African Environmental Police: Zim rhino poacher gets 15 years in jail

African Environmental Police: Zim rhino poacher gets 15 years in jail: CHIREDZI — A 57-year-old rhino poacher was last week jailed for 15 years following his conviction on two counts of invading Humani Ranch and...

Zim rhino poacher gets 15 years in jail

CHIREDZI — A 57-year-old rhino poacher was last week jailed for 15 years following his conviction on two counts of invading Humani Ranch and Senuko Safari Ranch in Chiredzi and killing the endangered animals. Elasto Dhobho last Thursday left the court in stitches when he accused one of the complainants of fabricating the poaching allegations to ensure he got incarcerated while the ranch owner took over his wife. However, the court dismissed the claims as baseless. Charges against Dhobho were that on June 8 last year, he trespassed into Senuko Safari Ranch and gunned down a black rhino but failed to remove its horn after the animal regained consciousness and staggered off before it collapsed three kilometres away from the scene. It was discovered by game scouts after three days with its horn intact. The rhino was valued at $120 000. The following month, but on a date not known to the State, Dhobho went to Humani Ranch where he shot and killed another black rhino. He chopped off its horn and went away. The animal’s decomposing carcass was only discovered two days later and nothing of value was recovered. The rhino was valued at $75 000.Spent cartridges recovered from the two incidents were sent for ballistic tests and found to be matching Dhobho’s rifle. Magistrate Langton Ndokera ordered Dhobho to pay $195 000 restitution to the ranchers while the rifle was forfeited to the State. Source: Newsday, Zimbabwe

African Environmental Police: WHITE FARMER TEAMS UP WITH ZANU PF IN CHIREDZI CON...

African Environmental Police: WHITE FARMER TEAMS UP WITH ZANU PF IN CHIREDZI CON...: HARARE – Tourism minister Walter Mzembi has sought President Robert Mugabe and his deputy Joice Mujuru’s help in a vicious fight against top...

WHITE FARMER TEAMS UP WITH ZANU PF IN CHIREDZI CONSERVANCY INVASION

HARARE – Tourism minister Walter Mzembi has sought President Robert Mugabe and his deputy Joice Mujuru’s help in a vicious fight against top Zanu PF chefs who have invaded wildlife conservancies with the backing of some top army officials. Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi (left) seen here with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke (right) who had just been involved in a road accident while carrying models in his car to Kariba. Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi (left) seen here with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority boss Karikoga Kaseke (right) who had just been involved in a road accident while carrying models in his car to Kariba. Highly placed sources told the Daily News Mzembi has been involved in a nasty fight with Shuvai Mahofa, a former Zanu PF MP and deputy minister over the invasion of a wildlife conservancy and poaching. Mzembi fears anarchy prevailing in the conservancies will dent the country’s image ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly conference which Zimbabwe is co-hosting with Zambia next year. Wildlife conservation activists claimed in interviews with the Daily News that Mahofa had strong backing from serving and retired military commanders, some of whom have interests in the conservancies where poaching is rife. Parks and Wildlife director general Vitalis Chadenga confirmed that poaching is rampant in the conservancies under dispute. Mzembi says he wants Mahofa, feared war veteran Francis Zimuto aka Black Jesus and a white farmer identified as Ken Drummond stopped from decimating animals in the lucrative ranch. A letter sent to Mugabe and Mujuru and seen by the Daily News states that Mahofa is acting illegally. “The High Court of Zimbabwe has ruled to suspend Mahofa’s lease agreement and that Forever African Safaris are the rightful occupiers of the ranch in the Save Valley Conservancy,” reads the communication. “The World Tourism Summit is scheduled for 2013 in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, yet National Parks director Vitalis Chadenga and Natural Resources minister Francis Nhema continue to ignore the fact that Savuli has been invaded on the strength of ‘documents from their offices’.” “The nation has been witnessing the blatant abuse of well-meaning policies by greedy individuals who have benefited ‘70 times seven times’ from virtually every empowerment policy that has been pronounced,” he said. Chadenga said poaching was widespread. “People are hunting without permits but we have instructed our Masvingo office to act,” he said. He however defended Mahofa, saying whites in the area were the ones causing problems. “As far as we are concerned Mahofa has a valid lease and the problem that is in the conservancy is to do with co-existence. Mahofa got a 25-year lease under the Wildlife Best Land Reform Policy that seeks to open conservation to black Zimbabweans. “It is true I have received protests from in particular the German ambassador but my response was that what we have is a co-existence issue and nothing more,” Chadenga said. Chadenga rubbished Mzembi’s claims that the dispute could affect the tourism event. “There will be a greater threat to the UNWTO general assembly if we do not allow Zimbabweans with valid leases to co-exist with former white owners,” he said. A spokesperson for Forever African Safaris, Wilfred Pabst told the Daily News Zimbabwe’s hosting of the UNWTO general assembly is in danger. “The situation is so bad and it is highly likely that several European countries could declare a tourism moratorium on Zimbabwe categorising the country as a danger to wildlife,” he said. He added the firm has two High Court orders against Mahofa that authorities are ignoring. Nhema was unavailable for comment, but minister of State in Mujuru’s office Sylvester Nguni was angry at how the Daily News got hold of the documents. “I am disappointed that people seeking our help see it fit to involve the media, waylaying the deputy president of the country into a media trap? “They have already passed judgement that we will not be of much help so you are not going to get a comment from us and I am not sure they will get much help,” an angry Nguni said. Mahofa denied the allegation. “These people are South Africans and I cannot be fighting foreigners. It is my property and I do not want to see anyone. I was supposed to share it with retired Colonel Claudius Makova but he refused and now it is mine alone and I do not even want to see a soldier. “I surrendered all other farms that I had to my children and they have their own leases. The poaching that is so prevalent in the conservancy is because whites are resisting sharing with blacks,” said Mahofa. Nhema said Mahofa was the rightful owner of the property. Daily News

