Ask CITES to bring a SUSPENSION OF TRADE against South Africa and Swaziland for the White Rhinoceros.

Dear Secretary – General Scanlon

RHINO SOS PETITION CALLING FOR A SUSPENSION OF TRADE IN WHITE RHINO POPULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND

The members of RHINO SOS South Africa and over 28,500 signatories to the attached petition respectfully request that CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) suspend all trade of the Southern White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) population of South Africa and Swaziland. 

The reason for our request is because South Africa is in breach of the criteria that CITES requires for trade to continue.  It is highly non-compliant to CITES regulations in that it has not properly and efficiently implemented existing legislation; it has failed to combat and reduce illegal trade and the statistics it submits are incomplete and inaccurate.

Granted, it has made tentative steps to providing the above but the record shows that it has failed miserably.

1.  According to a presentation made by Dr. du Toit in the South African Parliament on Jan 26th 2012 three-quarters of the private rhino breeders had not supplied data to the national register.  By August 2012 the number had improved but two thirds of the data had never been provided.

2.  The poaching statistics climb unabated, 668 rhinos were declared poached by the authorities in 2012 and 49 days into 2013 we are already sitting on a total of 96.  We are fast approaching the stage where illegal trade will tip the population into negative growth.

3.  The signatories are concerned that important decisions are being made with regard to the species in the absence of reliable information on population figures;  distribution between government owned rhino and semi-domesticated privately owned;  pseudo poaching;  the exact number of rhinos that are falling to poaching (including foetuses) and how this will impact on future population figures.

4.  The trend is that wild rhino are being decimated in wilderness areas but are being populated on wildlife ranches with intention of future trade in horn.  This will not only lead to the extinction of an iconic flagship species in the wild but will affect the viability of wilderness areas that form its natural habitat.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

Perhaps the most important reason for bringing in a suspension of trade for this species is to impede the current drive by private rhino owners to once again force governments hand into proposing for rhino horn trade.  Because the majority of rhino horn stocks are government owned, a conflict of interest has arisen and government is now unable to make an unbiased decision.  The risk exists that it will collude with the pro-traders because it stands to gain a huge short-term influx of funds should this ever be allowed. 

Sir, mistakes have been made in the past and rhino species have been lost to extinction because of that.  We urge you to read the Petition and the Updates in their entirety and give serious thought to our request so that never again may CITES have to deal with the disgrace of having stood by while that happened.

We urge you not to delay, but to apply the discipline that is needed to halt the renegade wildlife industry of South Africa in its tracks by implementing a SUSPENSION OF TRADE urgently.

Because Swaziland has also received the same relaxation of restrictions for their White Rhino population the Suspension must include that population as well.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information in this regard.

Yours sincerely,

Margot Stewart

RHINO SOS South Africa

 GOOD REASONS TO SUPPORT KENYA'S PROPOSAL FOR RHINOS AT COP16:

In November 2012, Kenya submitted a proposal to CITES for consideration at the CoP16 meeting to be held in March.  "Hunting trophies from South Africa and Swaziland shall be subject to a zero export quota until at least CoP18."

Since then various parties have come out in favour of the proposal including the very important EU block, and yet the CITES Secretariat has decided to recommend that it be rejected by the voting parties.

According to the CITES vision statement the fundamental principal of CITES is to conserve biodiversity and contribute to its sustainable use by ensuring that no species of wild fauna or flora becomes or remains subject to unsustainable exploitation through international trade, thereby contributing to the significant reduction of the rate of biodiversity loss.

Therefor it is puzzling that the Secretariat has recommended that the Parties do not accept Kenya's proposal.

Here are some good reason to accept it:

1.  The South African Hunting fraternity is extremely powerful in South Africa and has close ties to the Wildlife industry.  The industry in general has proven very difficult to regulate.  Last year it emerged that approx. two-thirds of rhino owners were non-compliant to government requirements to provide data to a central register.

2.   South Africa is unique in the world with its exempted wildlife ranches, where the wildlife belongs to the owner of the land and is the only country in the world where the big five can be legally hunted.  In the past few years horrific abuses of wildlife have come to light especially with regard to canned lion hunts and pseudo rhino hunts that were organised with the intention of obtaining rhino horn for resale by criminals.

3.   South African professional hunters and breeders have also been implicated in criminal activities in other African countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia.

4.  As a result of this abuse of privilege there has been a severe shrinkage of wildlife in the Southern African region.  Elephant, lion and rhino populations especially are being decimated. South African citizens and activism groups are also concerned that hunting is taking place on a number of private game reserves such as the Timbavati, Umbabat, Klaserie and Balule private nature reserves which share an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park.  This does not bode well for the future of this iconic  haven of conservation.

5.  The most worrying aspect of the Secretariats recommendation is that it has been based on outdated population estimates.  Because of the missing data from rebellious private owners and unreliable stats from government owned parks it is currently impossible to ascertain exactly how the population of rhinos is behaving.

6.  Under these circumstances it would surely be prudent of the Secretariat to withdraw its recommendation and allow the parties to proceed using the precautionary principle and vote to support Kenya in its efforts to halt further abuse until South Africa's Dept. of Environmental Affairs has had time to get its house in order.

7.    Rhino hunting in South Africa has been implicated as a means of getting trophies into the illegal market and this loophole must be closed down.  The hunting industry in South Africa has many other options available for the creation of income by utilizing other wildlife species that are plentiful.

