SA Not looking after its Rhinos: Animal group

BLOEMFONTEIN - There is a way of thinking within South African environmental authorities that promotes the killing of rhinos rather than protecting and respecting them, Animal Rights Africa said on Monday.

This is according to a report by Animal Rights Africa (ARA), which has been involved in a war of words with SANParks over the management of rhinos in South Africa over the last couple of months.

“Whether, SANParks likes it or not, the public have a right to be concerned, to express this concern and to expect transparency and accountability from government agencies,” said ARA spokeswoman Michele Pickover.

ARA said that despite SANParks “angry kneejerk response” there was little doubt that there was national and international concern about the current protection and management of the animals in South Africa.

Pickover said by allowing SANParks to use “sustainable use” to trump issues of conservation, government conservation agencies seem to be interpreting their mandate as custodians in way that was debatable.

She said the ARA report “Under Siege: Rhinoceroses in South Africa”, which also collated information relating to the hunting, trade and poaching of rhinos, revealed a worrying trend.

The report shows enormous suffering by animals, a lack of centralised statistics and data, an unco-ordinated response from authorities, insufficient enforcement and resources to adequately protect the rhino population, and “a general way of thinking that promotes killing instead of protection and respect”.

The report says it was now “abundantly clear” that not only were rhinoceroses in South Africa facing one of the worst threats ever as a species but that they were under siege.

It further states that South Africa has become the conduit of most of the rhinoceros horns leaving the African continent. The report suggests an end to all rhino hunting in South Africa because it had been proven to be as great a problem as poaching.

It further suggests re-examining the entire CITES report procedure because it was clear that limited and inaccurate information was submitted and to open the government policy of “sustainable use” and trophy hunting to public debate.

ASA also wants South Africa to impose an immediate moratorium on all capture, sale, translocation and hunting of rhinos in South Africa.

- Sapa