The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs met this week to get a better understanding of the current situation relating to the illegal killing and conservation of rhinoceros in South Africa and to debate and seek possible solutions to the rhino poaching challenges in... South Africa.
Rhino poaching across South Africa and Africa has risen sharply in the past few years and has threatened to reverse the hard-won population increases achieved by conservation authorities during the 20th Century. In order to address this problem, Government and various other role-players have initiated various interventions to address the surge in rhino poaching. Following several engagements over the past two years between the Portfolio Committee and relevant stakeholders, the Portfolio Committee conducted a follow-up workshop on Rhino Poaching in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, from 2 - 4 December 2013, with a view to giving impetus to the efforts and commitment towards minimising the scourge of Rhino Poaching.
The workshop, held in Skukuza, comes as the number of rhinos poached for their horn in South Africa, since January 2013 increased to 919.
So far this year, 560 rhinos have been poached in the Kruger National Park. And the provincial figures stand at a total of 359. In Limpopo alone, 105 rhinos have been poached, 82 in North West, 79 in KwaZulu-Natal and 77 in Mpumalanga. The total number of suspected poachers arrested has increased to 316.
The workshop, attended by around 80 delegates, included 13 members of the Portfolio Committee, the Department of Environmental Affairs, provincial departments, SANParks, private rhino owners and numerous stakeholders and NGOs. The meeting was opened by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Mrs Edna Molewa, on Monday, 2 December 2013 who emphasised the need for cooperation by various stakeholders and indicated the government’s plan moving forward. The Minister reiterated that continuing to do more of the same is not working. The solution to rhino poaching is complex and needs innovative solutions.
Members of the Portfolio Committee, under the chairmanship of Advocate Johnny de Lange, were briefed on all issues related to rhino conservation; management; safety and security; trends, structure, nature of black markets in wildlife products;consumer behaviour, and rhino economics. Discussions also focussed on possible solutions to destroy or at least seriously debilitate the existence of a lucrative, rapidly growing, underground “black market” illegally trading in rhino horn. Some of the proposed solutions included among others:
- Increased involvement of communities, including community ownership of rhino and benefit-sharing by communities;
- Emphasis on cross-border collaboration, including cross-border enforcement operations to disrupt local criminal networks;
- Enhancing actionable intelligence to enable South Africa to disrupt transnational criminal networks involved in the illegal trade in rhino horn;
- Implementation of mechanism to increase the conviction rate in rhino-related cases;
- Converting the present ranger corps into the best anti-poaching force in Africa;
- Implementation of mechanisms to improve communication and cooperation between private landowners, security forces and the environmental sector;
- The continued use of the DNA project, RhoDIS, to enhance enforcement, prosecution and the creation of a national rhino DNA database;
- Incentivise the strictly limited and regulated trade and possession of rhino as a live commodity
- Strategic, targeted culturally sensitive demand reduction initiatives;
- Introducing a strictly limited and regulated trade mechanism for rhino horn through which only legal horn from legitimate stockpiles, and not harvested horns, are sourced.
Advocate de Lange, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, emphasized that the Committee expects that all interventions should be based on and support protection, conservation and sustainable use, which are the cornerstones of the environmental rights afforded to the people of South Africa in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution. The principle of sustainable use as an integral part of conservation is not only enshrined in the Constitution and the country’s environmental legislation.
Section 24 of the Constitution provides everyone with the right to and environment that secures ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
The discussions relating to a strictly limited and regulated trade in rhino horn included the need to:
- Ensure that all opportunities, implications and risks are assessed;
- Urgently finalise the verification of all rhino horn stockpiles, especially privately owned stockpiles;
- Finalise the process to appoint a Panel of Experts to assist the Inter-Ministerial Committee appointed by Cabinet to deliberate on the matters relating to a possible trade in rhino horn;
- Engage rhino range States and the region on these matters, including range expansion; and sharing of best practices and information; and
- Ensure that all other measures and initiatives continue to be implemented and strengthened.
