MEDIA STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS ON NATIONAL RHINO STRATEGY CLOSE ON 31 JANUARY 2014

30 JANUARY 2014 


The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is reviewing the National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa, as part of a plethora of measures being undertaken to ensure all steps taken to address the scourge of rhino poaching in South Africa are relevant and effective.

The review of the strategy will assist in addressing emerging issues and potential gaps to further strengthen interventions being implemented to curb the poaching of rhino.

In addition, NGOs, non-profit organisations (NPO), fund raisers, rhino conservation and anti-poaching service providers, and donors involved in rhino-related projects were requested to provide the Department of Environmental Affairs with details relating to their initiatives by 7 February 2014 (link for the form below). The aims of this process are to:

• Identify priority areas that require additional assistance and gaps that must be addressed;
• Identify opportunities to collaborate, cooperate or consolidate projects / initiatives or parts thereof;
• Develop criteria to assist in determining whether NPOs, NGOs or individuals involved in rhino related activities are making a positive contribution towards the fight against rhino poaching and the conservation of the species.

This comes as the total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of 2014 increased to 86. A total of 21 poachers have been arrested in the past month.

The highest number of rhino poached – 63 – were killed for their horns in the Kruger National Park. Since New Year, 8 rhino have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal, 6 in Limpopo, 4 in the Free State, 3 in Mpumalanga and 2 in North West.

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.

To access the National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa, click on the link below:https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalstrategy_rhinopopulation_safetysecurity.pdf

To access the template, click on the link below:https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/forms/templatesorganisations_submittinginformation_rhinoprojects.doc

For media inquiries contact Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON 30 JANUARY 2014

Poachers Update

29/01/14 @22h30 - Stolsnek: In an intelligence driven operation between #Stolsnek, #Malelane rangers and the @SA_Police, contact was made with a group of three suspected rhino poachers. During contact, 1 suspect was fatally wounded, 1 arrested and 1 managed to escape. A .300 Win Mag with a silencer, ammo and other hunting equipment were recovered. Follow up investigations are underway.

Hunt Of Lions From Kruger National Park Advert Hogwash

South African National Parks (SANParks) read with dismay the unfortunate advertisement and comments on social media platforms that have been doing rounds, referring to a hunt of two troublesome lions allegedly originating from the Kruger National Park (KNP).

This according to KNP Managing Executive, Mr. Abe Sibiya, who said, Kruger National ...Park would like to distance itself from the advertisement and its author/s… “as there is no link between KNP and those that are involved with this hunting activity. KNP do not remove problematic lions from the KNP to be hunted elsewhere.”

He said in actual fact there has been a concerning trend in recent times where certain individuals have fraudulently attached Kruger National Parks name and those of key employees in unscrupulous hunting business ventures all in an effort to attract unsuspecting clients. “A case in point is a fraudulent letter bearing the forged signatures of some of the key management personnel in the park authorizing a hunt within the Makuya Game Reserve in Limpopo managed by the provincial government.”

According to Sibiya the circumstance surrounding this incident are being investigated by the SANParks Environmental Crime Investigations… “and legal advice is also being sought on how to pursue criminal charges against the perpetrators.

Issued by:
South African National Parks Corporate Communications

On Safari With Mark From 25 January 2014

25 January 2014

Route: Numbi tar - PK - Napi - Skukuza

General game sightings: Kudu, zebra, impala, warthog, hippo, Nile crocodile, waterbuck, giraffe and steenbok

The only great sighting for the afternoon drive was a herd of elephant that crossed over napi heading east. Great photos could be taken of this herd with lots of youngsters in between the adults.

26 January 2014

Route: Kruger gate road - Doispan - Watergat - Napi - PK - Napi - Skukuza

General sightings spotted: giraffe, kudu, impala, waterbuck, warthog, steenbok, vervet monkeys and zebra

The first animal we came across this morning was a male leopard walking down the Kruger gate road heading towards doispan. Brilliant sighting as he walked right next to the open vehicle and slowly moved off the road into the bush. We spent approximately 20min with him and had no other cars around us.

On Napi we also found 3 male cheetahs walking parallel with the road, scent marking their territory. As the first car approached us, so they slowly moved off into the bush.

A great herd (app 300 ) of buffalo between napi boulders entrance and exit.Only a single rhino sighting for the day.

After breakfast and dropping a guest off, we headed back down napi and turned in at shitlhave dam. There we found 5 male lions lying on the dam wall.

Approximately  50m before the flat rocks on napi we found another leopard lying in a Marola tree enjoying the cool weather.

The afternoon drive was brilliant with a short trip up the tahokwane tar. We came across a pride of lions (2 males 2 females and 5 cubs). They got up and came to lay right next to our vehicle.

Further to this we had a hippo walk across the road in front of us. On our return we found a Hyena den with 2 females feeding the young.

Overall a great days game viewing.

27 January 2014

Route: Napi - H3 - Afsaal - Berg n dal - H3 - Skukuza

General animal sightings: Kudu, giraffe, warthog, impala, steenbok, zebra and Rhino

On our way to breakfast we found a large herd (300+) buffalo just past the entrance to Jock Safari lodge.

After breakfast we decided to head South to Berg en dal. We stopped off at renosterpan and approx 1.3kms from the tar found 2 male lions, sleeping approximately 3m off the road. Great photos taken as we were the only ones with these lions for approx 25min. We left them still lying flat as a
carpet.

Great elephant sightings throughout the day. Approximately 25 species of bird seen between Afsaal and Berg n dal.

On our return we saw two female ostriches approximately 200m before the little jock.

A great days game viewing considering the rain throughout the day..

Keep watching for more!!

On Safari With Curtis From 24 January 2014

24 January 2014

Today was the worst part of a safari for most people - as six guests would be leaving us today. Luckily their transfer to Johannesburg was not happening until 10:00 hours so we went on a final safari to try and get some more great sightings.

We went out with the aim of finding Zebras, something which had eluded us for the last three days, but not today as we came across a family herd on the road. We also got Impala, Kudu, Giraffe and Baboon before coming across a female Rhino with her young calf. Lots of Elephants were seen including big Bulls, females and young calf’s.

We then carried on to the gate as it was time for a fond farewell to some of my guests as they continued their travels.

Left with two guests we made our way on the afternoon safari.

The heat of the day made it a very quiet drive although we did spot more Impala, Zebra, Warthog, Kudu and Waterbuck. As well as lots of Elephants and Rhino. Two Rhino in  particular were lovely as we found them having a mud bath, every now and again sitting and rolling around getting themselves covered in mud before standing up and having a scratch on a nearby tree stump.

25 January 2014

Today was the last day of the safari for my final two guests, normally we would take them out for another safari early in the morning before they leave the park. Unfortunately one of my guests did not feel to good during the night so we cancelled the safari and had a relaxing morning in the lodge.

Late this morning I transferred the guests up to Nelspruit to the City bug shuttle where they caught their transfer to Johannesburg to start the next instalment of their South African travels.

Keep watching for more safari updates as more guests enter the park!

Media Release

SANParks arrests employee for illegal hunt of game.. Follow the link to view

http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55984