AS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE ABOVE THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS TO SUPPORT KENYA'S PROPOSAL AND STILL ALLOW THE SOUTH AFRICAN WILDLIFE INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE WITH ITS REFORMATION PROCESS.

STATEMENT BY RHINO SOS ON CITES SECRETARIAT - PART TWO:

2.  The Secretariat states that Kenya's proposal would prevent South Africa and Swaziland from using a management option that can be sustainable and beneficial for the conservation of the species and discourage private owners in the conservation of white rhinoceros.

RHINO SOS comments:  It is a well-known fact that most private rhino owners have obtained White rhinoceros with the intention of trading rhino horn, a cruel, invasive and totally unnecessary practice.  Hunting will be used as a management tool to support this ghastly occupation.  South Africa and Swaziland have prime wilderness areas that are perfect for the species to thrive.  This call for rhino horn trade is putting all rhino's lives at risk and it is the prime reason for the barbarous poaching.

RHINO SOS recommends:   that no further rhinoceros be sold from government stock and that all and every means available be applied to keep rhinos wild and protected in their natural habitat.

3.  The Secretariat states that Kenya's proposal will undermine national and local rhino management strategies in South Africa.

RHINO SOS comments:  As far as we can ascertain the management strategy that South Africa wishes to employ includes trade in rhino horn and it appears that every decision regarding rhinos is being made with this goal in mind.  Rhinoceroses are being moved from state-owned game reserves into private ownership and apparently a process of domestication of the animal is intended.   Currently the price of rhino horn fetches $65,000 on the black market which puts it in the highest category of profitable commodities.

RHINO SOS recommends:   as above we recommend that rhinos be kept wild and conserved in their natural habitat.  Every generation of rhinos born in captivity will lead them closer to an alteration of their status from wild animal to domesticated.

4.  The Secretariat says that it is employing a precautionary approach by keeping management options in place that have successfully contributed to the restoration of C. s. simum in South Africa and Swaziland, ensuring that abuses are minimized and effective regulatory provisions strictly adhered to. 

RHINO SOS comments:  We find it difficult to comprehend how the hunting and domestication of an iconic wild beast can be dubbed the "precautionary approach".  There are numerous examples of abusive treatment of rhino by private owners including the staging of poaching and organising illegal hunts by the hundreds, not to mention the plan to harvest horn from live animals using M-99 a dangerous immobilizing drug.   The wildlife industry in South Africa remains non-compliant, and up to two-thirds of data on private stock and stockpiles has never been supplied to the authorities.

RHINO SOS recommends:   that until the wildlife industry of South Africa can prove itself compliant to international conservation norms and the wellbeing of rhino populations in the area is secured that a Suspension of Trade be brought against South Africa and Swaziland for trade in live rhino and their body parts and derivatives. 

STATEMENT BY RHINO SOS ON CITES SECRETARIAT - PART ONE 

On the 8th February the CITES Secretariat issued a list of recommendations on the proposals to amend Appendices I and II and CITES at CoP16 to be held next month in Thailand.

Unbelievably the Secretariat's recommendation pertaining to Kenya's proposal for zero hunting for White rhino trophies is to reject the proposal on the following grounds which in our opinion are spurious:

The recommendation is as follows:
"The proposed amendment would result in a trade regime for hunting trophies from the Appendix-II listed Ceratotherium simum simum populations of South African and Swaziland that is more restrictive than that for range States whose populations are included in Appendix I (noting that the populations of South Africa and Swaziland do not meet Appendix-I criteria). It would prevent South Africa and Swaziland from a using a management option that can be sustainable and beneficial for the conservation of the species; discourage the involvement of private landowners in the conservation of white rhinoceroses and undermine national and local rhino management strategies. South Africa has recently taken significant steps to improve its management of rhino hunting and the supporting statement does not show that trophy hunting, as currently regulated and enforced in South Africa, is negatively impacting the populations of C. s. simum in that country. The available information suggests the contrary. A precautionary approach that acts in the best interest of the conservation of the species therefore consists in keeping those management options in place that have successfully contributed to the restoration of C. s. simum in South Africa and Swaziland, ensuring that abuses are minimized and effective regulatory provisions strictly adhered to. 

Based on the information available at the time of writing (late January 2013), the Secretariat recommends that this proposal be rejected."

RHINO SOS CALLS ON ALL WILDLIFE ACTIVISTS TO JOIN WITH US IN UNITED VOICE TO REBUT THIS ON THE FOLLOWING GROUNDS:
1.  The Secretariat has attempted to bring in a technicality:  it mentions that if Kenya's proposal were to be successful it would result in a stricter regulation for a less endangered animal. 

RHINO SOS comments:  Kenya's proposal would not affect hunting of rhino within South Africa & Swaziland, only trophies that need to be sent out the countries (a practice that has been much abused).

RHINO SOS recommends:  that BOTH Black and White rhinos be subjected to a NIL hunting policy until the poaching can be stabilised to pre-1994 levels.  

HOW SERIOUS IS SOUTH AFRICA ABOUT RHINO POACHING?

The CITES Secretariat has just announced that it does not recommend support for Kenya's proposal at CoP16 to force change in the rogue South African wildlife industry. 