African Environmental Police: International vory cartel to be created to sell iv...

African Environmental Police: International vory cartel to be created to sell iv...: July 2012. A new report examining possible mechanisms for future international legal trade in ivory has proposed the creation of an ivory sa...

International vory cartel to be created to sell ivory stocks?

July 2012. A new report examining possible mechanisms for future international legal trade in ivory has proposed the creation of an ivory sales body modelled on the De Beers diamond cartel. The report, Decision-Making Mechanisms and Necessary Conditions for a Future Trade in African Elephant Ivory, is to be discussed at the 62nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in Geneva, Switzerland from July 23-27. 2011 the worst year for elephants? But the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) accuses the authors of failing to fully comply with the terms of reference and of effectively loading the dice to produce a report clearly biased in favour of creating a global trade in ivory - despite 2011 being branded the worst year for elephants since the current ivory trade ban was put in place in 1989. EIA has been investigating the illicit ivory trade for more than 20 years, and believes any ‘legal' trade in ivory sends mixed messages which confuse consumers and provides an opportunity to launder black market ivory onto the market. There is no evidence to indicate, as advocates of trade predicted, that supplies of ivory derived from ‘legal' sales of stockpiles in 1999 and 2008 have either satiated demand or reduced prices to the point where poached ivory has become financially untenable. In fact, the opposite has happened, with demand stimulated and poaching out of control. 'legal and illegal' sales "EIA remains deeply concerned that any more ‘legal' sales - or discussion of ‘legal' sales - of ivory will further stimulate the ivory market, supporting the perception that international trade has resumed and increasing demand for illegal ivory," said EIA Executive Director Mary Rice. "In addition, the availability of ivory from both legal and illegal sources further challenges law enforcement agencies in their efforts to tackle the criminal networks behind the trade. In light of mass poaching of African elephants, the increase in illegal trade in ivory and the fact that the legal sales have clearly failed to reduce illegal trade, EIA urges the Standing Committee to shelve any further discussion on a future international trade in ivory." EIA strongly recommends that the Standing Committee rejects the recommendations of the report for failing to address the core issues identified in the terms of reference and the fundamental reasons for the failure of the current legal ivory trade system. Instead, the committee must call for a review of the enforcement gaps and needs that have led to the failure of the current ivory trade control and regulation system. "The consultants behind this report are seeking to put in place a mechanism for decision-making without providing or discussing vital information such as the ecological sustainability of an international ivory trade, the impact of such a trade on illegal killing, enforcement challenges and linkages between legal and illegal trade," said Rice. During the 1980s when legal trade in ivory was allowed, the African elephant population declined from 1.3 million to 600,000 in a decade. "Parties to CITES must recognise that in the current climate of poor enforcement, lack of resources, failure of political will and corruption, there is no likelihood that any form of regulated trade could be workable and this document certainly should not provide the basis for any further discussion on this issue," added Rice. Source: Wildlife Extra (UK)

