Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.
Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 11:20 pm
Time: 11:20 pm
Results for rhinoceros
22 results foundAuthor: Animal Rights Africa Title: Under Siege: Rhinoceroses in South Africa Summary: Trophy hunting in the 19th century devastated rhinoceros populations in Africa. By the 1920s there were fewer than a hundred of the southern white rhinoceroses left in the Umfolozi region in KwaZulu-Natal. Preservation, overt protection and habitat and range expansion strategies led to the growth in the number of rhinoceroses in South Africa and brought them back from the brink of extinction. An important component of these strategies was the prohibition of hunting. There is now a completely different situation at play, where the hunting, poaching and trade of rhinoceroses, both illegal and legal, are once again not only severely impacting on the species but also causing untold suffering and death for the individuals involved. Rhinoceros poaching has reached a 15-year high in Africa and Asia and there are therefore justifiable concerns about the current protection and management of these animals in South Africa as well as the need for public discourse and involvement. South Africa is currently entrusted with over 90% of the world’s population of white rhinoceroses, but at the same time it has become abundantly clear that not only are rhinoceroses in South Africa facing one of their worst threats ever as a species, but they are literally under siege. According to the Department of Environment rhinoceroses poaching in South Africa has reached the highest levels in decades. In the short space of 19 months, poaching of rhinoceroses in South Africa has accelerated to a rate almost six times higher than that of the previous eight years and at the same time a report by international conservation bodies claims the country has become the conduit of most of the rhinoceros horns leaving the African continent. The threats rhinoceroses are facing are linked to South Africa’s current uncompassionate conservation policies of overt consumptive use and trade and inadequate policing, enforcement measures and resources to protect rhinoceroses. And as with elephants the trade, sale and hunting of rhinoceroses in South Africa is driven by commodification, commercialisation and profit rather than by compassion or robust science. Details: Animal Rights Africa, 2009. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2013 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/125/1255419687.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/125/1255419687.pdf Shelf Number: 127517 Keywords: Animal Poaching (Africa)Illegal HuntingIllegal Wildlife TradeRhinocerosRhinosWildlife Crimes |
Author: Milliken, Tom Title: The Decline of the Black Rhino in Zimbabwe: Implications for Future Rhino Conservation Summary: This report presents an evaluation of Zimbabwe's Black Rhino conservation strategy in the face of continuous poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn, and an assessment of future options for rhino conservation. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC, 1993. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/123/1239704147.pdf Year: 1993 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/123/1239704147.pdf Shelf Number: 128052 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crimes (Zimbabwe)Wildlife Poaching |
Author: Menon, Vivek Title: Under Siege: Poaching and Protection of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceroses in India Summary: The report presents information on the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros population in India. It documents the extent of poaching and trade in and use of rhinoceros horn. Details: New Delhi: TRAFFIC India, 1996. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/Traf-025.pdf Year: 1996 Country: India URL: http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/Traf-025.pdf Shelf Number: 128054 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime (India)Wildlife Smuggling |
Author: Milledge, Simon Title: Rhino Horn Stockpile Management: Minimum standards and best practices from east and southern Africa Summary: This document presents recommended practices for rhino horn stockpile management and is based upon best examples of management currently employed throughout east and southern Africa. A wide variety of rhino horn stockpile management policies and practices are found throughout Africa. In this regard, there is no single correct method, and for certain issues there is no need to reinvent the wheel when trying to recommend particular aspects of stockpile management. However, without exception, every rhino range State could benefit from the lessons learnt and best practices from neighbouring countries. During 2001 to 2003, TRAFFIC reviewed the rhino horn stockpile management practices employed throughout east and southern Africa. Based upon this regional review, a stakeholder workshop was held in 2004, which was attended by government officers directly responsible for managing all of the largest horn stockpiles in Africa, including Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal province, Limpopo province, Mpumalanga province, North West Parks and Tourism Board, and Kruger National Park), Swaziland and Zimbabwe. This document is the main outcome from the workshop, consolidating available knowledge and summarizing recommended best practices for all aspects of horn stockpile management. It covers the collection of horns from the field, measuring and marking, registration, storage and security, audits and reconciliation, and several other important components of stockpile management for both State and privatelyowned horns. This document contains recommended minimum standards that should be implemented in all countries, as well as optimal practices for those striving for the best possible benchmark. It is hoped that any nation wishing to improve any or all of the above ingredients for stockpile management may refer to this document. Details: Dar es Salam, Tanzania: TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa, 2005. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2013 at: www.traffic.org Year: 2005 Country: Africa URL: Shelf Number: 128056 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhinocerosWildlife Crime (Africa)Wildlife Management |