It was emphasised that all parties present shared a common concern and interest, and that more similar engagements need to be held as the government prepares to table its proposal regarding the trade in rhino horn to CITES CoP17 in 2016.
The Parliamentary Committee needs to continue working closely with all government and civil society stakeholders in ensuring that decisions regarding the management and conservation of South Africa’s rhino are not detrimental to their future.
South Africans and members of the international community are encouraged to report information regarding rhino poaching and related tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs
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Friday 6 December 2013
Poaching Update
Possible solutions to Rhino horn scourge debated by Parliamentary committee. The workshop, held in Skukuza, comes as the number of rhino poached for their horn in South Africa, since January 2013 increased to 919.
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KNP GATE QUOTAS IN FORCE DURING THE 2013 FESTIVE SEASON
With the festive season around the corner, The Kruger National Park (KNP) would like to remind Day Visitors about the gate quotas when planning their holiday.
To avoid disappointment, Day Visitors are urged to book in advance in order to secure their entry in the park since daily quotas will be strictly enforced throughout the festive seaso...n period.
The procedure is that once the daily quota has been reached, only people with valid bookings would be allowed in. Day Visitors who pre-book their visit are expected to pay a non-refundable deposit of R32 per adult and R16 per child; which is meant to secure their space because they would have been counted in the number that make the daily quota.
Although in operational all throughout the year, the gate quotas are mostly reached during long weekends and public holidays. “If anyone is planning a visit on those days, it is recommended that they either arrive at the gate very early in the morning as the service is on first come first served basis or pre-book their entrance via Central Reservations (012 428 9111)”; explained the KNP’s GM: Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa.
There have been instances where some of the pre-booked Day Visitors arrived at the gate and expected to be excluded from paying the Conservation Fees. Mabasa went on to advise Day Visitors to take note that even if they have pre-booked for their visit, this does not exempt them from paying Conservation Fees upon arrival at the gate but booking only secures them entry.
Day Visitors with advanced bookings are also expected to arrive at the booked gate by no later than 13:00 on the date of the booking, because after 13:00 the booking lapses.
To enhance efficiency at the gates, various security structures as well as honorary rangers will be deployed in order to assist gate staff with managing the queues and other different services of the gates.
“All visitors are also reminded to adhere to the rules and regulations of the KNP, with particular emphasis on littering, speeding, getting out of cars, loud noises; otherwise it becomes one of the potential areas of possible conflict between park officials and the public.” “We also request visitors to plan their trip by observing gate opening and closing times so that they do not find themselves arriving late at the camps or gates either on their way in or out of the Park;” concluded Mabasa.
Each gate has its limited number of Day Visitors that can be allowed per day e.g. Kruger Gate 750 and 500 for the other gates such as Punda Maria, Pafuri, Phalaborwa, Giriyondo, Orpen, Phalabowa, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane Crocodile Bridge.
To avoid disappointment, Day Visitors are urged to book in advance in order to secure their entry in the park since daily quotas will be strictly enforced throughout the festive seaso...n period.
The procedure is that once the daily quota has been reached, only people with valid bookings would be allowed in. Day Visitors who pre-book their visit are expected to pay a non-refundable deposit of R32 per adult and R16 per child; which is meant to secure their space because they would have been counted in the number that make the daily quota.
Although in operational all throughout the year, the gate quotas are mostly reached during long weekends and public holidays. “If anyone is planning a visit on those days, it is recommended that they either arrive at the gate very early in the morning as the service is on first come first served basis or pre-book their entrance via Central Reservations (012 428 9111)”; explained the KNP’s GM: Communications and Marketing, William Mabasa.
There have been instances where some of the pre-booked Day Visitors arrived at the gate and expected to be excluded from paying the Conservation Fees. Mabasa went on to advise Day Visitors to take note that even if they have pre-booked for their visit, this does not exempt them from paying Conservation Fees upon arrival at the gate but booking only secures them entry.
