Limpopo RHINO...RHINO POACHING INFORMATION Number Of Suspects Arrested From Jan 2015 – March 2015...
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RHINO SECURITY GROUP Limpopo Newsletter April 2015 My heart beats for Rhinos Photos supplied by Lorraine Adendorff Against the backdrop of the most beautiful sunsets nature has to offer, we as Rhino owners are facing a battle that no one will fully understand unless they stand in our shoes. Whether to legalise trade or not – we are all fighting for the same cause – to protect our animals, farms and families at all cost. To contribute our share towards the survival of our rhino. We as a group have different views, and opinions, each in their own right. But we all strive for the same outcome – to create a safe haven for our animals and to give them a future where they feel safe and secure without being butchered or hacked to death by inhumane ways to fulfil someone else's greed. "Make Or Break For Rhino” Extraction from the article published in the Citizen Newspaper on 30/3/2015 The “Boksburg Decision” will be one of the biggest influences yet in the war on rhino poaching. For three days, proponents and opponents of legalising trade in rhino horn made their case before the Committee of Inquiry (CoI) last week, established by Minister of Environment Edna Molewa to investigate its feasibility, or not. In July 2013 Cabinet authorised the Department of Environmental Affairs (DoE) to “explore the feasibility of South Africa tabling a proposal for the legalisation of commercial international trade in rhino horn at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)”. The decision makes light of Molewa's statement that “As government we have not in the past and will not in future be swayed by anyone with vested interests in either outcome.” That said, whichever side the CoI picks will have ramifications for the continued existence of the five million year old critically endangered pachyderm. It was estimated at the conference more than 240 have already been poached this year. Held in the town of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, whichever side the committee – operating under terms of reference set by Molewa – comes down on there will be howls of outrage, especially as the protest has arguably been somewhat flawed: A pro-trade committee top heavy with government officials, committee members with dubious pasts, organisations with representation on the committee making submissions, speculative submissions on where poached horn is going – no-one seems to have a definitive answer, is it China, or Vietnam, or is Vietnam a blind for China? – deep suspicion over the motives for the committee in the first place – what does the South African government really want to do with the billions of Rands worth of stockpiled rhino horn anyway?- are all problems the CoI will have to deal with. With possible charges pending against chair Nana Magomola, credibility is one of its biggest problems. Even though Molewa has brushed it off saying she knew about Magomola's issues with the National Gambling Board after being suspended by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies for breaching public finance rules and that Magomola was “innocent until proven guilty”, it's something which will have to be dealt with. Nonetheless, as South African's do, we go our way while the rest of the world goes its way. Three distinct camps emerged over the three days: Private owners, breeders, and national parks. With ample representation on the committee, it seems apropos government itself did not make any representation. It was left to private owners and breeders – “profit-mongers” according to activists to punt for pro-trade while activists – the “loony left” and the “anti-legal trade brigade” as termed by pro- traders – fought against it. The arguments were passionate and prolific, and summaries of most are available on the DoE website. The pro-trade lobby said private owners and breeders were paying millions in security and each time a rhino was lost, it cost them half a million rand. Most donations go to government which also had huge resources to RHINO POACHING INFORMATION Number Of Suspects Arrested From Jan 2015 – March 2015 In Limpopo Province Lorraine Adendorff Cell : 0834504407 [email protected]
Transcript of Limpopo RHINO...RHINO POACHING INFORMATION Number Of Suspects Arrested From Jan 2015 – March 2015...
RHINOSECURITY GROUP
Limpopo
Newsletter April 2015
My heart beats for Rhinos
Photos supplied by Lorraine Adendorff
Against the backdrop of the most beautiful sunsets nature has to offer, we as Rhino owners are facing a battle that no one will fully understand unless they stand in our shoes. Whether to legalise trade or not – we are all fighting for the same cause – to protect our animals, farms and families at all cost. To contribute our share towards the survival of our rhino. We as a group have different views, and opinions, each in their own right. But we all strive for the same outcome – to create a safe haven for our animals and to give them a future where they feel safe and secure without being butchered or hacked to death by inhumane ways to fulfil someone else's greed.