Instead, they are putting their faith in "the significant steps" SA has recently taken to improve its management of wildlife.  This is a travesty of justice and here is a perfect example of how anti-poaching initiatives in South Africa don't work:

In February 2012, SANParks CEO, David Mabunda expressed regret over the arrest of four SANParks staff members who had been linked to an incident in which tourists found two rhino carcasses in the Kruger National Park on February 28.The KNP staff who had been arrested are employed in the conservation and protective services departments - two as field guides, Duncan Mnisi, 34, and Charles Mabunda, Tiyani Mabunda, 28 is a field ranger at the Pretoriouskop section and Doctor Ngwenya, 31 serves as a traffic officer. They were remanded in custody, pending further investigation.

Almost one year later on the 4th February 2013, court proceedings in their trial took an unexpected turn when they were released on bail! 

The reason their trial couldn't proceed was because the state is still waiting for a number of outstanding affidavits prompting the magistrate, Mr Willie Wilken, to rule that the delay was unfair towards the accused. He consequently granted them bail of R20 000 each.

The investigating officer, WO TK Mabua, was involved in an accident in September last year and the investigation came to a halt.  Prosecutor Petra Van Basten met with high-ranking police officials in November, requesting a new officer. He was only appointed last month.

SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE PLAYING A STALLING GAME? 

THE NUMBERS DON'T ADD UP.

Today the CITES Secretariat presented recommendations on proposals to amend the Appendices and UNBELIEVABLY recommended that Kenya's proposal for a zero quota on rhino trophies be rejected.

Instead, they have decided to put their faith in "the significant steps" SA has recently taken to improve its management of rhino hunting.  What a travesty! 

The decision of the Secretariat was based on information given them in a report from the IUCN SPECIES SURVIVAL COMMISSION (IUCN/SSC); African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC.

However the numbers in the IUCN Report don't add up!

In the opening paragraphs they insist the population is growing despite not factoring in their own figure of 4,000 odd rhinos lost to "trade" (illegal trade or poaching).

They say they will "update" the figures at CoP16… a bit late don't you think?  The census is a joke too!  Approximately two-thirds of private rhino owners are non-compliant and have never provided data to the Dept. of Environment. 

So what we have here is an outdated census of Government owned rhinos, two - thirds of private rhino owner's data missing and yet IUCN sees fit to pronounce the population well and growing?  Amazingly, the CITES Secretariat has utilized IUCN data to make decisions on CoP proposals. How can this be? 

Questions need to be asked and hidden agendas challenged.

WHAT ROLE DO INVESTMENT CARTELS PLAY IN THIS?

http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/16/doc/E-CoP16-54-02.pdf

HELP US TO KEEP RHINOS FREE AND WILD.

THE AUTHORITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA HAVE LOST CONTROL OVER THE RHINO POACHING!

This report was received by RHINO SOS from investigative journalist Simon Bloch today:

"The rhino slaughter has just gone off the richter-scale, and South African authorities are seemingly out-gunned and under-manned, unable to stop the bleeding. The chaotic and ghastly figures are real.

61 rhino have been lost to poachers in Kruger National Park this year, 19 up from Thursday's released total of 42. Over 3 per day.
Nationwide, the losses have increased by at least 25, from 57 to 82 or 84, which means poachers have upped the slaughter to over 3 per day.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife regrettably confirmed that 2 more rhino were poached at Umfolozi last night, bringing the provincial total to 10 for 2013, in just 37 days. These two additional mortalities may bring the national stats to 84 if they had not been reported to SanParks yet.

This means 9 have been poached between Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Reserves, mainly around the Masinda area near the corridor, the area where last year's Black September massacre was discovered over World Rhino Day weekend. One more rhino was poached on a privately owned reserve bordering Hluhluwe early last week."

IF THIS CONTINUES THE RHINO POPULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (WHERE 75% OF THE WORLD'S RHINO ARE FOUND) WILL TIP INTO NEGATIVE GROWTH AND PLUNGE TOWARDS EXTINCTION. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhinosos/

RHINO SOS IDENTIFIED THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE POACHING LONG AGO AND I FEEL VINDICATED NOW THAT OTHERS ARE BEGINNING TO REALISE THIS AS WELL:

It is talk of trade that fuels the market which in turn drives the poaching. 

"The Environmental Investigation Agency points out that upholding the CITES ban on rhino horn trade allowed rhino populations to stabilize, and kept illegal killings to a minimum for over a decade "until South Africa began to push for legal trade in rhino horn".

http://annamiticus.com/2013/02/01/south-africa-57-rhinos-killed-in-31-days/

BANKING ON EXTINCTION:  CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE! 

CITES MUST CONSIDER REVISING THEIR REGULATIONS SO THAT TRADE IN EXTINCT SPECIES IS BANNED. 

"Rhino horn speculators stand to make considerably higher profits if they wait patiently for rhinos to go extinct than if they hoard horns and dribble out limited supplies from time to time while there are animals alive in the wild.

The researchers suggest that Cites regulations that ban international rhino horn trading do not take proper account of economic perspectives and so create conditions ideal for stockpiling rare wildlife products.

Under the regulations, it is illegal to trade in threatened or endangered species – but it is legal to trade in species that have become extinct."

http://oxrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/28/1/180.short

http://www.iol.co.za/mercury/some-may-want-rhinos-to-die-out-1.1457219#.UQter7-siSo

Once again the Kruger National Park in South Africa has experienced extreme rainfall and flooding.   You can read about it here:

http://www.sanparks.org/about/news/default.php?id=55414

However, it has come to my attention through a Forum discussion on recent staff rescues that the following has come to light:

"During the excellent work done by various agencies in evacuating both tourists and staff from various camps or compounds during the recent floods in Kruger National Park, some shocking discoveries were made.