Author: Daly, B.G. Title: Perspectives on Dehorning and Legalised Trade in Rhino Horn as Tools to Combat Rhino Poaching Summary: This report presents the proceedings of a workshop held to assess the use of legal trade in rhino horn as a tool in combating poaching as well as a detailed assessment of the efficacy of dehorning as a deterrent to poaching. Details: Johannesburg: Endangered Wildlife Trust, 2011. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 22, 2013 at: http://www.ewt.org.za/programmes/LPP/20110301%20RhinoWorkshopReport[1].pdf Year: 2011 Country: Africa URL: http://www.ewt.org.za/programmes/LPP/20110301%20RhinoWorkshopReport[1].pdf Shelf Number: 128088 Keywords: Animal Poaching (Africa)Rhino DehorningRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife ManagementWildlife Trade |
Author: Martin, Esmond Bradley Title: On a Knife's Edge: The Rinoceros Horn Trade in Yemen Summary: While Asia's rhinoceroses have been poached predominantly for their horn to be made into medicines in eastern Asia, the horn of Africa's rhinoceroses has been in demand for both medicines and production of traditional dagger handles in the Middle East, especially Yemen. Dagger-like knives have been part of a man's traditional dress in Yemen for centuries. Known as jamibyas, these daggers are worn daily by many Yemeni men and serve as an important status symbol. The quality of the blade, sheath, belt and handle decorations are all important, but the most prestigious element of a jambiya is a good rhinoceros horn handle. This report examines the continuing use of rhinoceros horn in the production of the jambiya in Yemen. The report documents the results of TRAFFIC and WWF fieldwork data collected on the trade in rhinoceros horn in Yemen from 1978-1996. It focuses on the centuries-old trade in horn of Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis and White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum from Africa to Sanaa, Yemen's capital. Today, there are only an estimated 2,400 Black Rhinoceros and 7,562 White Rhinoceros left in the wild in Africa, compared to approximately 70,000 in total in 1970. Snared, speared, shot with poisoned arrows and bullets for their horn, rhinoceros numbers in most populations have plummeted dramatically. The demand and trade in horn for jambiyas has been a major contributory factor to this decline, and continues to threaten Africa's rhinoceros populations. Details: Cambridge, UK: TRAFFIC Network, 1997. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 27, 2013 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=e8195581c2de3d4dd827b63357480761&act=refs&CODE=ref_detail&id=1165240008 Year: 1997 Country: Yemen URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=e8195581c2de3d4dd827b63357480761&act=refs&CODE=ref_detail&id=1165240008 Shelf Number: 128145 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife Crimes (Yemen) |
Author: Anderson, Bradley Title: Wildlife Poaching: Africa's Surging Trafficking Threat Summary: Surging demand for ivory and rhino horn, mainly in Asia, has put wild African elephants and rhinoceroses on the path to extinction. More than an environmental tragedy, however, wildlife poaching and trafficking has exacerbated other security threats and led to the co-option of certain African security units. African states need to develop a broad range of law enforcement capabilities to tackle what is effectively a transnational organized crime challenge. Asian and other international partners, meanwhile, must take action to reduce runaway demand for wildlife products. Details: Washington, DC: Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Africa Security Brief, No. 28: Accessed May 7, 2014 at: http://africacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AfricaBriefFinal_28.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://africacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AfricaBriefFinal_28.pdf Shelf Number: 132269 Keywords: Animal PoachingElephantsIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Taylor, Andrew Title: The Viability of Legalising Trade in Rhino Horn in South Africa Summary: South Africa is facing a major rhino-poaching crisis. In 2011, 448 rhinos were killed by poachers, of which 429 were white rhinos (representing approximately 2.2% of the national population) and 19 were black rhinos (approximately 0.9% of the population). During the first 6 months of 2012, 254 rhinos were killed by poachers: if this rate continues, as many as 508 rhinos may be killed by the end of the year, representing approximately 2.4% of the combined national herd of white and black rhinos. South Africa can currently sustain this rate of poaching because the population growth rate (approximately 6.5% for white rhinos and 5% for black rhinos) is higher than the off-take (legal and illegal), but if poaching continues to escalate, a tipping point may eventually be reached forcing the population into decline for the first time in 50-100 years. This would reverse the hard won achievements of South African conservationists responsible for one of the greatest conservation success stories ever seen in large mammals. The driver for the illegal killing is a persistent demand for rhino horn from Asia, where it is used mainly for medicinal purposes. This demand cannot be met by legal supplies because international trade in rhino horn was banned by CITES in 1977 in response to long-term, high levels of rhino poaching that were threatening to push all rhino species to extinction. Although South Africa continued to allow legal trade of rhino horn within its borders after the international ban, this did not allow for the legal export of horn. Sometime after the year 2000, however, it is alleged that Asian nationals bought rhino horn through the legal internal permitting system, either directly from private rhino owners or indirectly through intermediaries, and then exported the horn illegally out of the country. When this fraudulent activity was suspected, the South African government placed a national moratorium on trade in rhino horn (Government Gazette No. 31899, Notice No. 148, 13 February 2009) in an attempt to stop it. The timing of the implementation of the national moratorium coincided with the on-going surge in the rhino poaching in South Africa, leading some observers to suggest that the moratorium