In a desperate attempt to turn the tide against rhino poaching, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has opted for a desperate measure of literally poisoning rhino horns in order to render them unusable if the rhino has been poached.
The trial was launched yesterday at the Tembe Elephant Park and Ndumo Game Reserve considered the frontline of future poaching in the province. Both parks in the northern KwaZulu-Natal are on the border with Mozambique.
This pioneering trial rhino horn infusion programme is being funded by the Peace Parks foundation as part of their broader involvement in the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation area that connects protected areas in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
The injection of this poisoned insecticide and the infusion of an indelible coloured dye are the work of Rhino Rescue Project’s two founders, Dr Charles van Niekerk and Dr Lorinda Hern. Both infusions are considered harmless to the rhino.
Dr Van Niekerk said the poison could be safely and relatively quickly injected into the base of the horn, spreading throughout the keratin protein that comprises a horn, making it “extremely toxic” in the event of human consumption. The indestructible dye acts as a warning to end-users that a horn has been contaminated and should not be consumed as well as reducing its aesthetic appeal.
“This dye is visible on an x-ray scanner even when the horn is ground to a fine powder. Airport security checkpoints are almost certain to pick up the presence of this dye,” Van Niekerk said.
At the end of this battle, we should emerge as winners, not the poachers
rhino will have their DNA recorded and transponders inserted.
Speaking at the launch, Ezemvelo CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize said the war against poaching would not be won by poachers. “Through collaboration, the winner will be all of us.
“At the end of this battle, we should emerge as winners, not the poachers,” said Mkhize.
So far, KZN has lost 63 rhinos due to poaching while the Tembe and Ndumo parks combined have lost 11 rhinos.
Verity and Dean Cherry had an African dream in 1999 and started Nhongo Safaris® to eliminate the logistical challenges of international visitors on safari. We provide a once in a lifetime experience for wildlife enthusiast that demand quality overnight safaris in South Africa and most particularly the Kruger National Park. We want to enrich our visitors’ experience by providing Luxury Safari Packages or African Safari Holidays and maintain our position as leader in Kruger Park Safaris.
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Friday, 13 September 2013
Four Suspected Rhino Poachers Arrested In KwaZulu-Natal
Four rhino poaching suspects have been arrested near the Tembe Elephant Park in northern KZN in what Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says is its single biggest anti-poaching success to date.
A bolt-action rifle, ammunition, silencer and an axe were found on the group consisting of three South Africans and one Mozambican national who were arrested yesterday in the Bhekabantu District.
The rifle will be sent for ballistic tests to determine whether it has been used for to poach any rhinos.
Ezemvelo KZN's Musa Mntambo says they're slowly honing in on suspects.
"Last year during the course of the whole year we arrested 33 people who were involved in rhino poaching. And this year alone, we've surpassed that...we are approaching 45 people arrested already," he said.
Mntambo says the four suspects are expected to appear in court this week.
By:
East Coast Radio
A bolt-action rifle, ammunition, silencer and an axe were found on the group consisting of three South Africans and one Mozambican national who were arrested yesterday in the Bhekabantu District.
The rifle will be sent for ballistic tests to determine whether it has been used for to poach any rhinos.
Ezemvelo KZN's Musa Mntambo says they're slowly honing in on suspects.
"Last year during the course of the whole year we arrested 33 people who were involved in rhino poaching. And this year alone, we've surpassed that...we are approaching 45 people arrested already," he said.
Mntambo says the four suspects are expected to appear in court this week.
By:
East Coast Radio
Kruger National Park Raises Rhino Awareness With Vietnam
The Kruger National Park is, for the first time, hosting a delegation of environmental authorities from Vietnam in a bid to raise awareness about rhino poaching and its effects in Southern Africa.
The Vietnamese officials revealed rhino horn continues to gain popularity in their country and the penalties for poaching and smuggling are far less stringent.
The deputy chief of Vietnam’s environmental police said only five people were arrested in Vietnam for smuggling wildlife this year.
If found guilty, the accused can face a jail sentence of between five and seven years.
Vietnam’s National Assembly member said there’s still a big perception amongst his country’s general population that rhino horns have medicinal benefits, adding that dispelling the myth is one of their biggest challenges.
At present 100 grams of rhino horn costs about R50,000 in Vietnam.
This has made the rare commodity a symbol of status amongst the country’s affluent class.
Vietnam’s deputy police chief has also revealed that a person was caught at the Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi with six horns that weighed approximately 16 kilograms.
He said this was one of the nation’s biggest busts.
By:
Eyewitness News
The Vietnamese officials revealed rhino horn continues to gain popularity in their country and the penalties for poaching and smuggling are far less stringent.
The deputy chief of Vietnam’s environmental police said only five people were arrested in Vietnam for smuggling wildlife this year.
If found guilty, the accused can face a jail sentence of between five and seven years.
Vietnam’s National Assembly member said there’s still a big perception amongst his country’s general population that rhino horns have medicinal benefits, adding that dispelling the myth is one of their biggest challenges.
At present 100 grams of rhino horn costs about R50,000 in Vietnam.
This has made the rare commodity a symbol of status amongst the country’s affluent class.
Vietnam’s deputy police chief has also revealed that a person was caught at the Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi with six horns that weighed approximately 16 kilograms.
