Rhino DNA Initiative Comes To A Halt

A desperate call is made for R100 000 for repairs to the generic analyser machine of the RhODIS. RhODIS is the unique South African developed rhino DNA profiling system, which provides prosecutors scientific evidence to link recovered evidence presented in a court case, to an individual incident. This method has already been used to successfully convict and sentence numerous rhino poachers.  The RhODIS database is situated at the veterinary genetics laboratory at the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort campus. The database contains DNA from over 6 000 rhino from both our national parks, provincially managed and private reserves with new samples being added daily. The aim is to have all the rhino in our country registered on the database to ensure no poacher can slip through unpunished. The genetic analyser machine is the key piece of equipment giving the final DNA profile. The DNA work has been hampered by the fact that the laboratory only has one such machine, limiting the number of cases it can process.  The current machine has, however, stopped working. This has stopped the progress on all current rhino DNA work. Due to the huge pressure on the resources of the RhODIS project, in getting all the rhino registered as well as coping with the pressure from forensic cases, the veterinary generics laboratory  need to increase their throughput of DNA samples from 16/day to 40/day. The scientific equipment which is pivotal to the project is extremely costly. A further R2.5 million is also called for to secure a second generic analyser.  This initiative is run by the SANParks honorary rangers, who can guarantee that 100% of the funds generated will be channelled towards repairing and procuring the generic analysers. No money will be used for administration.