had contributed towards, or even caused, the crisis. At a Rhino Summit in October 2010, hosted by the then Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Environmental Affairs agreed to commission a feasibility study to determine the viability of the legalisation of the trade in rhino horn in South Africa. The study had to do the following: a) Analyse trends in local (national) trade in rhino horn prior to the moratorium that came into effect in February 2009; b) Analyse trends in incidences of illegal killing prior to and subsequent to the national moratorium; c) Assess the potential national market for rhino horn; d) Determine security risks relating to the lifting of the moratorium; e) Identify measures to be put in place to address the risks identified above, including a response strategy; f) Recommend systems to be developed and implemented to regulate national trade in rhino horn, including a tracking and monitoring system; g) Identify the legal requirements to be addressed in terms of a national trade system; h) Identify means to ensure rhino horn traded nationally does not enter international trade; i) Analyse similar situations in other countries and advice on best practices and interventions made in those countries. Details: Pretoria: South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs, 2014. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/139/1398153747.pdf Year: 2014 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/139/1398153747.pdf Shelf Number: 133024 Keywords: Animal Poaching Ivory Rhino Horn RhinocerosWildlife Conservation Wildlife Crime (South Africa) |
Author: Duffy, Rosaleen Title: Rhino Poaching: How do we respond? Summary: This report outlines the main actors in rhino conservation, the major main threats to rhinos in the 'Big 4' range states (Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa and Namibia) which together conserve almost 99% and 96% of Africa's wild white and black rhino respectively, and offers a review of a range of possible policy responses. The main conservation actors across the Big 4 can be grouped as: - Public sector conservation agencies, including government departments and parastatal boards - International organisations - Regional organisations - Locally based NGOs - Private sector - External agencies, including conservation NGOs and donors - Sub-state entities, including local communities The range of actors is slightly different in each country, and the relative importance of different actors varies across countries. The main threats to black and white rhinos are: - Poaching, driven by illegal demand for rhino horn from South East Asia - Disinvestment by some in the private sector due to the increasing costs and risks of protecting rhinos coupled with declining incentives for conserving rhino - Resources are currently insufficient to adequately protect some populations Currently poaching rates are lower than birth rates, so rhino numbers continue to rise. However, poaching at a continental level has increased significantly since 2007-8; and if this trend continues unabated the tipping point (where deaths start to exceed births and rhino numbers start declining) could be reached as early as 2014/2015. Therefore interventions to tackle poaching at this stage can be seen as a critically important preventative measure. There are 9 key findings from the review of possible policy responses: 1. Each range state requires a different menu of approaches that deal with both proximate and ultimate causes of the rises in rhino poaching. 2. Capturing the economic value of rhinos is important. 3. Even though it is illegal, there is currently a lucrative market for rhino horn products in some countries. 4. Efforts need to focus on demand reduction in end user communities, but there is insufficient knowledge of the dynamics of those markets. 5. Despite increased prison sentences in some rhino range states, poaching continues to escalate in some countries, while some states do not or did not have 'deterrence sentences' at all. 6. Dehorning can have a (limited) deterrence effect but is not a practical option for all rhino populations. 7. Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) can have a (limited) deterrence effect. 8. Each of the 4 range states faces a different combination of threats and their circumstances differ, therefore efforts need to be tailored and targeted 9. Effective Governance 'Matters'. Details: London, UK: Evidence on Demand, 2013. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2014 at: http://www.evidenceondemand.info/rhino-poaching-how-do-we-respond Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: http://www.evidenceondemand.info/rhino-poaching-how-do-we-respond Shelf Number: 133790 Keywords: Animal Poaching (Africa)Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife ConservationWildlife Crime |
Author: Montesh, Moses Title: Rhino Poaching: A New Form of Organised Crime Summary: African rhinos are suffering a new poaching onslaught for their priced horns. Despite intensified anti- poaching activities, the number of rhinos poached per day has continued to increase since 2008. During 2012, about 668 rhinos were poached while a higher number is projected for 2013. This trend of increased poaching will reverse overall positive rhino population growth in the long-term in South Africa. In response to this problem, a rhino emergency summit comprising of rhino range States' representatives, the private sector, government officials and non-governmental organizations was convened in Nairobi during April 2012. Following this summit, members proposed an integrated framework directed at reducing the demand and supply ratio associated with the use of rhino horn. The framework is envisaged to guide short- as well as medium- to long-term responses by range States directed at reducing the incentives for poaching and ensuring the persistence of rhinos. In this paper, the author will begin by outlining the extent of rhino poaching, the background to rhino poaching, the role of organised crime syndicates in rhino poaching, the demand and supply of rhino horns as well as proposing measures to combat rhino poaching. Details: Pretoria: University of South Africa, College of Law, 2012. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2015 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=pdfviewer&id=1368077595&folder=136 Year: 2012 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/index.php?s=1&act=pdfviewer&id=1368077595&folder=136 Shelf Number: 134887 Keywords: Animal Poaching (South Africa)IvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife Crime |