"Make Or Break For Rhino”Extraction from the article published in the Citizen Newspaper on 30/3/2015
The “Boksburg Decision” will be one of the biggest influences yet in the war on rhino poaching.
For three days, proponents and opponents of legalising trade in rhino horn made their case before the Committee of Inquiry (CoI) last week, established by Minister of Environment Edna Molewa to investigate its feasibility, or not. In July 2013 Cabinet authorised the Department of Environmental Affairs (DoE) to “explore the feasibility of South Africa tabling a proposal for the legalisation of commercial international trade in rhino horn at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)”.
The decision makes light of Molewa's statement that “As government we have not in the past and will not in future be swayed
by anyone with vested interests in either outcome.”
That said, whichever side the CoI picks will have ramifications for the continued existence of the five million year old critically endangered pachyderm. It was estimated at the conference more than 240 have already been poached this year.
Held in the town of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, whichever side the committee – operating under terms of reference set by Molewa – comes down on there will be howls of outrage, especially as the protest has arguably been somewhat flawed: A pro-trade committee top heavy with government officials, committee members with dubious pasts, organisations with representation on the committee making submissions, speculative submissions on where poached horn is going – no-one seems to have a definitive answer, is it China, or Vietnam, or is Vietnam a blind for China? – deep suspicion over the motives for the committee in the first place – what does the South African government really want to do with the billions of Rands worth of stockpiled rhino horn anyway?- are all problems the CoI will have to deal with.
With possible charges pending against chair Nana Magomola, credibility is one of its biggest problems. Even though Molewa has brushed it off saying she knew about Magomola's issues with the National Gambling Board after being suspended by Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies for breaching public finance rules and that Magomola was “innocent until proven guilty”, it's something which will have to be dealt with.
Nonetheless, as South African's do, we go our way while the rest of the world goes its way.Three distinct camps emerged over the three days: Private owners, breeders, and national parks. With ample representation on the committee, it seems apropos government itself did not make any representation.It was left to private owners and breeders – “profit-mongers” according to activists to punt for pro-trade while activists – the “loony left” and the “anti-legal trade brigade” as termed by pro-traders – fought against it.The arguments were passionate and prolific, and summaries of most are available on the DoE website. The pro-trade lobby said private owners and breeders were paying millions in security and each time a rhino was lost, it cost them half a million rand. Most donations go to government which also had huge resources to
RHINO POACHING INFORMATION
Number Of Suspects Arrested From Jan 2015 – March 2015 In Limpopo Province
Lorraine AdendorffCell : 0834504407
draw on and farming the three-toed ungulate would promote numbers while selling the horn – a renewable resource which could supply a kilogram a year – would fund security, jobs, and community initiatives.
The idea of paddocks full of dehorned rhino is not one which sits well. Countering this idea was the “anti-legal trade brigade”, the strongest argument coming from the SPCA which said farming would allow for endemic cruelty as government did not have capacity to enforce legislation, which still had to be put in place as there was none around wildlife farming.
Others said dealing with corruption, catching the kingpins in illegal trading, and stronger political will were the answers to saving the species.
It's not an approach which has worked well thus far.
The CoI presents its findings to an inter-ministerial committee in September, which then takes it to Molewa who will present it to Cabinet.