Day Visitors with advanced bookings are also expected to arrive at the booked gate by no later than 13:00 on the date of the booking, because after 13:00 the booking lapses.
To enhance efficiency at the gates, various security structures as well as honorary rangers will be deployed in order to assist gate staff with managing the queues and other different services of the gates.
“All visitors are also reminded to adhere to the rules and regulations of the KNP, with particular emphasis on littering, speeding, getting out of cars, loud noises; otherwise it becomes one of the potential areas of possible conflict between park officials and the public.” “We also request visitors to plan their trip by observing gate opening and closing times so that they do not find themselves arriving late at the camps or gates either on their way in or out of the Park;” concluded Mabasa.
Each gate has its limited number of Day Visitors that can be allowed per day e.g. Kruger Gate 750 and 500 for the other gates such as Punda Maria, Pafuri, Phalaborwa, Giriyondo, Orpen, Phalabowa, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane Crocodile Bridge.
Thursday 5 December 2013
Statement On The Outcomes Of United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change
Statement on the outcomes of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP19/CMP9 in Warsaw, Poland.
Statement delivered by Ms Judy Beaumont, Deputy Director General, Climate Change and Air Quality on behalf of Mrs Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.
The nineteenth internationa...l climate change Conference of the Parties (COP19) and itsKyoto Protocol (CMP 9) closed late on Saturday, 23 November 2013 in Warsaw, Poland following two weeks of intensive negotiations.
The Warsaw conference addressed a total of 68 agenda items and took 38 decisions (28 under the COP, and 10 under the CMP). In summary there were 4 major outcomes of the conference.
Firstly, were a set of decisions aimed at finalising and enhancing the implementation of the international response to the climate crisis now and up to 2020. This involved the finalisation of accounting rules under Kyoto to enable countries to ratify the amendments and their legally binding emission reduction commitments as agreed in Durban in 2011. After two weeks of detailed technical discussions, Parties were able to agree most of the outstanding accounting rules for the Kyoto second commitment period, and this work will be finalised at the next meeting.
In addition to the finalisation of Kyoto rules, there was critical work required to enhance implementation under the Convention in the pre-2020 period for both developed and developing countries.
A key milestone was reached by finalising the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems for both developing and developed countries. The Warsaw COP adopted the review guidelines for biennial reports (BRs) and national communications in time for the submission of the first Biennial Reports from developed countries in January 2014, as well as, the international consultation & analysis process for developing countries.
Adaptation continued to receive the prominent attention that it deserves under all the Convention bodies with respect to implementation between now and 2020. The most notable outcome on adaptation was the conclusion of the guidelines for developing countries in general to develop National Adaptation Plans. This is a critical outcome for South Africa as these guidelines can now be used to further develop the country’s own National Adaptation Plan, which is currently underway. This put adaptation on a clear path to be in the centre of the legal instrument being negotiated for implementation from 2020 onwards. These negotiations are to be concluded in Paris in 2015.
A major priority to enable enhanced post 2012 and pre-2020 implementation is the question of how to finance climate change efforts. The COP adopted seven decisions on finance. The most critical ones are, a) long term finance, b) arrangements between the COP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF); and c) support to the fundraising strategy and campaign of the Adaptation Fund Board. During the Conference, pledges totalling over US$100 million were made that ensure the continuation of the Adaptation Fund’s support for concrete adaptation projects in developing countries. Meeting this target is a significant step for developing countries as it means work can continue to pilot the Adaptation Fund’s direct access approach to supporting programmes on the ground. In terms of long term finance, developed countries pledged to scale up available finance, based on the levels achieved during the fast-start period upwards of USD10.2-USD15 billion of public finance per year, with the aim of achieving the goal of jointly mobilising USD100 billion per year by 2020.