Author: Burgess, Meryl Title: Rhino poaching and East Asian policies: Facts and debates Summary: 2011-2012 saw the highest levels of poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn in many years, bringing some rhino species towards the verge of extinction in some African and Asian regions. Two of the world's five rhino species, the Javan and Sumatran species (found in Asia), have been reduced to only a few dozen while in Africa, the black and white rhino have been under increasing threat by poachers. With increasing wealth in East Asia, the demand for rhino horn - in use in traditional medicine - is also increasing; Rhino horns can fetch up to US$ 110,000 per kilogram. The issue is not simply a Chinese one: In South Africa, the number of poachers arrested has included Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese nationals. From this assessment of current challenges in the rhino poaching crisis, largely in South Africa, and a discussion of the possibility of legalising the rhino horn trade, this briefing makes recommendations for East Asian authorities on their role in the crisis. Details: Stellenbosch, South Africa: Stellenbosch University, Centre for Chinese Studies, 2012 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Briefing: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://www.ccs.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MB-rhino-poaching-policy-briefing_FINAL.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Asia URL: http://www.ccs.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MB-rhino-poaching-policy-briefing_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 135827 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Hubschle, Annette Michaela Title: A Game of Horns: Transnational Flows of Rhino Horn Summary: A multi-sectorial regime of protection including international treaties, conservation and security measures, demand reduction campaigns and quasi-military interventions has been established to protect rhinos. Despite these efforts, the poaching of rhinos and trafficking of rhino horn continue unabated. This dissertation asks why the illegal market in rhinoceros horn is so resilient in spite of the myriad measures employed to disrupt it. A theoretical approach grounded in the sociology of markets is applied to explain the structure and functioning of the illegal market. The project follows flows of rhino horn from the source in southern Africa to illegal markets in Southeast Asia. The multi-sited ethnography included participant observations, interviews and focus groups with 416 informants during fourteen months of fieldwork. The sample comprised of, amongst others, convicted and active rhino poachers, smugglers and kingpins, private rhino breeders and hunting outfitters, African and Asian law enforcement officials, as well as affected local communities and Asian consumers. Court files, CITES trade data, archival materials, newspaper reports and social media posts were also analysed to supplement findings and to verify and triangulate data from interviews, focus groups and observations. Central to the analysis is the concept of "contested illegality", a legitimization mechanism employed by market participants along the different segments of the horn supply chain. These actors' implicit or explicit contestation of the state-sponsored label of illegality serves as a legitimising and enabling mechanism, facilitating participation in gray or illegal markets for rhino horn. The research identified fluid interfaces between legal, illegal and gray markets, with recurring actors who have access to transnational trade structures, and who also possess market and product knowledge, as well as information about the regulatory regime and its loopholes. It is against the background of colonial, apartheid and neoliberal exploitation and marginalization of local communities that a second argument is introduced: the path dependency of conservation paradigms. Underpinning rhino conservation and regulation are archaic and elitist conservation regimes that discount the potential for harmonious relationships between local communities and wildlife. The increasing militarization of anti-poaching measures and green land grabs are exacerbating the rhino problem by alienating communities further from conservation areas and wild animals. The third argument looks at how actors deal with coordination problems in transnational illegal markets. Resolving the coordination problems of cooperation, value and competition are considered essential to the operation of formal markets. It is argued that the problem of security provides an additional and crucial obstacle to actors transacting in markets. The systematic analysis of flows between the researched sites of production, distribution and consumption of rhino horn shows that the social embeddedness of actors facilitates the flourishing of illegal markets in ways that escape an effective enforcement of CITES regulations. Details: Koln,Germany: International Max Planck Research School, 2016. 418p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 18, 2016 at: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/6685/ Year: 2016 Country: Africa URL: http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/6685/ Shelf Number: 139087 Keywords: Animal PoachingIllegal MarketsIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Fenio, Kenly Greer Title: Poaching Rhino Horn in South Africa and Mozambique: Community and Expert Views From the Trenches Summary: This report illustrates attitudes garnered from nine focus groups in several poaching communities in and around South African and Mozambican game parks, and approximately 15 in-depth interviews with experts working in the parks. Although the communities exhibited differences, there also exist a common set of conditions in them: economically marginalized populations, anger toward the status quo, huge financial incentives from poaching, widespread corruption, and porous borders, all of which highlight the complex interaction of economic and political factors in perpetuating illicit wildlife trafficking. Until