Durban - Rhino poachers were increasingly crossing into South Africa from neighbouring countries, according to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
About 24 rhinos had been killed in KwaZulu-Natal so far this year - five in the Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Park and others in private and community conservation areas. Nine people had been arrested.
Ezemvelo spokesman, Musa Mntambo, said during a joint operation by the police and Ezemvelo on Saturday, a homemade rifle had been confiscated from a house on the western boundary of Hluhluwe.
Mntambo said 17 shotgun rounds and six R-1 and 303 rifle rounds were also found.
“No one was arrested because the gun could not be linked to any individuals at the homestead,” Mntambo said.
Lawrence Munro, Ezemvelo’s Rhino Operations Unit manager, said the increase in poachers from neighbouring countries was a concern.
“The number is actually increasing, but we are doing our level best to strengthen security, thanks to the police. Saturday’s raid is an indication that we are serious about poaching,” he said.
“Although it was one firearm (that was confiscated), the purpose was to remove it from the hands of whoever owned it. This is a good example of co-operation and co-ordination of state law enforcement organisations.”
Their Zululand anti-poaching unit, Aerial Surveillance and Reaction, was also making a difference in the fight against poaching.
The wing was launched in November 2012 as a means, by wildlife conservation, to fight back against poaching.
“This was the first integrated aerial anti-poaching programme in the country to combat poachers from the air. When it started, there were more than 3 000 rhinos under our watch in 24 game reserves covering about 300 000 hectares,” Munro said.
On Friday, Morgan Griffiths, environmental governance manager for the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), voiced his concern at the proposed restricted trade in rhino horn as it risked exposing the few remaining rhinos to poaching pressure.
She said a committee of inquiry was set up to advise it on this proposal by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
“On Thursday and Friday, the committee of inquiry heard public submissions from stakeholders and concerned organisations on this proposal that will have far-reaching implications for conservation, community development and international relations.
“Wessa warns that the current trade proposal carries an unacceptably high risk of being corrupted by the poaching syndicates and illegal horn traders and that reopening legal trade will encourage a growth in horn consumer demand and speculation buying,” Griffiths said.
DEA’s trade proposal risks compromised the concerted international efforts and resources already made towards conserving this endangered species, she said. The department could not be reached for comment.
Griffiths said South Africa did not yet have a mature and accountable democracy that had a reasonable chance of implementing a horn trading system that could sufficiently restrict illegal trade, adding that to trade now was to risk too much.
Daily News