Illegal tenants inhabiting certain staff accommodations, including Mozambiquan nationals.

Rhino horn and related poaching equipment.

Other forms of contraband.


Kruger has refused to comment on the matter, stating that as rhino poaching is involved, all queries will be handled by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Police queried gave the same answer.

My question is this: Why should the presence of illegal aliens in a Parastatal housing complex have to be addressed by the DEA?"

IN THE PAST CONCERNS ABOUT THIS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED TO THE DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT AND SANPARKS MANAGEMENT.  WHY HAS THIS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED? WHY DOES IT TAKE NATURE IN THE FORM OF FLOODS TO REVEAL THIS CORRUPTION AND CRONYISM?

Thank you Annette Jordaan for being the 20,001 person to sign the ASK CITES TO SUSPEND TRADE IN RHINOS petition!
Originally this was the number of signatures we were aiming for. Since then I increased it to 30,000 and now down to 25,000.
WE COULD STILL REACH THAT TARGET!
According to Causes tens of thousands of people have visited the petition and only 20,000 signed???
WHY?
Whatever the strengths and weakness of CITES are, currently they are the only regulatory body we have that can put any kind of pressure on our Dept of Environment to STOP TRADE!
For this purpose then, DONT think of CITES as a body but as 177 votes. 177 individual people from 177 countries around the world who will vote on Kenya's proposal for ZERO rhino horn trophy quota - an indication that the world wants to put the brakes on the rampant practices of the South African Wildlife Industry.
So you want to wrest power from these cruel farmers who abuse their animals? (canned hunting / rhino horn harvesting)??
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

THE CURRENT TREND THAT CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE TAKING IS WORRISOME:
They include:
• the presence of corruption and examples of Parks staff involved in wildlife crime
• old (& new) rivalries & feuds between stakeholders
• a lack of communication between the Government, conservation authorities and the private sector
• mishandling of the permitting system, smuggling and sales of animal parts to criminal syndicates
• non-compliance by many of the Wildlife ranchers and traders.
The very same authorities that have the responsibility of making important decisions about the welfare of Wildlife are biased towards the creation of a Central Selling Organisation which is in danger of fostering a system of gradual domestication of wildlife.
It seems the industry caters to the needs of hunters and ranchers rather than tourists and nature lovers. Pure conservation - for the sake of preserving wilderness areas and iconic wild animals - is not practiced anymore and has been replaced by a culture of "sustainable use" also known as "it stays only if it pays".

SOUTH AFRICA NOT IN TUNE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD
*South African wildlife ranching is unique in the world with its exempted wildlife ranches, where the wildlife belongs to the owner of the land. The current Legal status of wildlife as Res Nullius (without owner) needs to be changed to something more protective.
*South Africa is the only country in the world where the big five can be legally hunted.
*Today the number of animals owned by the private sector is about 3 to 4 times more than the number in government protected areas – obviously all of these animals originated from the State owned parks
*Wildlife ranching is the fastest growing agricultural activity in South Africa in the past three decades. [(In 1965 there were 4 fenced game ranches, today OVER 9,000 private game ranches OR 16.8% of total land area of SA is involved in the industry.
The iconic Kruger National Park accounts for the largest section of land that has been set aside as wilderness area, but it is now under attack from a combination of:
• Armed insurgents from neighbouring countries
• land claims and locals who poach for bushmeat
• Farms on the Western boundary of KNP have dropped the fences and have free access to game that wanders onto their land.
Hunting and harvesting of animals occurs on some of these farms
• The Northern section of the KNP has substantial coal reserves and is being eyed greedily by mining interests already in the area.
• Current management of the KNP is opting for developing the Park with luxury hotels and a Casino has also been suggested.
We call on the South African Government to institute an immediate over haul of the Wildlife and Conservation sector. South Africa cannot afford to delay this process because only a few thousand rhinos remain in the world and in 2011 three species went extinct in the wild, one of which (the Western Black) is now totally extinct.
The current rhino population figure for South Africa is not known because a proper scientific census has not been done in about a decade. Worried game rangers fear that the actual number may be half of what the authorities are claiming. What is known is that at the current rate of loss due to poaching the rhino population of South Africa will be in decline by 2015.

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE EXTREME VULNERABILITY OF THE RHINOCEROS POPULATIONS OF THE WORLD, RHINO SOS PROPOSES THAT:
1. ALL RHINO HORN STOCKPILES BE BURNED
2. ALL RHINOS OF THE WORLD BE CLASSIFIED ON C.I.T.E.S APPENDIX I. THIS WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE RHINO POPULATION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND BE RE-CLASSIFIED FROM APPENDIX II BACK TO APPENDIX I.
THE RE-CLASSIFICATION OF THE WHITE RHINO TO APPENDIX I WILL DISALLOW ANY TYPE OF TRADE AND AFFORD THE SPECIES THE HIGHEST FORM OF PROTECTION INTERNATIONALLY.
3. IN THE INTERIM, A SUSPENSION OF TRADE FOR RHINOS SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA & SWAZILAND.