conservation and anti-poaching and trafficking efforts are ramped up, demand is reduced in Asian countries such as Viet Nam, and communities nearest the parks see it in their interest to protect endangered animals such as the rhino, gaining greater traction through efforts to bring an end to poaching will be difficult. Executive Summary This report examines the key drivers of rhino poaching - which illustrate the complex interaction of economic and political factors - as highlighted in focus group discussions in poaching communities and interviews with park rangers and other experts around parks in South Africa and Mozambique. Several drivers for poaching came out of this research, each of which is discussed in the report and summarized briefly here. The Limpopo National Park and Kruger National Park belong to the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park that straddles South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Transfrontier parks were created to allow ecosystems to flow undisturbed across international borders, but with this also comes the uncontrolled movement of humans through Porous Borders. While Kruger has funding to monitor those entering for tourism at official access points, rangers in Limpopo claim they can't distinguish between Mozambicans who live in Limpopo park and others who are simply passing through. This makes it easy for poachers to cross national borders undetected. This section also delves into the nuances of How Poaching Occurs. Anger and Marginalization within the communities toward the parks is a salient issue. Community members identify very little in the way of employment, profit or opportunity trickling down to them from official park services. A lack of perceived opportunities has translated into anger toward park officials and, for some, a desire to protect illegal hunters: "we know the poachers, but because the park doesn't want to help us, we don't want to help [the park]." Many participants claim park animals kill their cattle, and the parks offer little to no compensation. They also have little faith in negotiations with conservation authorities because of weak follow-through on park promises to scale up community development. Yet some still see killing the animals as morally wrong. Park managers claim that locals are less likely to enforce the law if given employment because they are more easily corruptible and more vulnerable to pressure from poachers. While community development and education occurs in the way of boreholes, wildlife education in schools, and job creation for neighboring communities, programs seem to fluctuate greatly from community to community, making it difficult to instill the belief that the parks are beneficial for all. Economic Incentives lure many youth into poaching. Locally available jobs like farming, animal husbandry, selling charcoal, or irregular work in neighboring cities simply cannot compare with "the gold in the horn." Some participants see the poachers "as role models," and argue they "do good things for the community" and facilitate job creation when they spend their wealth locally. The income can be used for "sending children to school, nice houses, and expensive cars and clothes." Survival in economically depressed communities thus takes precedence over wildlife conservation, and the debate ensues between poaching for daily subsistence versus for greed. For young people particularly, there is substantial peer pressure to compete with friends for the status that comes from having a disposable income to buy new things. Embarking on an adventure to kill a rhino becomes more attractive than remaining idle in a community with few economic alternatives. Efforts to introduce counter-incentives have found limited success. While tipoff hotlines exist, some say they are unlikely to take advantage of these programs. To some extent, this is because there is limited awareness of them, but more compellingly, community members Fear retribution, as well as exhibit other types of fear. In some communities, poaching remains secretive even among acquaintances: a hunter with a horn is in danger of being robbed and killed before he can get his prize to the traffickers. Finally, Political Will and Corruption play their part. While both countries now have official policies in place against poaching and trafficking, experts say implementation is fraught with complications because of corruption on multiple levels. Both rangers and community members claim crooked police officials peddle (and recycle) arms. Community members also acknowledge dishonest rangers disclose rhino locations to poachers, and some say the problem will only end when "corrupt officials at the top" are brought to justice. Few prosecutions have occurred in comparison to the ideal and those who are convicted often pay minimal fines and do little, if any, jail time. Several participants note that after only a few months "you see that person back on the street." This section examines attitudes, and also provides a current overview of recent agreements, partnerships, and evolution in laws in the two countries. The report then examines Solutions from community and expert perspectives. In discussing steps to improve the situation, community members and park rangers tend to focus on three ideas. (1) The need for more local community programming to draw community buy-in to the mission of the parks and goals of conservation. One step in the right direction seems to be the appointment of Rhino Ambassadors, or community members who serve as liaisons between the parks and communities. But in an environment of tight budgets, governments have tended to prioritize security measures over community development and education programs. (2) Enforcing laws already on the books to deter the police and high-level politicians that rangers and community members repeatedly stated they believe are involved in trafficking. (3) There needs to be increased technical capacity for enforcement that includes basic logistics - vehicles for Limpopo's rangers who are often on foot, and more advanced surveillance equipment to keep up with increasingly sophisticated poaching techniques. Rangers and some community members note that certain areas are well known for detecting and catching poachers, which deters criminals from entering these locales. Conservation experts agree it is possible to decrease poaching, but it requires resources "now, not tomorrow." In the words of one ranger who has worked in conservation for over 25 years: "once the human eye detects a change in nature, it's too late." Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of State, 2014. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Poaching-Rhino-Horn-in-South-Africa-and-Mozambique-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Poaching-Rhino-Horn-in-South-Africa-and-Mozambique-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 139136 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryPark RangersRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Economists at Large Title: Horn of Contention: A review of the literature on the economics of trade in Rhino horn Summary: Poaching of rhinos in Southern Africa has increased dramatically in recent years. There is considerable debate within policy circles and the conservation movement as to the best policy response to increased poaching. Because many of the factors driving poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn are economic, many stakeholders are looking to economics for potential policy responses. In particular, there are suggestions that a legalised, heavily regulated trade in rhino horn could reduce rates of poaching. This paper is a review of studies on the economics of trade in endangered wildlife in general and on rhino horn in particular. Two studies reviewed are from formal academic literature and another four are less formal articles or "grey literature". The formal studies are from peer-reviewed journals, but do not explicitly address the recent increase in rhino poaching. The grey literature are less rigorous, but have the benefit of focussing on recent events in Africa. The formal studies suggest that predicting the outcome of liberalising trade is complex and difficult to determine. Although it may decrease pressure on poaching, as rhino horn becomes increasingly supplied through the non-lethal legal trade, there is also a real risk that trade could drive an increase in poaching through any combination of five mechanisms: - Through legal and illegal markets coexisting and interacting in complex ways. - Through reducing the stigma attached to consumption of the product. - By potentially reducing the supply costs of illegal supply. - By potentially facilitating the laundering of illegal supply in with legal supply. - As a result of uncertainty around the response of illegal suppliers to competition from a legal market. The articles from the grey literature are all overtly pro-trade, generally assuming that: - Legal markets will "hijack" consumers from illegal markets and that legal and illegal horn would be perfectly substitutable. - Stigma effects are small and that efforts to reduce demand through education and information would be ineffective. - Increased surveillance funded by rhino horn sales would increase poaching costs. - Technical advances such as DNA technology would minimise laundering. - Smugglers with market power would respond to the introduction of a legal trade passively, accepting reduced sales, rather than competing to retain market share. Little empirical evidence is offered to support these views. Under certain conditions these assumptions may hold, but it is unclear if these conditions are in place in either supplying or consuming countries. We suggest further research should be undertaken before any formal steps are taken towards legalising trade in rhino horn. Details: Yarmouth, MA: International Fund for Animal Welfare, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Horn-of-Contention.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/files/Horn-of-Contention.pdf Shelf Number: 139137 Keywords: Animal PoachingAnimal SmugglingIllegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Trade |
Author: International Rhino Coalition Title: Assessing the Risks of Rhino Horn Trade Summary: INTRODUCTION: In April 2014 economists, conservationists, researchers, consumer state representatives and wildlife law consultants from around the world gathered in Pretoria to discuss the risks or rhino horn trade in South Africa. This report is a summary of their presentations. Topics include the impact of a legal ivory trade on Africa's elephant population, wildlife trade management in Vietnam and the work of WildAid in consumer states to name a few. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: Conservation Action Trust, 2014. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: A Journal of Arguments Presented at the April 2014 Conference in South Africa: Accessed June 1, 2016 at: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Assessing-the-risks-of-the-rhino-horn-trade.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://conservationaction.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Assessing-the-risks-of-the-rhino-horn-trade.pdf Shelf Number: 139270 Keywords: Illegal Wildlife TradeIvoryRhinocerosWildlife CrimeWildlife Management |
Author: Rademeyer, Julian Title: Tipping Point: Transnational organised crime and the 'war' on poaching Summary: More than six thousand rhinos have fallen to poachers' bullets in Africa over the past decade. Dozens more have been shot in so-called "pseudo-hunts" in South Africa. Across Europe, castles and museums have been raided by criminal gangs in search of rhino horn trophies. And in the United States, businessmen, antique dealers - even a former rodeo star and a university professor - have been implicated in the illicit trade. Driven by seemingly insatiable demand in Southeast Asia and China, rhino horn has become a black market commodity that rivals the value of gold and platinum. The impact of rampant poaching and deeply entrenched transnational criminal networks over the past decade has been severe. Today there are estimated to be about 25,000 rhino left in Africa, a fraction of the tens of thousands that existed just half-a-century ago. Numbers of white rhinos ( Ceratotherium simum ) have begun to stagnate and decline, with 2015 population figures estimated at between 19,666 and 21,085. While the numbers of more critically endangered black rhino ( Diceros bicornis ) - estimated to number between 5,040 and 5,458 - have increased, population growth rates have fallen. Since 2008, incidents of rhino poaching have increased at a staggering rate. In 