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Zookies lead the youth to commit to the fight against rhino poaching
Walking under the slogan Save Our Rhino to mark World Rhino Day, the ZooClub and other participants were keenly aware of the fact that the number of rhino poached for their horn has increased to 688 since the beginning of the year. In the past month 25 alleged poachers have been arrested countrywide, 14 of them in Limpopo Province. Among those arrested is one of the most wanted poachers in the Kruger National Park. The number of arrests is an indication that additional safety and security measures, including the elevation of rhino crimes to the National Joint Operations Centre, and the improvement of the skills of rangers, investigators and prosecutors, are successful. Rhino Day Street Parade The Rhino Day Street Parade was hosted jointly by the Department of Environmental Affairs, SANParks, the City of Tshwane, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa in Pretoria, the Unitrans-driven Unite Against Poaching, and the Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre in Mamelodi. The parade was led by the Chief Executive of SANParks Dr David Mabunda, the MMC for Environmental Management Services in the City of Tshwane, Ms Petunia Mashaba, and the Deputy Director-General for Biodiversity and Conservation in the Department of Environmental Affairs, Fundisile Mketeni. The march signalled the sustained commitment of the youth to the future of the country’s environmental security and integrity. Following the street parade, representatives of the Children of South Africa handed a Memorandum of Support from the Youth to the Government of South Africa to Protect our Rhino to Minister Molewa. The Memorandum states that the youth of South Africa are touched and concerned about the country’s rhino and the effect poaching will have on their futures. “The price of rhino horn is just not worth it, as it will eventually lead to the rhino’s extinction from the world,” the Memorandum stated. “As youth, we should get involved in our future. The more we do together ... the more people learn about rhinos, the more field projects will be supported.” Six-point plan ZooClub chair Ofentse Litsele called on Government to consider the youth’s six-point plan to ensure the survival of the rhino. This included increasing national and international awareness, educational and publicity campaigns on the seriousness of rhino horn poaching; the appointment of special forces to combat and intimidate poachers and prevent them from entering conservation areas; improved intelligence and greater use of technology in the fight against rhino poaching; and increasing funding for anti-poaching initiatives. Minister Molewa, in thanking the children of South Africa, particularly the children who participated in the Street Parade, said it was only through their efforts, those of their parents, educators and the community at large, working together with government, that the problem of rhino poaching can be effectively addressed in South Africa. The Minister again assured South Africans that the Government would not allow the rhino to become extinct. “The Government, working with our partners in the Justice and Security Cluster, SANParks and other private entities are working hard to meet the continuous challenges being presented in dealing with the poaching crisis,” the minister said. “The spate of rhino poaching has strengthened the Government’s resolve and determination to work tirelessly to address the plague.” The “Save the Rhino” Street Parade was one of the activities in the ZooClub programme aimed at creating awareness of the plight of the rhino. Other activities included conservation talks at the NZG, debates with the NZG Adopted schools and an environmental quiz with JNF Walter Sisulu Environmental Centre in Mamelodi. By Elize de Jager, Curriculum Developer & Head: Life Science Centre, NZG Rhino poaching statistics
Rhino poaching arrests statistics
South Africans are encouraged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211. Statistics supplied by the Department of Environmental Affairs |