African Environmental Police: SA police seize 46 elephants tusks at Cape Town ai...

African Environmental Police: SA police seize 46 elephants tusks at Cape Town ai...: July 2012. While on a routine inspection, South African customs officials spotted a suspicious activity at a Cape Town airport storage facil...

SA police seize 46 elephants tusks at Cape Town airport

July 2012. While on a routine inspection, South African customs officials spotted a suspicious activity at a Cape Town airport storage facility, and upon further investigation they came across parcels indicating the presence of elephant tusks. After the police were notified, an operation was conducted which led to the discovery of 46 tusks concealed in two different containers. The consignment appears to have been destined for Hong Kong. Two male suspects aged 36 and 43 respectively are being detained for the illegal possession of elephant tusks after members of the South African Police Hawks and Crime intelligence acted on information received from Custom officials. The suspects, both from Cape Town are due to make a court appearance once they have been charged. The value of the seized items will be established at a later stage after the Department of Nature Conservation have taken various aspects into account, such as weight and age. The circumstances surrounding the discovery are being investigated, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

African Environmental Police: South Africa vets and hunters colluding with rhino...

African Environmental Police: South Africa vets and hunters colluding with rhino...: July 2012. There is increasing evidence of the involvement of a series of vets in the poaching of rhinos in South Africa. Several vets ha...