2015, 1,342 rhinos were killed for their horns across seven African range states, compared to just 262 in the early stages of the current crisis in 2008. The vast majority of poaching incidents occurred in South Africa, home to about 79% of the continent's last remaining rhinos. The country's Kruger National Park - which contains the world's largest rhino population - has suffered the brunt of the slaughter. While South Africa experienced a marginal dip in poaching figures in 2015 - the first time that the numbers had fallen since 2008 - this was offset by dramatic spikes in poaching in Namibia and Zimbabwe, two key black rhino range states. Namibia, which had experienced little to no poaching from 2006 to 2012 saw Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime Tipping Point: Transnational organised crime and the 'war' on poaching incidents increase from four in 2013 to 30 in 2014 and 90 in 2015. In Zimbabwe, 51 rhinos were killed, up from twenty in 2014. It was the country's worst year on record since 2008, when 164 rhinos were lost to poachers. While Vietnam remains a key destination and transit country, growing numbers of Chinese nationals have been arrested and prosecuted in recent years in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States for smuggling rhino horn. Research conducted by TRAFFIC has pointed to a thriving online market for rhino horn on Vietnamese and Chinese social media platforms. There is some evidence of divergent markets in Vietnam and China with demand for "raw", unworked rhino horn in the former and carvings, libation cups and fake antiques - commonly referred to as zuo jiu - in the latter. In Vietnam, for instance, a number of artisanal villages are known to produce rhino horn bangles, bracelets, beads and libation cups for Chinese buyers. China has also emerged a significant destination for antique rhino horn carvings that have been auctioned in Europe, the United States and Australia. The killing shows little sign of slowing. Despite the valiant efforts of many law enforcement and government officials, prosecutors and game rangers, the transnational criminal networks trafficking rhino horn are as resilient as ever and - with rare exceptions - impervious to attempts to disrupt their activities. Fragmented law enforcement strategies - often led by environmental agencies with little political power and no mandate to investigate or gather intelligence on organised crime networks - have had little impact on syndicates that operate globally, with tentacles reaching from Africa to Europe, the United States and Asia. Borders, bureaucracy and a tangle of vastly different laws and legal jurisdictions are a boon to transnational criminal networks and a bane to the law enforcement agencies rallied against them. Entities like Interpol, Europol, CITES and the World Customs Organisation are only as good as the government officials in member states who are delegated to work with them. Again and again, their efforts to target syndicates in multiple jurisdictions are hamstrung by corruption, incompetence, governments that are unwilling or incapable of acting, a lack of information-sharing, petty jealousies and approaches to tackling crime that wrongly emphasise arrests and seizures over targeted investigations and convictions as a barometer of success. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2016. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2016 at: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Tipping-Point-Part1-July-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Tipping-Point-Part1-July-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 139645 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosRhinosTrafficking WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Rademeyer, Julian Title: Beyond Borders: Crime, conservation and criminal networks in the illicit rhino horn trade Summary: The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, the WWF and the Geneva Environment Platform organised the Geneva launch of "Beyond borders: Crime, conservation and criminal networks in the illicit rhino horn trade", the second of two reports investigating the illegal trade in rhino horn and law enforcement responses, on 13 July 2016 in the International Environment House. Six thousand rhinos have fallen to poachers' bullets in Africa over the past decade and only about 25,000 remain - a fraction of the tens of thousands that roamed the parts of the continent fifty years ago. Driven by the seemingly insatiable demand in Southeast Asia and China, rhino horn has become a black market commodity rivalling gold and platinum in value. This report, the second of two, is a major investigation into Southern African rhino horn trafficking networks. It focuses on rhino poaching, smuggling and organised crime in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, two source countries for rhino products where legal and law enforcement frameworks to curb rhino poaching are in place, yet poorly implemented. It also investigates the involvement of the diplomatic world in the rhino horn trade including recent revelations of North Korean embassy involvement. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 15, 2016 at: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Beyond-Borders-Part2-July-2016-1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://globalinitiative.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Global-Initiative-Beyond-Borders-Part2-July-2016-1.pdf Shelf Number: 139646 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosRhinosTrafficking WildlifeWildlife CrimeWildlife Trafficking |
Author: Hubschle, Annette Michaela Title: The Groenewald Criminal Network: Background, legislative loopholes and recommendations Summary: This paper provides a brief perspective of the Groenewald gang in the broader wildlife crime context before assessing whether the case presents an exception or a common trend. In a second step, the legislative and institutional loopholes are discussed. The paper also assesses whether regulators are aware of the scheme and what measures have been taken to address this. Finally, an assessment is made whether "gray" nodes (legal players who participate in illegal activities) are dealt within the most expedient manner and what lessons could be learned from the model Details: Bogota: VORTEX Foundations, 2017. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks - Research Paper No. 11. VORTEX Working Papers No. 25: Accessed July 5, 2017 at: Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_eb15f7ef5f0544018473f4a8f003206e.pdf Shelf Number: 146504 Keywords: Animal PoachingCriminal NetworksIvory TradeOrganized CrimeRhinoceros Wildlife Crime |
