population of approximately 18 800 White rhino and 1 900 Black rhino • The success are however undermined by the illegal killing of SA’s rhino population and subsequent illegal trade in horns of these animals • The illegal trade is worth approximately USD 20 billion annually and is considered to be the third most lucrative criminal trade in the world, ranking closely behind drugs and human trafficking and leading the arms smuggling trade

  3. BACKGROUND • Illegal killing and interference with rhino in South Africa escalated in 2008: 83 animals were illegally killed, while from 2000 – 2007 the highest number of animals killed during a single year was 25 • The numbers increased to 122 (2009), 333 (2010) and 448 in 2011

  4. 74 8 34 RHINO POACHING INCIDENTS AND ARRESTS Jan – Dec 2011 Illegally killed = 448 Arrests 232 MNP 6 KNP 252 9 Limpopo 21 16 21 15 82 1 Mpumalanga North West 73 GP 31 Free State Kwazulu Natal Northern Cape 3 4 34 4 Eastern Cape Western Cape 2 1 11 6

  5. BACKGROUND Rhino Poaching Arrests: South Africa Jan – Dec (232)

  6. NATIONAL WILDLIFE CRIME REACTION INITIATIVE Levels of Threat 5 International Consumer Buyer (NWCRI / Interpol) NWCRI National Team 4 National - Exporter (NWCRI) Conduit 3 National – Couriers / Buyers / Facilitators (NWCRI) NWCRI Provincial Teams ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES Hunting : De-horning : Horn Possession & Dealing : Permit Violations Racketeering WILDLIFE INDUSTRY “White Collar” Crime

  7. INTERVENTIONS IMPLEMENTED Various interventions implemented since 2009 to curb poaching, including • Legislative & policy provisions • Moratorium (prohibition) on trade in horn in South Africa, • Norms and Standards for the marking of rhino horn and the hunting of white rhino for trophy hunting purposes – amendments recently published for public participation, • National Strategy for the safety and security of rhinoceros populations in South Africa • Collaboration & Cooperation • National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit (NWCRU) established • National Biodiversity Investigators Forum (NBIF) • NATJOINTS (National security structure with a Priority Committee on rhinoceros to investigate organised crime relating to rhino, include ProvJoints in the nine provinces)

  8. INTERVENTIONS IMPLEMENTED-cont- • International • South Africa participates in the Interpol Wildlife Sub-group & organises Interpol operations in South Africa • Bilateral with VietNam – Outcomes include a MOU between South Africa and VietNam on wildlife enforcement matters • Official engagements with China – Addendum to existing MoU, addressing wildlife enforcement, to be signed • CITES Ivory and Rhino Task Force – Task Force established based on decision at CITES COP 15 • Bilateral on Safety and Security between South Africa and Mozambique – Discussion on cross-border law enforcement between two countries took place & strategy to be developed • IUCN Rhino Specialist Group – Assessment of the status of the species and conservation matters, including threats

  9. PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS • The interim National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit to be replaced by a permanent wildlife reaction unit, coordinated by DEA • The Standard Operating Procedure between the South Africa Police Service and the Department to be amended – The Department to take lead in investigations • The hunting of rhino by foreign clients, whose country of usual residence does not have adequate legislation to ensure that imported personal sport hunted trophies will remain in possession of the hunter, should be stopped as soon as possible.

  10. PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS–cont- • The Department of Environmental Affairs to collaborate with the Department of Public Works to secure a facility at OR Tambo International Airport and a facility at a still to be identified seaport, where wildlife shipments can be inspected. • Limit the ports of entry and exit where wildlife and wildlife products can be imported to and exported from to strengthen control, facilitate enforcement and compliance, and to improve detection of illegal wildlife shipments. • The capacity within the Department of Environmental Affairs to be increased to provide for the deployment of at least two officials to be stationed at each of the designated ports of entry and exit

  11. PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS –cont- • Officials working within special investigations units and that have access to secret documents to be vetted and if needed, to be subjected to polygraph tests for Top Secret clearance by the National Intelligence Agency. • Communication on rhino poaching incidents and rhino related actions need to be improved. • Ministerial engagements with governments of the People’s Republic of China, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Thailand, Mozambique and other perceived transit or consumer countries. • The Department of Public Works to assist in repairing the flood damaged fence between Kruger National Park and Mozambique. • Field ranger capacity in Kruger National Park to be increased as well as support to private rhino owners

  12. IMPLEMENTATION OF RHINO SUMMIT OUTCOMES Thirteen Priority Areas with specific actions agreed to at Minister’s Summit in October 2010: Progress being made (report provided) Three Studies: • Dehorning Impact Study to determine whether dehorning is a viable option to address security risks – completed & submitted to Minister 2. A feasibility study to determine the viability of the legalization of the trade in rhino horn within South Africa (analysis of the impact of trade moratorium (prohibition) currently in place in South Africa & viability to lift moratorium) – initiated & to be concluded by August 2012

  13. IMPLEMENTATION OF RHINO SUMMIT OUTCOMES –cont- • A global market research study relating to rhino horn – advertised, no suitable service provider. Complex issue requiring an analysis of illegal markets (currently no legal market exists), and drivers of these markets, including analysis of trade routes

  14. Thank you

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