South Africa vets and hunters colluding with rhino poachers

July 2012. There is increasing evidence of the involvement of a series of vets in the poaching of rhinos in South Africa. Several vets have recently been found to be supplying M99, a drug 1000 times more powerful than morphine, and used to drug very large mammals. The use and supply of M99 are very restricted, yet it appears that it has been relatively easy to acquire in parts of South Africa. The well documented case of rhino poaching kingpin Dawie Groenewald, his wife and their alleged co-conspirators, is the best known case. The carcasses of 20 rhinos were found buried on Groenewald's property in late 2010. The rhinos were missing their horns, which are of high value on black markets in Asia, particularly Vietnam. Groenewald and his wife operate a safari tour company and according to investigators, they are said to be the masterminds behind the killings. Other suspects in the case include veterinarians and veterinary assistants, professional hunters and a helicopter pilot. Head Kruger vet arrested Two veterinarians and a professional hunter have been arrested in connection with the wrongful possession and distribution of veterinary drugs commonly used in rhino poaching. The accused Dr Douw Grobler, formerly head of the Kruger National Park's wildlife capturing and veterinary services unit, private vet Dr Johannes Gerhardus Kruger, and professional hunter Hugo Ras are accused of supplying a rhino-poaching syndicate with tranquillisers. In March 2012, Christoffel Jacobus Lombard, Eugine Petrus van der Merwe and William Theuns Jooste were arrested and charged with possession of M99; Illegal entry upon land with a weapon; conspiracy to commit a restricted activity and fraud. Corrupt vets, game farmers and hunters According to Rhino Conservation; Instead of joining South Africa's battle to protect its rhinos, a corrupt minority of game farmers, professional hunters, and wildlife veterinarians have chosen to exchange their ethics for ill-gotten financial rewards. Indeed, this cesspool of deceit has catapulted South Africa into the unfortunate position of being the lead supplier of illegal rhino horn for the rapacious black market. Although hundreds of arrests have been made, South Africa's conviction rates for rhino crimes remain deplorably low across the board - consistently less than five percent and even as low as 2.6% in 2010. And despite indications unethical members of the conservation field are contributing to the carnage, only five percent of the summed 397 rhino-related arrests made in South Africa between 2010 and 2011 (as reported by the World Wildlife Fund ) were "white guys". Since 2006, 29 "white guys" have been arrested in connection with rhino crimes, and of them: - Only 2 were sentenced to jail time (the same individuals also seem to be the only ones that have ever been denied bail) - Over 93% were granted bail, which has ranged in amounts from R3,000-R100,000 (US $397-$13,236) - 17% were repeat offenders - More than 20% worked in the veterinary field - More than 20% were professional hunters - Around 17% were safari operators - At least about 72% own, were employed at, or work closely with game farms - Cases against at least 34.5% of the suspects seem to still be pending, and only half of them are have been scheduled for an upcoming court date - Cases against at least 17% of the accused have seemingly vanished - Cases against nearly 14% were thrown out of the courts - At least 2 have publicly lobbied for the legalization of rhino horn trade Repeat offenders - Six of the 29 individuals arrested since 2006 had faced prior charges for contravening conservation laws, many of them rhino-related. - Gideon van Deventer was actually out on bail for illegally trading rhino horns in 2006, when he was caught red-handed slaying rhinos just three months later. - Professional hunter, Peter Thormahlen, had been hit with a "token fine" in 2006 for illegally hunting a rhino (on behalf of a Vietnamese client), before he was brought to court again two years later on identical charges. (Thormahlen is associated with John Hume, who appears to be a figurehead amongst aspiring rhino horn capitalists in South Africa and, according to iolNews, he also coincidentally owns the world's largest private collection of rhinos.) - Professional hunter, Christaan van Wyk, had already been twice convicted of rhino horn offenses when he was found guilty of illegally hunting a rhino (also on behalf of his Vietnamese client) in 2010. - Eight years before being collared in 2011 on suspicions that he may have been supplying rhino assassins with controlled veterinary drugs, wildlife veterinarian Dr. Douw Grobler was fired as head of Kruger National Park's game capture unit. - South African television news show, Carte Blanche, reported that Grobler was found guilty on nine of thirteen misconduct charges stemming from multiple suspicious, unethical business transactions he made with a game farmer that had been contracted by KNP to undertake a controversial buffalo breeding project on his property. Prior to the 2011 arrest of professional hunter and game farmer, Hugo Ras, for unlawful possession of scheduled veterinary drugs and an unlicensed firearm, the man had thrice been fined for assault and "crimen injuria" convictions, as well as for contravening conservation and customs laws. Suspected syndicate mastermind Dawie Groenewald's criminal history is remarkably extensive - including a long list of international complaints, lawsuits, and criminal allegations and convictions - and far pre-dates his 2010 rhino-related arrest. Among other things, he was terminated from his job as a police officer for involvement in an organized crime ring that was smuggling stolen cars into Zimbabwe and also has a felony conviction in the US for unlawfully importing a leopard trophy (a violation of the Lacey Act). Apparently, the leopard, unbeknownst to the hunter at the time, had been illegally hunted, as Groenewald never had the required permits necessary to kill the animals. Despite there being verifiable evidence, it seems he has not been charged in South Africa for conducting this illegal hunt. Source: Wildlife Extra (UK)

African Environmental Police: Five men in court over illegal posession of 16 ele...

African Environmental Police: Five men in court over illegal posession of 16 ele...: Five men appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with unlawful possession of ivory after being found in possession of...

Five men in court over illegal posession of 16 elephant tusks

Five men appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with unlawful possession of ivory after being found in possession of 16 elephant tusks weighing 107kg valued at $26 750. The arrest came after officials from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority in conjunction with Border Control and the Police Minerals Unit intercepted the ivory in Harare last Friday following a tip-off. The five men — Chaita Enock Mahuya (41), Farisai Mudzimba (38), Nkosilathi Sibanda (18), Samson Mutereko (45) and Wilson Mazwi (32) — appeared before provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe who remanded them in custody to August 9 for trial. The accused are facing charges of contravening section 82(1) of the Parks and Wildlife Management Act which criminalises unlawful possession of ivory. Recently, the Authority reviewed upwards compensation fees for hunting of animals and fish as well as payment for trapping of wild animals after a surge in cases of offenders arrested for violating the Wildlife Act. Of major interest, is the increase in compensation fees for major or prime species such as buffalo, leopard, lion, cheetah, elephant and zebra, to mention but a few. These species, some of which constitute the big five, have of late been the target of heightened poaching. Gift Zumbika prosecuted. Source: Newsday, Zimbabwe

African Environmental Police: Appeal to save prestigious "Presidential Herd" of ...