Author: Goga, Khalil Title: The Rhino Horn Trafficking Network of the Groenewald Gang Summary: This document presents the model of a criminal network engaged in poaching and trafficking of rhino horn. After the exposition of the methodology and the most relevant concepts related to Social Network Analysis, the third part of the document includes information about the present case and the sources consulted for elaborating the model. In the fourth part the results informing about the characteristics of the criminal network are presented: (i) The types of agents, (ii) the types of interactions established, (iii) the agents with the highest capacity to arbitrate information in the network and (iv) the agents with the highest concentration of direct interactions. In the fifth part, conclusions are discussed. Details: Bogota: VORTEX Foundation, 2017. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks - Research Paper No. 10. VORTEX Working Papers No. 24: Accessed July 6, 2017 at: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_cd24e4a30ac542d1a68338f22779dfb5.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_cd24e4a30ac542d1a68338f22779dfb5.pdf Shelf Number: 256505 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvory TradeRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |
Author: Goga, Khalil Title: Rhino poaching and Rhino Horn Traffic in South Africa Summary: While rhino poaching has often been portrayed as a conflict between 'dark' and 'bright' agents, the reality of the trade is far more complex and compromises a host of actors in a variety of fields in legitimate and illegitimate spheres. As it is explained in this document, it is critical to understand the participation of agents operating within lawful public and private positions, who participate in various activities from the poaching to the final consumption and use of the rhino horn. Details: Bogota: VORTEX Foundation, 2017. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: The Global Observatory of Transnational Criminal Networks - Research Paper No. 9. VORTEX Working Papers No. 23: Accessed July 5, 2017 at: http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/522e46_838df24339064fcf9a0a510bb1ebed18.pdf Year: 2017 Country: South Africa URL: Shelf Number: 146506 Keywords: Animal PoachingCriminal NetworksIvoryOrganized CrimeRhinocerosWildlife Crime |
Author: Rolfes, Michael T Sas Title: The Rhino Poaching Crisis: A Market Analysis Summary: This paper started out as a response to the question: "What has caused the recent upsurge in rhino poaching in South Africa?" In writing my opinion on this, I decided to provide some background information, both technical and historical. And once I had provided my best answer, I felt inspired to add a few comments on possible solutions. Before addressing the central question (in Part 2) of this paper, in Part 1 I discuss the factors driving rhino poaching and the market for rhino horn, including some essential aspects relating to the role of Asian tradition. I also discuss important technical concepts such as the meaning of market size and the persistence of demand and why these are relevant. Part 2 begins with some historical context and describes what has happened in the rhino horn market over the decades leading up to the poaching spike. I then address the main question and consider the role played by the South African wildlife industry. Part 3 considers the policy implications of what we know about the market. If our objective is to reduce wild rhino poaching, what are our best options? At the end of the paper is a one page summary of suggested answers to the main question. All the material in this paper can be supported by specific references, which I will provide on request Details: Unpublished paper, 2012. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2017 at: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/133/1331370813.pdf Year: 2012 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/133/1331370813.pdf Shelf Number: 146779 Keywords: Animal Poaching RhinocerosWildlife Crime |
Author: Haas, Timothy C. Title: Combating Rhino Horn Trafficking: The Need to Disrupt Criminal Networks Summary: The onslaught on the World's wildlife continues despite numerous initiatives aimed at curbing it. We build a model that integrates rhino horn trade with rhino population dynamics in order to evaluate the impact of various management policies on rhino sustainability. In our model, an agent-based sub-model of horn trade from the poaching event up through a purchase of rhino horn in Asia impacts rhino abundance. A data-validated, individual-based sub-model of the rhino population of South Africa provides these abundance values. We evaluate policies that consist of different combinations of legal trade initiatives, demand reduction marketing campaigns, increased anti-poaching measures within protected areas, and transnational policing initiatives aimed at disrupting those criminal syndicates engaged in horn trafficking. Simulation runs of our model over the next 35 years produces a sustainable rhino population under only one management policy. This policy includes both a transnational policing effort aimed at dismantling those criminal networks engaged in rhino horn trafficking-coupled with increases in legal economic opportunities for people living next to protected areas where rhinos live. This multi-faceted approach should be the focus of the international debate on strategies to combat the current slaughter of rhino rather than the binary debate about whether rhino horn trade should be legalized. This approach to the evaluation of wildlife management policies may be useful to apply to other species threatened by wildlife trafficking. Details: s. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0167040. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2017 at: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0167040 Shelf Number: 146989 Keywords: Animal PoachingIvoryRhino HornRhinocerosTrafficking in WildlifeWildlife Crime |