A report in the South African press today indicates that the South African authorities are waiting to see how Kenya's proposal for a ZERO RHINO HUNTING TROPHY QUOTA progresses at the CITES CoP16 in Bangkok in March. This petition will support Kenya's initiative so please do SIGN AND SHARE!

The importance of this proposal by Kenya succeeding cannot be emphasised enough. It will indicate that the tide has turned against trade of rhino horn and towards educational campaigns to halt the use of this bogus product.

Remember WildAids slogan: "WHEN THE BUYING STOPS THE KILLING DOES TOO!"

This is our window of opportunity, don't miss your chance to help save the rhinos of South Africa, and by extension... the WORLD.

Margot Stewart
RHINO SOS South Africa

Read the full report here:
http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/science/2013/01/08/report-will-advise-on-legal-trade-in-rhino-horn

We are fast approaching the end of the year. Where to for RHINO ACTIVISM in 2013?

I believe that what we achieved in 2012 is to make the Government and NGO's such as WWF and TRAFFIC aware that there is a section of the public that is prepared to fight for wildlife, and in particular, that there are a few that will fight against trade in rhino horn. I believe that pre - 2012 the SA Dept of Environmental Affairs and rhino ranchers thought they were going to succeed with a proposal to trade rhino horn.
By making a huge fuss against this movement we have delayed the process long enough for NGO's and the international community to step up their involvement. I'm convinced that rhino activism in South Africa has emboldened those who were previously reluctant to speak out.
Thank you for your support!

Excellent presentation by WildAid's Peter Knight, explaining the fantastic media advertising campaign his organisation is conducting in China - WHERE THE END USERS ARE. His biggest donor? The Chinese Government who for reasons of their own want to be seen to be doing good in this area.

He reckons 100 million Chinese consume shark fin soup regularly and they could all afford a hit of rhino horn. the market potential is off the chart. With so much effort going into REDUCING THE DEMAND of rhino horn can you see CITES ever allowing trade in it? EVER? NEVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RckNKIkM44&feature=youtu.be

It is an unalterable fact that RHINO HORN TRADE has been conducted for many centuries.
The rhinoceros is mentioned in the Bible as a strong, powerful beast.
When white settlers arrived in Southern Africa, they were given rhino horn as gifts from local chiefs.
Settlers in the 19th century found that rhino horn was being exported from Delagoa Bay (modern Maputo) by the Portugese and Arab traders - to the Middle, and Far East.
It was traded by South Africa until we joined CITES in 1975.
IT WAS TRADED INTERNATIONALLY AFTER WE JOINED CITES due to "oversight".
When NGO's and the Government clamped down, it was traded on the black market.
DON'T TELL ME THAT TRADE WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF RHINO HORN POACHING!! What these pro-traders want is business as usual. The current crisis is indicative of a "pressure cooker" reaction to a tightening up of legislation.
It is a caused by a combination of factors including:
1. the bulk of the world's rhino population is here (75%)
2. a corrupt and inefficient government (criminals believe "you can do anything you like in SA if you have money")
3. the rhino population is scattered and unprotected due to private ownership
4. it appears the African people under-appreciate their wonderful heritage that has been preserved - the great parks of South Africa

In the face of this onslaught the International Community have to intervene and force the SA Government and the Conservation bodies to increase their efforts to protect the last few thousand rhinoceros on earth.

The most effective way to do this is to bring a Suspension of Trade for White Rhino and recategorise it to Endangered. It must be uplisted back to Appendix I. There must be a moratorium on rhino hunting and the horn stockpiles must be burnt to destruction.

Intensive anti-use advertising campaigns must be conducted throughout the world but specifically in the Far East and South Africa.

This is a WORLDWIDE CRISIS. Ultimately, the rhinos will be lost to the world unless there is urgent intervention.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhinosos/

We are watching a Holocaust of Southern Africa's Rhino on an epic scale.

THE DEFINITION OF A HOLOCAUST IS: A GREAT DESTRUCTION OR SLAUGHTER ON A MASS SCALE, RESULTING IN THE EXTENSIVE LOSS OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY BY FIRE.

South African Environmental Officers sanction the wholesale slaughter of rhinos.

In 2010 and 2011 Xaysavang's rhino hunters" [Lemtongthai's pseudo-hunters] account for at least thirty of the seventy-three permits issued over an eight-month period in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, where the farm Aurora is situated. Each hunt yields an average of four kilograms of rhino horn - 120 kilograms for thirty hunts.
Watch a video of one of these so called "legal hunts" here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e_e8V2TvFS8

A must read! Julian Rademeyer (investigative journalist) has just published an expose on illegal horn trade. "Killing for Profit: Exposing the illegal rhino horn trade" is now available. It is a "compelling, meticulous and revelatory account of one of the world's most secretive trades. It exposes the poachers, gangsters, con men, mercenaries, killers, gunrunners, diplomats, government officials and crime bosses behind the slaughter. And it follows the bloody trail from the front lines of the rhino wars in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to the medicine markets of Vietnam and the lair of a wildlife-trafficking kingpin on the banks of the Mekong River in Laos."
See photo above.
https://www.facebook.com/julian.rademeyer?ref=ts&fref=ts