With the conclusion of the arrangement between the COP and the GCF, the GCF is now well on its way to concluding its accountability relationship with the Convention and is on track to start its initial resource mobilisation process prior to September 2014, when the UN Secretary-General will convene a high level Leaders’ Summit. This is a huge milestone attained under the implementation agenda.
The second major outcome of Warsaw is the progress made in the negotiation of the climate change system to be implemented beyond 2020.
This is to be captured in a new legal instrument for implementation post 2020 and is being negotiated under the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). Warsaw was able to transition from the exploratory phase of the negotiations to a more formal mode of work. This was achieved by focused discussions on elements for inclusion in the new legal instrument. A decision, highlighting key components of the 2015 outcome was adopted. The ADP is now on its way to producing a negotiation text in time for the 2015 agreement to be reached in Paris. In addition Parties have agreed to start their “homework” - national consultation processes aimed at putting numbers on the table at the Paris 2015 COP.
The third major Warsaw was progress in negotiation of means to scale up ambition in the post 2012 and pre 2020 period.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s 2013 Emission’s Gap Report (on the ‘gap’ between emissions reduction required by 2020 to limit temperature increase to 2 degrees, and emissions reductions pledged by countries at the moment) indicates that developed countries’ overall emissions continue to grow instead of decrease. Even if the current emission reduction pledges are fully implemented, the emission gap in the year 2020 will be 8-12 GtCO2e. This is what makes the decision to accelerate activities under the work-plan on enhancing mitigation ambition up to 2020 extremely important. Parties agreed to identify, implement and scale up actions with high mitigation potential in 2014. This will be done in a coherent manner under the Durban Platform (ADP) workstream II with the objective of closing this 8-12 GtCO2e emissions gap as soon as possible and not later than 2020.
The year 2014 has been billed as the year of ambition for international climate negotiations. Firstly, the Annex I Parties (developed countries) under the Kyoto Protocol will be revisiting their commitments by April. It is not clear whether developed country Parties under the Convention not covered by the Kyoto Protocol will be doing the same. Secondly, the United Nations Secretary General will be convening a High Level Climate Change Summit on 23 September 2014 to provide political momentum to the climate change talks. The Ministers of Environment/Climate Change will also have a high-level dialogue on ambition during the June 2014 UNFCCC intersessional meeting in Bonn. The Ministers will also have another chance to engage during the pre-COP meeting in Venezuela and the 20th COP in Lima, Peru towards the end of 2014.
The fourth major Warsaw outcome was the finalisation of a very contentious negotiation on an international mechanism to deal with loss and damage caused by climate change.
The key priorities for Africa and other developing countries were an outcome on the establishment of a mechanism on loss and damage due to climate change and finance as part of the urgent implementation programme between now and 2020. The most recent science as outlined in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report confirms that the severity of climate change impacts now and into the future poses a number of developmental, economic, social and food security challenges to developing countries. While it will be possible for some countries to adapt to climate change to a certain extent, adaptation will take time, and there will increasingly be extreme climatic events such as the recent super-typhoon which tragically struck the Philippines, to which it is impossible to adapt.
It is on this basis that developing countries have been working towards the establishment of an institutional mechanism to deal with loss and damage resulting from the adverse effects of climate change. In the case of some countries, particularly small island states, losses from climate change will likely be catastrophic, and could involve irreversible damage and the permanent loss of some or of all of their national territory.
I was tasked by the Polish COP President to facilitate negotiations and to find a resolution to this issue of loss and damage. This was a continuation of my role from the Doha Conference last year and I was assisted by Sweden’s Minister of Environment Lena Margareta Ek.
We facilitated three days of challenging negotiations, and concluded with a landmark outcome with the launching of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts. The decision outlines institutional arrangements, functions and modalities of the Mechanism, which aims to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events. The conclusion of negotiations on this mechanism, with clear linkages to other UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) mechanisms, was very important to South Africa’s expressed goal of achieving a high level of integration of UNFCCC mechanisms to tackle various aspects of the climate change problem.