Terms of Reference of the CommitteeTo investigate, evaluate, report on and make recommendations relating to a diverse set of key areas including, but not limited to:
1. An analysis of the current rhino situation and interventions to address illegal killing of rhino and illegal trade in rhino horn, with a focus on government initiatives;2. Identification of new or additional interventions required to create an enabling environment for the sustainable utilisation of natural resources and to strengthen the integrated approach of the government in addressing illegal killing and illegal trade, including the following:
Increased involvement of communities, including community ownership of wildlife and benefit-sharing by communities;If trade was to be an option, the potential models / mechanisms for trade and criteria / conditions (issues to be considered include: models – strictly controlled trade, i.e. once-off sale of stockpiles, government to government trade or more open regulated trade; sources of specimens and specimens to be traded; the benefits and risks associated with the different options; possible trade
My heart beats for Rhinos My heart beats for Rhinos
REGISTRATION AND STANDING PERMIT APPLICATION : CAPTIVE BREEDING OPERATION
During the WRSA Conference & Exhibition held on 13 to 15 March 2015 at Sun City it was mentioned by Isak du Toit, attorney of Seymore, du Toit & Basson Attorneys of the PROA that it is of the utmost importance for all Rhino Owners to register for Captive Breeding Operations. There is a loophole in the law that can be used to our advantage that a Captive Breeder is allowed to trade!!
The link to application document are as follows: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eb1irg2k2g5g005/AADRlTuD7xWBLqtFG9w_QzHPa?dl=0 I would also like to request all the rhino owners to join WRSA as well as PROA. The PROA was established in 2009 as a direct result of increased poaching incidents on Private Reserves. The chairman is mr. Pelham Jones. A handy booklet “Rhino Crimes”, - a guide to crime scene management, investigation and prosecution of rhino crimes in South Africa as well as a “Checklist” for the Investigations and Prosecution of Rhino Related Crimes was handed out at the
He mentioned that the accreditation application should be for “Anti Poaching Operations”.
The link to the application document are as follows : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eb1irg2k2g5g005/AADRlTuD7xWBLqtFG9w_QzHPa?dl=0
EWCop
Carmela previously mailed everybody the documment w.r.t EWCop. Mike has read through this document extensively and believes that this is probably the better route to go of all the other systems that he
partners and the criteria to be met by these States; conditions; and the financial mechanisms);The socio-economic impact and potential benefits to communities, farmers, conservation authorities and rhino and elephant conservation, including the economic opportunities for communities from wildlife management, and the risks posed by wildlife trafficking (e.g. infiltration of criminal elements in communities);implications for other range States, including precautionary measures; as well as implications for consumer States;the criticisms or concerns relating to trade and the means to address these criticisms and concerns;Engagement strategies for the various role-players involved, with a special focus on communities; and key messages and information to be communicated. Department of Environmental Affairs (shortened)”
Read the full article :http://citizen.co.za/353151/make-or-break-for-rhino/
Photos supplied by Lorraine Adendorff
Conference. This is a guide that will assist tremendously in protecting a crime scene until the correct Task Team arrives on the scene.
APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES :
Another request from various owners was to apply for accreditation for their farms in order for a 3rd party to use semi-automatic weapons/fire arms to protect our farms & animals. After contacting SA Sport & Hunting Federation who is willing to assist us in any way they possibly can, since a few of the LRSG owners are members, a contact person, mr Johan Martin stated that he will assist with the paperwork and applications. His contact details and all relevant information as below :
has seen or tried and tested so far.
The document is also available on the following link : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eb1irg2k2g5g005/AADRlTuD7xWBLqtFG9w_QzHPa?dl=0
At Safari and Outdoor in Somerset West there is a gentleman Timothy Horn who worked for a Security Company for many years, we told him our situation and the diffirent scenarios and he also suggested a microwave system which in our opinion is an excellent deterrent. He has extensive knowledge w.r.t security etc. His contact details: Timothy Horn 0861 11 4330 and his e-mail address is [email protected].
TASK TEAM FEEDBACK :Col Gert Nel
March 2015 Statistics
Suspects arrested - 19
Firearms confiscated - 5(303, 458, 2x 375 & AK47)
All suspects still in custody – NO BAIL!!
“A drastic reduction in poaching incidents during March, thanks to the co-operation of the LRSG and the SAP Task Team.”
“The Task Team definitely contributes to the successes” quote unquote by Col Gert Nel.