Since March 2012 I have been urging people to write to their CITES reps to ask for an amendment to annotation 503 so that white rhino are uplifted to Appendix I.
I went ahead and did it myself and have had responses from rhino range states in Africa and Asia. This has resulted in Kenya's proposal to CoP16 for an amendment of zero rhino hunting trophies.
A small, but significant victory and the first indication that the tide is turning against trade. More though, is needed, so we are now asking for the Standing Committee to consider imposing a full suspension of trade of rhino against South Africa because of their failure to control the rampant poaching, and the severe non-compliance of the wildlife/hunting industry. So I highly recommend that everyone now makes the effort to write directly to their countries CITES rep (Contact details are on their website) and ask for
1. THE STANDING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER A FULL SUSPENSION OF TRADE OF WHITE RHINO FOR SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND
2. FUTURE CONSIDERATION OF UPLIFTING THE WHITE RHINO TO APPENDIX I AGAIN DUE TO THE CURRENT SEVERE THREAT TO THE SPECIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
3. THAT ALL RHINO HORN STOCKPILES BE DESTROYED BY BURNING.
http://www.cites.org/cms/index.php/lang-en/component/cp/

SOUTH AFRICA'S SHAME - HOW CAN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ALLOW THIS?
A Thai national, Chumlong Lemtongthai has pleaded guilty to trading in rhino horn - but his co-accused walk free.
Despite what appeared to be a water-tight case, yesterday the state withdrew charges against the other co-accused in the dock with Lemtongthai.
Game farmer Marnus Steyl and two of his farm workers, who allegedly supplied 26 rhino to Lemtongthai, walked out of court as soon as the charges against them were withdrawn.
Read the full story at: http://m.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/Bloody-rhino-poaching-trail-leads-to-SA-safari-operator-20110721

THE CRISIS SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL!

TWO DAYS AGO I GAVE THE POACHING FIGURES AS 488 - THEY ARE NOW STANDING AT 505. THAT'S 17 RHINOS REPORTED POACHED IN TWO DAYS - MORE ARE INJURED.

"Nine rhinos have been killed for their horns at a game farm in the North West province. Police were called to the farm earlier this week, after a rhino had been wounded.

But in the last 24 hours, nine carcasses and three wounded rhinos have been discovered. Game Farm owner Braam van Greening said rhino poaching in the area had gotten out of control.

He said they would remove all rhino's from the farm.

Van Greening said he had informed nature conservation services that they were facing a "crisis" in the area.

No arrests had yet been made by 12:20pm. Nov 3rd."

http://ewn.co.za/2012/11/03/9-rhinos-killed-in-N-West?w=520&h=416&as=1&crop=1

I returned from a 5 day visit to the famous Kruger National Park on the weekend. The latest stats released by the Dept. of Environment on the 30th October put the rhino poaching figures at 488 the majority of which (296) were at Kruger Park.
I was horrified to find that the security situation at Kruger is dire.
I travelled from above Shingwezi down to Malelane over that period. I also drove to the Giriyondo border post with Mozambique and this is what I saw:
1. no police except 2 policemen at Giriyondo border post
2. no army except 1 truck leaving Skukuza one day - empty except for driver
3. no helicopters
4. 1 X light aircraft flying overhead on 1 occasion
5. no sniffer dogs
6. no police or army at entrance / exit gates
7. older cars with male passengers obviously not tourists but Mozambicans using Kruger as a short cut through Giriyondo (normally speeding)
8. Suspicious types (also obviously not tourists) driving extremely slowly in rhino country taking photos with a cell phone.
Now on the 26th October, Gareth Morgan, the Shadow Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs in South Africa issued a press release. You can read it here: http://allafrica.com/stories/201210260539.html
South Africa: Rhino Poaching - Why Are the SAPS Personnel Leaving the Kruger Park?
Despite the high incidence of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park, which was reported this week as having already exceeding 280 rhinos, a dedicated group of police personnel will be withdrawn from the Kruger National Park by the end of October. The DA has been informed by a high ranking source in the SAPS that the decision will be formalised at a meeting of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) today.
Apparently top management in the SAPS did not make an application for funds in the adjustment budget, and are now without funding for these specialised anti-poaching operations. The DA is deeply concerned by the proposed redeployment of these police personnel, and calls on the National Police Commissioner Riah Piyega and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to urgently intervene to stop the redeployment.
The police officers affected by this decision range between eight and twenty in number. They are very experienced in conducting police work in a bush environment, and have been successful in assisting park rangers track and arrest poachers. Most importantly, this group of police officers has a dedicated helicopter used in anti-poaching operations that will also be removed from the Park."

UPDATE ON RHINO POACHING SOUTH AFRICA
OFFICIAL FIGURE AS OF 16TH OCTOBER: 455
The latest rhino poaching statistics have been released by the South African authorities and indicate that a total of 455 rhinos have been lost to illegal killings since the beginning of this year. Poaching has now exceeded the 2011 TOTAL of 448
NEW TACTICS USED BY POACHERS?
There has been a new development regarding the rhinos that were reported poached in Update # 11.
Apparently they were neither shot nor darted before being horribly mutilated. It appears they were electrocuted. There is speculation that this might have been by lightning but that is doubtful because the horns, ears and genitals were removed. In India it is quite common for poachers to electrocute their prey. This could be a new way for poachers in SA to confound forensics.
Margot Stewart
RHINO SOS on Facebook

So it has been another bloody weekend. There are reports of 3 rhinos killed in KZN, and at least 3 more in North - West province. Some were brutally maimed, and horns still intact. The reason for this is unknown but it could be the start of revenge killings by frustrated pro-traders who see their dream of trading rhino horn fading fast. The next few months will see a separation of genuine conservationists from the speculators. The irony of this is that every rhino killed provides the CITES Standing Committee with even more reason to enforce a Suspension of Trade on the White rhino.