In conclusion, I will briefly reflect on the way forward next year. It is important that next year’s COP in Peru facilitates a political understanding of the shape of the 2015 agreement in advance, so that technical elaboration of that agreement can begin early in 2015. This is the lesson of Copenhagen outcome in 2009 that realised a political agreement which was needed before being translated into a formal and more technical agreement on the post-2012 implementation system in Cancun and Durban. With proper sequencing Parties can keep to the Durban agreement of reaching a new deal during the 2015 Paris COP 21.
Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs
Statement delivered by Ms Judy Beaumont, Deputy Director General, Climate Change and Air Quality on behalf of Mrs Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs.
The nineteenth internationa...l climate change Conference of the Parties (COP19) and itsKyoto Protocol (CMP 9) closed late on Saturday, 23 November 2013 in Warsaw, Poland following two weeks of intensive negotiations.
The Warsaw conference addressed a total of 68 agenda items and took 38 decisions (28 under the COP, and 10 under the CMP). In summary there were 4 major outcomes of the conference.
Firstly, were a set of decisions aimed at finalising and enhancing the implementation of the international response to the climate crisis now and up to 2020. This involved the finalisation of accounting rules under Kyoto to enable countries to ratify the amendments and their legally binding emission reduction commitments as agreed in Durban in 2011. After two weeks of detailed technical discussions, Parties were able to agree most of the outstanding accounting rules for the Kyoto second commitment period, and this work will be finalised at the next meeting.
In addition to the finalisation of Kyoto rules, there was critical work required to enhance implementation under the Convention in the pre-2020 period for both developed and developing countries.
A key milestone was reached by finalising the measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems for both developing and developed countries. The Warsaw COP adopted the review guidelines for biennial reports (BRs) and national communications in time for the submission of the first Biennial Reports from developed countries in January 2014, as well as, the international consultation & analysis process for developing countries.
Adaptation continued to receive the prominent attention that it deserves under all the Convention bodies with respect to implementation between now and 2020. The most notable outcome on adaptation was the conclusion of the guidelines for developing countries in general to develop National Adaptation Plans. This is a critical outcome for South Africa as these guidelines can now be used to further develop the country’s own National Adaptation Plan, which is currently underway. This put adaptation on a clear path to be in the centre of the legal instrument being negotiated for implementation from 2020 onwards. These negotiations are to be concluded in Paris in 2015.
A major priority to enable enhanced post 2012 and pre-2020 implementation is the question of how to finance climate change efforts. The COP adopted seven decisions on finance. The most critical ones are, a) long term finance, b) arrangements between the COP and the Green Climate Fund (GCF); and c) support to the fundraising strategy and campaign of the Adaptation Fund Board. During the Conference, pledges totalling over US$100 million were made that ensure the continuation of the Adaptation Fund’s support for concrete adaptation projects in developing countries. Meeting this target is a significant step for developing countries as it means work can continue to pilot the Adaptation Fund’s direct access approach to supporting programmes on the ground. In terms of long term finance, developed countries pledged to scale up available finance, based on the levels achieved during the fast-start period upwards of USD10.2-USD15 billion of public finance per year, with the aim of achieving the goal of jointly mobilising USD100 billion per year by 2020.
With the conclusion of the arrangement between the COP and the GCF, the GCF is now well on its way to concluding its accountability relationship with the Convention and is on track to start its initial resource mobilisation process prior to September 2014, when the UN Secretary-General will convene a high level Leaders’ Summit. This is a huge milestone attained under the implementation agenda.
The second major outcome of Warsaw is the progress made in the negotiation of the climate change system to be implemented beyond 2020.