African Environmental Police: Appeal to save prestigious "Presidential Herd" of ...: Dear Minister Nhema, I’m writing to you on behalf of the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe, the flagship clan of elephants that President...

Appeal to save prestigious "Presidential Herd" of elephants from new mining activities in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Dear Minister Nhema, I’m writing to you on behalf of the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe, the flagship clan of elephants that President Mugabe re-pledged to protect in May of 2011. There is now constant talk of mining interference in the key home-range of the Presidential Elephants; not just coal mining now, but diamond mining too. It is known that some areas, right here where the Presidential Elephants roam daily, have already been ‘pegged’ for mining. On behalf of the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe, I formally request your Ministry to act now, pro-actively, rather than wait for a situation that has already occurred in the Gwaai. I request – for the good of the environment and tourism too, as well as for the Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe – that you indicate now to the Mines Ministry that no environmental impact studies will be approved for mining in the key areas between Gwaai and Hwange town. In addition, on behalf of the Presidential Elephants, I ask that you obtain the support of the President’s Office (since the situation in the Gwaai appears to suggest that the Mines Ministry holds environmental impact studies in low or no regard) – reminding the President’s Office of the Reaffirmation of the Presidential Decree signed just last year - to ensure that no mining activities be allowed to even be considered, within a sensible radius of this key photographic tourism / wildlife area, bordering Hwange National Park, where the Presidential Elephants roam. It is nothing but common sense to pro-actively ensure that these areas are not unnecessarily interfered with for mining greed, to the detriment of this country’s key wildlife and tourism areas, and its internationally renowned and protected flagship herd of elephants. The Presidential Elephants of Zimbabwe request the full support of your Ministry, and that of The President's Office, to put a stop, now, to any plans for mining this area. Copied here is Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ), and just a few photographic tourism lodges that share an interest in the preservation of the Presidential Elephants. With grateful thanks, Sharon Pincott, Presidential Elephant Conservation Project, Hwange Sourced from contacts in Minister Francis Nhema's Office

Jumbos in danger as water shortage looms at Hwange National Park

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

BULAWAYO — The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has warned that dozens of elephants at Hwange National Park could die from thirst due to a shortage of water, as available wells continue to dry up. The authority is now seeking funds to buy at least 20 000 litres of diesel to pump water, between now and the rainy season. The water would be pumped to elephant drinking points in the park to avert a repeat of the 2011 scenario when close to 80 animals died of thirst between June and October, resulting in a loss of US$4 million. Hwange National Park has no year-round rivers and little natural surface water and therefore depends on wells that pump water to artificial watering holes, known as pans. Caroline Washaya-Moyo, the ZimParks public relations manager, said the authority was sourcing for funds and engaging interested stakeholders in a bid to ensure that wildlife would not be lost due to shortages of water. “The ever-increasing temperatures last year left wildlife succumbing to heat,” Washaya-Moyo said. “In terms of the value of elephants that we lost in 2011, it is calculated using the compensation value of an elephant, pegged at US$20 000 in 2011 and has since been reviewed upwards in 2012 to US$50 000. “This applies to all categories, be it a calf, adult or sub-adult.” Watering holes and other sources of water that are fed through pumping, dried up last year, resulting in the alarming rate of deaths of elephants. Currently, Hwange National park has an elephant population of over 45 000 against its carrying capacity of 30 000, putting a severe strain on available resources, especially water. Source: The Standard (Zimbabwe)

Asian medicine poachers shift attention to Zimbabwe's rare ant-eaters

HARARE, Zimbabwe — An animal welfare group in Zimbabwe says poachers are now targeting rare anteaters because of a growing demand for exotic animal parts for Asian traditional medicine. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday that the outer scales of a young male pangolin, a rare type of anteater that is legally protected, were recently removed by poachers in northwestern Zimbabwe. The body of the anteater was recovered from poachers. The scales appeared to have already been sold, the group said. It was one of three incidents reported this year involving poaching of the endangered nocturnal creature seen by many Zimbabweans as a symbol of power and mystery. The scales are thought to have value in Asian medicine as a traditional remedy for a host of conditions. Source: Online

African Environmental Police: Zim loses 71 elephants, 11 rhinos as Asian-driven ...