TODAY ANOTHER 3 RHINOS WERE POACHED IN SOUTH AFRICA!
1 BULL AND 1 FEMALE DIED…. ANOTHER FEMALE IS STILL ALIVE BUT IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. ALL WERE DARTED WITH A VETERINARY DRUG AND THEIR HORNS TAKEN.

IS THIS HAPPENING because game farmers are furious about a new ruling in the Veterinary Professions Act that prohibits game farmers from darting their own game with a scheduled tranquilising drug in emergencies or for treatment purposes? The ruling came into effect on 8 June 2012.

It denies them access to a narcotic analgesic, commonly known as M99, which is the preferred drug among veterinarians and farmers to immobilise animals that are injured or on the loose. There are other immobilising drugs available, but none are deemed as effective as M99. M99 is used in conjunction with an antidote, called M5050, which is used to revive the animal within a relatively short and far less stressful period.
Dr Kobus du Toit of the Wildlife Industry Trust, an independent central data repository for the wildlife industry, says the veterinary profession and the wildlife industry are confused about the laws that govern medicines and the profession. The Medicines and Related Substances Control Act (Act 101 of 1965) regulates the availability, supply and use of medicines. The Veterinary and Para-veterinary Professions Act (Act 19 of 1982) stipulates the conditions and clinical use of the drugs.
Du Toit explains that Act 101 allows a non-veterinary person to apply for a permit to use M99 from the Director General of Health for three main purposes, namely, research; performing a health service; and for medicinal purposes. Permits for medicinal purposes must be approved by SAVC, but exceptions can be made to control dangerous animals.
He says that there are 200 registered users of M99 in the country who are subject to regular inspections from the Medicines Regulatory Authority (MRA). "Controlling this drug is problematic. Most veterinarians' schedule registers are not filled in or updated as required by law. There is a danger that M99 can spill over into the drug smuggling industry. There are 18 cases of poaching and killing of 20 rhinoceroses using drugs. Of the 10 registers inspected by the MRA following the chemical poaching of rhinoceroses not one register was in place."
THIS IS FURTHER PROOF OF THE EXTENT OF NON-COMPLIANCE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN WILDLIFE SECTOR.
WHY HASN'T CITES CALLED FOR A COMPLETE SUSPENSION OF TRADE IN WHITE RHINOS?
Read more about this at https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhinosos/

The media release by the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association on the 8 October 2012 contains much misinformation.
It accuses the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) of having failed South Africa, its people, and its rhinos miserably, when it missed the 4 October deadline.
THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL MANY TIMES AND HAS BEEN REJECTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

1975 CITES is established and all Rhino are put on Appendix I
1981 First proposal by South Africa for trade – REJECTED!
1989 Second proposal to trade – REJECTED!
1992 Late submission - REJECTED!
1994 Proposal to trade live animals - accepted with restrictions as per annotation 503: Ceratotherium simum simum *(population of South Africa, for the trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies only) - THE PROPOSAL WAS REJECTED BUT ANNOTATION ALLOWED
1997 Despite promises to the contrary at the next CoP10 SA proposed TRADE IN HORN when they proposed an amendment to annotation ° 503 to allow the trade in parts and derivatives but with a zero export quota – REJECTED!

Ask yourselves: Why is the hunting fraternity so upset about a proposal that would preclude them from hunting rhino (an endangered animal after all!)

READ MORE ABOUT THIS AT MARGOT STEWART'S FACEBOOK GROUP: RHINO SOS South Africa https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhinosos/

THE FOLLOWING IS PART OF AN ARTICLE THAT APPEARED IN THE SATURDAY STAR THIS WEEKEND, WRITTEN BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER AFFAIRS:
["Horn sounds for war on poachers (October 5 2012)
By Edna Molewa (South African Minister of Environmental & Water Affairs)
It won't be easy, but SA can win the war against rhino poaching. That we are waging a war against rhino poachers is not in doubt. The government has acted decisively to date. We have increased patrols by Protected Area authorities; involved the security cluster in the anti-poaching campaign, including deploying the SANDF in the Kruger National Park; the Hawks have implemented fast-track investigations of anti-rhino/endangered species crimes; the NPA has imposed stiffer sentences without the option of a fine; and Sars is on constant lookout for smugglers of Cites-banned species.
There has been seizure of poachers and criminals assets by the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
This year alone, we have lost some 430 of our iconic, charismatic beasts. Poachers today operate with military savvy. Well armed with assault rifles, victualled for long periods of deep under-cover, reconnoitring and ingratiated into local and international networks of illicit trade and exchange, rhino poachers present a sophisticated and formidable enemy. " (sic)]

NOW EXPLAIN TO ME: HOW CAN THE MINISTER TELL THE WORLD THAT "the Hawks have implemented fast-track investigations of anti-rhino/endangered species crimes" WHEN WE KNOW THAT THE WEEK BEFORE THE MASSACRE OF THE FOUR RHINOS IN THE PHOTO ABOVE, IN THE EASTERN CAPE, FIVE SPECIALIST DETECTIVES ATTACHED TO THE HAWKS WERE ORDERED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE LOCAL ANTI-POACHING UNIT?
Three days later, four rhino carcasses were discovered at the Lalibela Game Reserve.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE: FIRST THE POLICE GET TOLD TO WITHDRAW AND THEN THREE DAYS LATER 4 RHINOS DIE IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL HIT?
WILL THE CITES REPRESENTATIVES THAT VOTE AT COP 16 IN MARCH 2013 BELIEVE HER OR WILL THEY BE GUIDED BY THE FACTS?

