‘Shoot rhino poachers from the air’

‘Shoot rhino poachers from the air’
February 23 2012 at 07:40am
By Colleen Dardagan

Businessman Vincent Christoforous and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife head Bandile Mkhize show off the Sikorski 300 helicopter that Christoforous gave to the Imfolozi Game Reserve to fight rhino poaching from the air. Picture: Colleen Dardagan

South Africa’s war against rhino poaching will be won from the air.

A frail Ian Player, 85, who was instrumental in saving the white rhino from extinction in the 1960s, told a gathering at Durban’s Virginia Airport on Wednesday that, like the Libyan war where Britain and France used air support to turn the tide for the rebels fighting on the ground, so should the “war” against rhino poaching be fought in SA.

“If we say this is a war, and it is, then it makes sense we need support from the air,” he said.

Player, together with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO Bandile Mkhize and businessman Vincent Christoforous, was announcing the success of daily helicopter patrols over the Imfolozi Game Reserve over the past five months in turning the tide against escalating rhino deaths in the park.

Christoforous, who heads Durban’s King Shaka Aviation, gave a Sikorski 300 helicopter, pilots and R500 000 in funding for the trial. But his resources were not unlimited and now that the project had proven the success of the helicopter patrols, Christoforous was calling on corporate business to step in to assist.

“It is important we roll this out now across the province. We are asking for R4 million to R5m from corporates to keep the programme going and to help us roll out more patrols in private and public game reserves over the next two years.”


Dr. Ian Player announced the success of helicopter patrols in the Umfolozi Game Reserve, in KZN, at a media briefing on Wednesday. Picture: Colleen Dardagan

INLSA
He believed the project had merit for big business because of the profile and extent of exposure rhino poaching was attracting across the world.


The head of the anti-poaching unit at Imfolozi, Lawrence Munro, said the air patrols had “saved” the lives of at least six rhinos. “From October to December 2010, seven rhino were killed in the reserve, whereas in the same period last year, when the helicopter was in operation, only one was lost. Our systems were exactly the same as the previous year, except now we added the helicopter, which patrols every day and responds immediately to calls from our rangers on the ground,” he said.

Munro said poachers had reportedly given the helicopter a nickname. “It’s Isiqgila or knobkierie. They don’t like it,” he said.

However, the owners of private reserves that border the Imfolozi Park expressed concern as poachers had moved operations to their properties.

David Attenborough said that he was spending at least R200 000 a month on security for his rhinos. “What we have to talk about is how our security companies can link up with the helicopter project,” he said.

Munro said incidences of after-dark poaching had also increased because of the daily patrols. “But that means I can now use my full complement of staff at night,” he said. - The Mercury

South African police arrest 11 suspected rhino poachers

SAfrican police arrest 11 suspected rhino poachers
Buzz up! ..By ERIC NAKI, Associated Press Writer Eric Naki, Associated Press Writer – Wed Sep 22, 11:37 am ET
JOHANNESBURG – South African police said Wednesday that they have arrested 11 suspected members of a major rhino poaching ring which they said had been linked to many rhino poaching incidents.

Police spokesman Vish Naidoo said the suspects include two veterinarians and a game farmer. He says the 10 were arrested earlier this week and one was arrested Wednesday after he appeared in court to support the accused.

Game farmer Dawie Groenewald was released on 1 million bail ($140,000), which is believed to be the heaviest in the crime's history. The remaining 10 were released on bail ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 rand ($700 to $14,000).

Prosecution spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said they face charges including assault, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, corruption, malicious injury to property and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

He said the case was postponed until April for further investigation.

Naidoo said 204 rhinos were killed this year alone in South Africa.

"Farmers must take precautions and game security have to be on the lookout," he said.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, rhino poaching has increased dramatically in the last two years due to high demand for rhino horn in Asia, where it is sometimes used for medicinal purposes.

South Africa, which hosts more than 90 percent of the world's rhino population, has been losing some 20 rhinos per month. Africa has lost 600 rhinos through poaching in the last four years.

"The poaching trend is extremely worrying," said Dr Joseph Okori, head of WWF's Africa Rhino Program. "If it is not stopped, the rhino conservation wins of the last decade will be in jeopardy."

Wednesday's arrest coincides with World Rhino Day. Conservationists have declared a campaign to raise funds to stop the illegal trade of rhino horns.

Both the African rhino and its endangered cousin, the black rhino, are targets of the illegal trade.

Peaceful marches in opposition to rhino poaching were held through South Africa Wednesday. Even professional hunters supported the cause, with the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa donating 400,000 rand ($56,000) toward anti-poaching efforts.