African Environmental Police: Zim loses 71 elephants, 11 rhinos as Asian-driven ...: The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s Public Relations Manager, Caroline Washaya Moyo has revealed that an estimated 151 wi...

Zim loses 71 elephants, 11 rhinos as Asian-driven poaching crisis worsens

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority’s Public Relations Manager, Caroline Washaya Moyo has revealed that an estimated 151 wild animals, worth $5,294,000, were killed by poachers between January and April. This includes one white rhino, 10 black rhinos, and 71 elephants. Moyo’s battles are huge: a shortage of resources to protect wildlife, a president who encourages the killing of elephants to feed starving voters when elections are close, and organised crime, based in the East, that has access to helicopters, professional hunters with powerful night-vision rifles, and what appears to be almost diplomatic immunity from prosecution. It is believed there are 90% fewer animals in Zimbabwe now than there were before independence.It seems there are two driving factors: In Vietnam there is the rumour that rhino horn cures cancer. The other is the massive demand for animal parts from China. The story of Audrey and Seymour Well, once upon a time ‘Audrey II’ (Asia) sat quietly in her corner vaguely dissatisfied with communism, until ‘Seymour’ (the West) spotted her potential for making his dreams come true, and identified her as the consumer market of the future. Seymour showed Audrey II all the things she’d never had, didn’t need and couldn’t afford – the lifeblood of the West: brands, cars, holidays, machines to do the work of people, democracy, materialism! He made her want them with a passion. ‘FEED ME, SEYMOUR!’ she screamed. She had to find a way to get them…cue Fu Man Chu frowning in concentration with one long-nailed finger pointed to his evil cheek. Seymour’s blood turned Audrey II into a consumer monster. She needed more resources: rhinos, minerals, trees, corporations, countries! We all know the end of this story. Poor Seymour signed his own death warrant, and coincidentally, the death warrant of the animals. Audrey II grew simply enormous, gobbled up Seymour, and spilt out all over the stage, looking for MORE! MORE! MORE! None of this helps the poor rhinos though. They’re just collateral damage in the battle for world domination. After the economic crisis of 2008, Robert Mugabe turned to his old friend Audrey II, who turned out to be a friend with benefits (and an ulterior motive). The benefits were mining rights and an invisibility cloak where the law surrounding endangered species is concerned. Chinese mineworkers earn $50 per month in Zimbabwe, but opportunities for enriching (and feeding) themselves are walking around the bush. Imagine a rhino with a horn of gold, just strolling around unprotected. Each horn is worth over $65,000 – it can buy a Rolex, a car, an Armani suit, a Gucci bag and a lot of status. Traditional Chinese medicine is not the main culprit; greed and the longing of the have-nots to have more is. Many Chinese traditional healers don’t use rhino horn any more; its use was banned in China in 1993, and the substance is easily substituted. Wealthy Easterners give rhino horn as a prestige gift to each other because they have so much money, they literally don’t know what to do with it. Organised crime sells it on the black market, and some countries use it in decorative dagger handles. If you’re still mystified as to why the quantities of rhino horn are so big, look at the population of China. Audrey II is scary big. Source: The South African

African Environmental Police: SA gets tough on Vietnamese rhino hunters

African Environmental Police: SA gets tough on Vietnamese rhino hunters: In an effort to get to grips with the issue of permits for rhino trophy hunts being issued to large numbers of unlikely people from Asia ...