He said this was one of the nation’s biggest busts.
By:
Eyewitness News
Thursday, 12 September 2013
On Safari With Mark From 9 September 2013
9 September 2013
Dean hands over two guests Kate and Al from the United States to Mark.
Route: Albeseni - Doispan - Eloff - Napi – Nkambeni Tented Camp
General animals seen:
Kudu, giraffe, zebra, chackma baboon, vervet monkey, nyala bulls, common duiker, steenbok, rhino and buffalo.
2 lion sightings for the day: 1 female next to a buffalo bull that they killed in the river on the eastern side of highlevel bridge on ellof. 3 female and 1 male just past nkuklu picnic spot all lying in the shade.
On our return along napi a young male leopard walked out next to us crossed over the road and into the bushes. Brilliant sighting!
10 September 2013
Today after a good breakfast it was out to see what we could find!
Route: Napi - Ellof - S30 - Ellof - Napi
General sighting was also very good today with the following spotted:
Kudu, waterbuck, bushbuck, nyala, chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodile, hippos, many elephant sightings, rhino and buffalo.
As we approached the S65 on napi we had a female and male lion walk out in front of us. They lay down approximately 5m from the open vehicle.
We found a male leopard 400m from napi on the H3. He walked next to the open vehicle and great photo opportunities given to the guests.
At skakuza we herd of a kill on S30 and took a drive there. It wasn’t long till we found a male giraffe killed by 3 lions on the road. Was fantastic!
On our return back to camp not much but elephants to be seen on the road. Guest will be going on their sundown drive this evening.
11 September 2013
Today we say goodbye to Kate and Al and hello to Darrel, his wife and 10 year old daughter.
Morning Route:
Route: Fayai loop - Numbi tar
General game spotted:
Kudu, giraffe, warthog, rheedbuck, chackma baboon, vervet monkeys, hippos and sable antelope.
500m before the end of fiaya loop we got a pack of 8 wild dogs run into the road and lie down in front of us. Spent approximately 30min with them and then headed to the gate to hand over guests to Verity to return to Johannesburg as well as receive Darrel and his family.
Afternoon drive:
Route: Napi - Klipspringer Koppies - S65 - Doispan - Albaseni back to Pretoriuskop camp.
General animals seen:
Kudu, waterbuck, common duiker, steenbok, warthogs, rhinos and hippos.
Male leopard spotted on the napi 500m past klipspringer koppies busy eating an impala on the ground.
Herd of buffalo at Niamundwa dam distant visual.
3 large elephant bulls on napi 200m before the S65
8 lions killed a buffalo bull 1.2kms from albaseni junction on doispan.
That's all for today, we see what tomorrow gives.
Keep watching for more!
Dean hands over two guests Kate and Al from the United States to Mark.
Route: Albeseni - Doispan - Eloff - Napi – Nkambeni Tented Camp
General animals seen:
Kudu, giraffe, zebra, chackma baboon, vervet monkey, nyala bulls, common duiker, steenbok, rhino and buffalo.
2 lion sightings for the day: 1 female next to a buffalo bull that they killed in the river on the eastern side of highlevel bridge on ellof. 3 female and 1 male just past nkuklu picnic spot all lying in the shade.
On our return along napi a young male leopard walked out next to us crossed over the road and into the bushes. Brilliant sighting!
10 September 2013
Today after a good breakfast it was out to see what we could find!
Route: Napi - Ellof - S30 - Ellof - Napi
General sighting was also very good today with the following spotted:
Kudu, waterbuck, bushbuck, nyala, chackma baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodile, hippos, many elephant sightings, rhino and buffalo.
As we approached the S65 on napi we had a female and male lion walk out in front of us. They lay down approximately 5m from the open vehicle.
We found a male leopard 400m from napi on the H3. He walked next to the open vehicle and great photo opportunities given to the guests.
At skakuza we herd of a kill on S30 and took a drive there. It wasn’t long till we found a male giraffe killed by 3 lions on the road. Was fantastic!
On our return back to camp not much but elephants to be seen on the road. Guest will be going on their sundown drive this evening.
11 September 2013
Today we say goodbye to Kate and Al and hello to Darrel, his wife and 10 year old daughter.
Morning Route:
Route: Fayai loop - Numbi tar
General game spotted:
Kudu, giraffe, warthog, rheedbuck, chackma baboon, vervet monkeys, hippos and sable antelope.
500m before the end of fiaya loop we got a pack of 8 wild dogs run into the road and lie down in front of us. Spent approximately 30min with them and then headed to the gate to hand over guests to Verity to return to Johannesburg as well as receive Darrel and his family.
Afternoon drive:
Route: Napi - Klipspringer Koppies - S65 - Doispan - Albaseni back to Pretoriuskop camp.
General animals seen:
Kudu, waterbuck, common duiker, steenbok, warthogs, rhinos and hippos.
Male leopard spotted on the napi 500m past klipspringer koppies busy eating an impala on the ground.
Herd of buffalo at Niamundwa dam distant visual.
3 large elephant bulls on napi 200m before the S65
8 lions killed a buffalo bull 1.2kms from albaseni junction on doispan.
That's all for today, we see what tomorrow gives.
Keep watching for more!
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