This is to be captured in a new legal instrument for implementation post 2020 and is being negotiated under the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP). Warsaw was able to transition from the exploratory phase of the negotiations to a more formal mode of work. This was achieved by focused discussions on elements for inclusion in the new legal instrument. A decision, highlighting key components of the 2015 outcome was adopted. The ADP is now on its way to producing a negotiation text in time for the 2015 agreement to be reached in Paris. In addition Parties have agreed to start their “homework” - national consultation processes aimed at putting numbers on the table at the Paris 2015 COP.
The third major Warsaw was progress in negotiation of means to scale up ambition in the post 2012 and pre 2020 period.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s 2013 Emission’s Gap Report (on the ‘gap’ between emissions reduction required by 2020 to limit temperature increase to 2 degrees, and emissions reductions pledged by countries at the moment) indicates that developed countries’ overall emissions continue to grow instead of decrease. Even if the current emission reduction pledges are fully implemented, the emission gap in the year 2020 will be 8-12 GtCO2e. This is what makes the decision to accelerate activities under the work-plan on enhancing mitigation ambition up to 2020 extremely important. Parties agreed to identify, implement and scale up actions with high mitigation potential in 2014. This will be done in a coherent manner under the Durban Platform (ADP) workstream II with the objective of closing this 8-12 GtCO2e emissions gap as soon as possible and not later than 2020.
The year 2014 has been billed as the year of ambition for international climate negotiations. Firstly, the Annex I Parties (developed countries) under the Kyoto Protocol will be revisiting their commitments by April. It is not clear whether developed country Parties under the Convention not covered by the Kyoto Protocol will be doing the same. Secondly, the United Nations Secretary General will be convening a High Level Climate Change Summit on 23 September 2014 to provide political momentum to the climate change talks. The Ministers of Environment/Climate Change will also have a high-level dialogue on ambition during the June 2014 UNFCCC intersessional meeting in Bonn. The Ministers will also have another chance to engage during the pre-COP meeting in Venezuela and the 20th COP in Lima, Peru towards the end of 2014.
The fourth major Warsaw outcome was the finalisation of a very contentious negotiation on an international mechanism to deal with loss and damage caused by climate change.
The key priorities for Africa and other developing countries were an outcome on the establishment of a mechanism on loss and damage due to climate change and finance as part of the urgent implementation programme between now and 2020. The most recent science as outlined in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report confirms that the severity of climate change impacts now and into the future poses a number of developmental, economic, social and food security challenges to developing countries. While it will be possible for some countries to adapt to climate change to a certain extent, adaptation will take time, and there will increasingly be extreme climatic events such as the recent super-typhoon which tragically struck the Philippines, to which it is impossible to adapt.
It is on this basis that developing countries have been working towards the establishment of an institutional mechanism to deal with loss and damage resulting from the adverse effects of climate change. In the case of some countries, particularly small island states, losses from climate change will likely be catastrophic, and could involve irreversible damage and the permanent loss of some or of all of their national territory.
I was tasked by the Polish COP President to facilitate negotiations and to find a resolution to this issue of loss and damage. This was a continuation of my role from the Doha Conference last year and I was assisted by Sweden’s Minister of Environment Lena Margareta Ek.
We facilitated three days of challenging negotiations, and concluded with a landmark outcome with the launching of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts. The decision outlines institutional arrangements, functions and modalities of the Mechanism, which aims to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change, including extreme events and slow onset events. The conclusion of negotiations on this mechanism, with clear linkages to other UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) mechanisms, was very important to South Africa’s expressed goal of achieving a high level of integration of UNFCCC mechanisms to tackle various aspects of the climate change problem.
In conclusion, I will briefly reflect on the way forward next year. It is important that next year’s COP in Peru facilitates a political understanding of the shape of the 2015 agreement in advance, so that technical elaboration of that agreement can begin early in 2015. This is the lesson of Copenhagen outcome in 2009 that realised a political agreement which was needed before being translated into a formal and more technical agreement on the post-2012 implementation system in Cancun and Durban. With proper sequencing Parties can keep to the Durban agreement of reaching a new deal during the 2015 Paris COP 21.
Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs
Tuesday 3 December 2013
Six Years Imprisonment For Rhino Poacher
Mozambican man has been jailed for six years by the Makhado Regional Court for attempted rhino poaching, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.
Musa Simango, 19, was sentenced on Monday, Colonel Ronel Otto said.
He was found guilty of attempted rhino poaching, unlawful possession of ammunition, and trespassing.
The 19-year-old Mozambican national and two of his accomplices were cornered by a ranger in the Punda Maria area of the Kruger National Park in October. A shooting ensued. One man, Derrick Maluleke, 34, was killed. A third man escaped
By:
South African Press Association
Musa Simango, 19, was sentenced on Monday, Colonel Ronel Otto said.
He was found guilty of attempted rhino poaching, unlawful possession of ammunition, and trespassing.
The 19-year-old Mozambican national and two of his accomplices were cornered by a ranger in the Punda Maria area of the Kruger National Park in October. A shooting ensued. One man, Derrick Maluleke, 34, was killed. A third man escaped
By:
South African Press Association
Speech By The Minister Of Water And Environmental Affairs
Speech by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs at Portfolio Committee.. Follow the link to view http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55947
Monday 2 December 2013
Suspected Rhino Poachers At Large
Two suspected rhino poachers are on the run following a shootout with rangers in the Kruger National Park.
One of the suspects were shot dead during Saturday’s gun battle.
It's understood the three men were cornered by rangers while hunting rhino near the Mozambican border.
The National Park’s William Mabasa says officials are now working with Mozambican auth...orities to try and track them down.
“We’ll be signing an agreement with our Mozambican counterparts very soon so that we’re able to follow them up when such things happen.”
He says a hunting rifle and ammunition were recovered after Saturday’s incident.
“The one who was partially wounded had a .458 firearm and some other poaching material.”
The firearm found on one of the suspected poachers is of the same caliber as the one used in a rhino killing earlier this week.
On Thursday, two three-day-old rhino carcasses were found at the park.
An autopsy on the carcasses later revealed one of the rhino died from a bullet wound to the ribs.
The rhino are just two of the 548 rhino that have fallen victim to poachers in the park this year.
By:
Eyewitness News
One of the suspects were shot dead during Saturday’s gun battle.
It's understood the three men were cornered by rangers while hunting rhino near the Mozambican border.
The National Park’s William Mabasa says officials are now working with Mozambican auth...orities to try and track them down.
“We’ll be signing an agreement with our Mozambican counterparts very soon so that we’re able to follow them up when such things happen.”
He says a hunting rifle and ammunition were recovered after Saturday’s incident.
“The one who was partially wounded had a .458 firearm and some other poaching material.”
The firearm found on one of the suspected poachers is of the same caliber as the one used in a rhino killing earlier this week.
On Thursday, two three-day-old rhino carcasses were found at the park.
An autopsy on the carcasses later revealed one of the rhino died from a bullet wound to the ribs.
The rhino are just two of the 548 rhino that have fallen victim to poachers in the park this year.
By:
Eyewitness News
Poachers Update 30/11
On Saturday, 30th November 2013, rangers in the Crocodile Bridge section of the Kruger National Park made contact with three suspected rhino poachers entering the Kruger National Park just north of Chana Spruit along the Eastern boundary.
One suspect was fatally wounded and the other two remaining suspects managed to escape back to Mozambique.
A .458 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.
Issued by:
South African National Parks
One suspect was fatally wounded and the other two remaining suspects managed to escape back to Mozambique.
A .458 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment were recovered.
Issued by:
South African National Parks
Poachers Update 29/11
Mozambique Twin City Rangers arrested 2 suspected rhino poachers who were on their way to hunt rhino in the Kruger National Park. A .458 rifle and ammo were recovered.
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