SA gets tough on Vietnamese rhino hunters

In an effort to get to grips with the issue of permits for rhino trophy hunts being issued to large numbers of unlikely people from Asia -(More than 50% of permits to hunt rhinos recently have been issued to Vietnamese nationals, including, apparently, a number of alleged prostitutes and dancers)- the South African Government has amended the standards for the marking of rhinoceros and rhinoceros horn and for the hunting of rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes to strengthen requirements relating to hunting. The amended standards came into effect on 10 April 2012 and include, among others that the applicant must submit the following information to the issuing authority: (a) Proof of membership of a hunting association in the country of usual residence of the hunting client. The hunting association must be recognized by the government of the country of residence of the hunting client; or (b) A curriculum vitae, indicating his/her hunting experience in his/her country of usual residence; or (c) Proof of previous experience in the hunting of any African species The above requirements enable the issuing authorities to determine whether the applicant is a bona fide hunter. In addition to the above, the issuing authority must also consider whether the country of usual residence of the hunting client, where the rhinoceros horn and the rest of the trophy will be imported to, has adequate legislation to ensure that the rhinoceros horns and the rest of the hunting trophy will be used for the purpose as indicated on the permit. Refuse all permits for Vietnam The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has recommended to all Provincial Conservation Authorities, responsible for the issuance of hunting permits, to refuse all applications for white rhinoceros hunting by foreign hunters whose state of usual residence is Vietnam; until Vietnam has confirmed, in writing, that all rhino trophies exported since 2010 are still in the possession of the hunters. The CITES Management Authority in Vietnam informed the Department and the CITES Secretariat that they are undertaking this process. A list of permits endorsed at OR Tambo has been provided to Vietnam. No permits requested from China, Vietnam or Thailand Since the above measures have been implemented, the number of applications for hunting has reduced and no further applications from the alleged consumer states (China, Vietnam, and Thailand) were received. Currently, all hunting applications are submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs to verify whether the applicant has hunted a rhino within the specific calendar year. According to the norms and standards a hunting client may only hunt one white rhinoceros within a specific calendar year. Based on the register kept by the Department, no further applications from alleged consumer countries have been received. Source: Wildlife Extra (UK)

African Environmental Police: Zim game scout gets 10 years for rhino poaching

African Environmental Police: Zim game scout gets 10 years for rhino poaching: A GAME scout who connived with two others to kill a rhinoceros and de- horn it at Eldorado Farm in Macheke, in north-eastern Zimbabwe, be...

African Environmental Police: Record poaching levels drive African elephants tow...

African Environmental Police: Record poaching levels drive African elephants tow...: Across Africa elephants are being driven into decline due to poaching for their tusks, according to a report issued under the Convention on ...

African Environmental Police: Interpol seizes two tons of ivory from 14 African ...

African Environmental Police: Interpol seizes two tons of ivory from 14 African ...: Cape Town, Interpol made an announcement Tuesday of the operation dubbed “Worthy” that seized nearly two tonnes of elephant ivory in the ope...

Interpol seizes two tons of ivory from 14 African states

Cape Town, Interpol made an announcement Tuesday of the operation dubbed “Worthy” that seized nearly two tonnes of elephant ivory in the operation that involved 14 African countries, including South Africa. Operation Worthy was part of Interpol's Project Wisdom, an initiative against elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn poaching funded by the UK Department of Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the NGO International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The three-month long Operation also led to the arrests of over 200 suspects, the global police organization said in a statement. Advertisement Over 20 kg of rhino horn, lion, leopard and cheetah pelts, crocodile and python skins and various protected species destined to be trafficked illegally were also recovered, Xinhua reported. More than 320 officers from police, customs, environmental protection agencies, veterinary services and airport security, among others, took part in the operation. "This has been to date the most wide-ranging operation coordinated by Interpol against the illegal ivory trade, not just in terms of seizures and arrests, but also in targeting the criminal organizations," said David Higgins, manager of Interpol's Environmental Crime Program. Countries participated in the operation include Ethiopia, Botswana, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Source: The

Examiner

Record poaching levels drive African elephants towards extinction, says CITES

Across Africa elephants are being driven into decline due to poaching for their tusks, according to a report issued under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Data from the report shows increased poaching across the entire range of the African elephant, but the highest rates are in Central Africa.

“The rise in levels of illegal killing and the dynamics surrounding it are worrying, not only for small and fragmented elephant populations that could face extirpation, but also for previously secure large populations,” the report says. Last year is cited as having the highest poaching rates ever documented, exceeding record rates witnessed in 2010. It is estimated that tens of thousands of elephants are being killed each year for their tusks, which are in demand in Asia. East Africa is identified in the report as the centre of illicit ivory transport to Asia, with an escalating number of illegal consignments exiting seaports there. “Alarmingly, 2011 recorded the highest number of large-scale seizures ever,” said Lamine Sebogo, WWF’s African elephant programme manager. “Such seizures indicate the involvement of organized criminal networks, but very few cases have been followed up with proper investigations, arrests, prosecutions or the imposition of credible penalties.” This scale of illegal ivory trade was demonstrated early in 2012, when a gang of heavily armed foreign poachers entered Cameroon and killed hundreds of elephants in Bouba N’Djida National Park. This event, and others like it, constitutes an invasion and a threat not only to wildlife but people, territorial integrity and stability. Poor governance and weak law enforcement efforts have been identified as the primary drivers of elephant poaching and ivory trade in Africa. According to the report governence and law enforecment will be considered by governments later this month at a key CITES meeting. China and Thailand are identified in the findings as the two biggest raw ivory consuming countries in the world. Data indicates that poaching trends can be correlated with increasing affluence in China, and that raw ivory prices doubled there between 2004 and 2010. “In the last two years we have seen open flouting of China’s internal ivory trade laws,” said Dr Colman O’Criodain, WWF’s wildlife trade policy analyst. “Many visitors, including foreign government representatives attending CITES-related meetings in China, have reported seeing ivory openly on sale without the required certification cards that prove legality of origin.” The Chinese market remains the most prominent destination for illicit ivory, and a serious slackening of enforcement of country’s strict internal trade controls is a major cause for concern. In Thailand, legislative loopholes mean that there is no effective regulation at all. “In Thailand there is no regulation of ivory trade. Visitors can see ivory openly on sale, the vast bulk of it apparently of African origin,” O’Criodain says. “It is a crime to bring ivory home from another country, even if shopkeepers tell you otherwise.” “It is imperative that CITES member states take remedial actions to shut down unregulated or poorly regulated domestic ivory markets, especially the world's largest markets in China and Thailand,” said O’Criodain. One hopeful sign in the fight to save elephants is the recent adoption by Central African countries of an action plan to combat wildlife crimes including elephant poaching and illegal ivory. “We commend Central African governments for taking action to safeguard their natural heritage through developing this plan. We call on government leaders to implement the plan as a matter of urgency and encourage the international community to provide financial support to this end,” Sebogo said.

Zim game scout gets 10 years for rhino poaching

A GAME scout who connived with two others to kill a rhinoceros and de-

horn it at Eldorado Farm in Macheke, in north-eastern Zimbabwe, before trying to smuggle it to South Africa has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Zivanai Masvaire (27), a game scout at the farm was jointly charged with Charles Dowerowe (37) and Shepherd Naite (37). The three pleaded not guilty to poaching and an alternative charge of unlawful possession of a trophy of an endangered species when they appeared before regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya. However, they were convicted because of overwhelming evidence. Mr Mujaya sentenced Masvaire and Dewerowe to eight years for poaching and a further two years, which will run concurrently with the poaching sentence for robbery of a motor vehicle. Mr Mujaya suspended two years of their sentence on condition of good behaviour. Naite, who did not go to the farm, will serve an effective four years. In passing sentence, Mr Mujaya concurred with prosecutor Mr Michael Reza that the three had committed a very serious offence warranting imprisonment. "You three were selfish, there is no better explanation for your behaviour of plundering the country's natural resources and export them for the benefit of just a few people," he said. He said poaching has always been considered a very serious offence. Mr Reza had implored the court to pass a lengthy prison term. The State proved that on December 31 last year, Masvaire, Dowerowe, Naite and their accomplices hatched a plan to kill a rhinoceros at Eldorado Farm in Macheke.Masvaire reportedly directed his accomplices into the farm where they killed a rhinoceros and dehorned it. Investigations led to his arrest and he implicated Dowerowe and the others. Dowerowe and Naite led police to the recovery of the horns, which were stashed in an Isuzu KB300, registration number ABI8755, which they were driving. Source: websites