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS!

THANK YOU KENYA! A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE FIRST PROVISIONAL LIST OF PROPOSALS FOR AMENDMENT AT CITES COP16 HAS BEEN RELEASED AND KENYA HAS PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT FOR THE WHITE RHINOS AS FOLLOWS:

To amend the annotation for Ceratotherium simum simum as follows:
"Ceratotherium simum simum (Only the populations of South Africa and Swaziland; all other populations are included in Appendix I. For the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies. Hunting trophies from South Africa and Swaziland shall be subject to a zero export quota until at least CoP18. All other specimens shall be deemed to be specimens of species included in Appendix I and the trade in them shall be regulated accordingly)"

This is the first indication that the process of horn trade is being reversed.

Now - lets up the ante... who is going to propose A FULL SUSPENSION OF TRADE?

http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/16/prop/raw/index.php

GOOD NEWS! BUT BAD NEWS ALSO....
Friends, it seems we have won the first battle of this WAR!

The South African Dept. of Environmental Affairs has announced that it will NOT be submitting a proposal for horn trade to the Conference of the Parties (Cop 16) in 2013.
October 5th was the deadline for submissions and Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has said there were too many legal obstacles for SA to make a considered proposal to Cites next year.
Unfortunately, this failure to make a clear decision will only PROLONG THE AGONY and in the ensuing four years we could see a further sustained period of poaching.
WHY not kill the concept of rhino horn trade stone dead by up-lifting the status of White Rhino to CITES Appendix I?
Meanwhile, please assist this Cause by petitioning CITES to declare a Suspension of Trade for the White Rhinos populations of South African and Swaziland.

The damage done by the Annotation of 1994 must be reversed!

SOUTH AFRICAN GAME FARMERS AND RESERVE OWNERS ARE KILLING THEIR OWN RHINOS

Law enforcement authorities in South Africa say that game farmers and reserve owners are killing their own rhinos and selling the horns.

Those involved in the profit-making scheme have either attempted to conceal the killings or pretended to be victims of "poaching incidents", according to IOL/Cape Times.

The public revelation does not come as a surprise, as this has long been speculated upon privately by close observers of South Africa's rhino crisis.

A source apparently gave the Cape Times five names, which included Dawie Groenewald and Hugo Ras.

Groenewald is perhaps best known for being arrested in September 2010 (along with his wife Sariette, veterinarians Karel Toet and Manie du Plessis, and professional hunters) for his alleged involvement in the illegal rhino horn trade. Shortly after Groenewald's arrest, 20 dehorned rhinos were found in a mass grave on his property.

Ras was arrested in August 2011 and charged with illegal possession of a firearm and scheduled veterinary drugs. Ras has a conservation crime record which stretches back to at least 2001.

Both Groenewald and Ras are currently out on bail, awaiting their next court appearances.

South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association's deputy president, Gerhard Verdoorn, also told the Cape Times that he knew of "a suspicious case in KwaZulu-Natal where a game farm owner did not want police to investigate the dehorning of one of his rhinos and had warned his staff members not to talk about the incident".

However, it's not only South Africa's private rhino owners who are willing to profit from the deaths of the animals they claim to be "conserving".

In 2010, JJ "Kobus" van der Westhuizen (owner of Letsatsi La Africa) told Carte Blanche that he was granted CITES permits to euthanize 20 lions so he could sell their bones.

SOURCE: http://annamiticus.com/2012/07/19/south-african-game-farmers-killing-their-own-rhinos-for-profit/

GROSS NON-COMPLIANCE ON THE PART OF SOUTH AFRICA'S CITES MANAGEMENT BRINGS ABOUT A CALL FOR A SUSPENSION OF TRADE ON RHINOS
The authorities in South Africa that have responsibility for the issuing of CITES permits are guilty of committing gross errors in the issuing of export permits for rhino. The Dept. of Environmental Affairs has stated that this has been due to ignorance or "lack of training" but according to CITES it is the responsibility of the Management Authority of the exporting State to determine that records are kept accurately.
The population of White Rhinos of South Africa and Swaziland may be traded in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and hunting trophies only. The CITES definition of an APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE DESTINATION states that mean that "only export, and not re-export, is permitted under its terms;"
AND YET MOST OF THE TIME RHINOS ARE EXPORTED TO ONE COUNTRY AND THEN RE-EXPORTED ON TO A THIRD OR FOURTH COUNTRY ETC. OFTEN OBSCURING THE FINAL DESTINATION.
The Management Authority in South Africa cannot plead ignorance. This matter was discussed at CoP11 at Kenya in April 2000 when the DEFINITION OF THE TERM 'APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE DESTINATIONS' was agreed upon.
http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/11/doc/26.pdf
Since then even further irregularities have occurred.
WHY IS SOUTH AFRICA NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS?
WHO IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THESE PRACTICES AND WHY?
DO YOU AGREE THAT A "SUSPENSION OF TRADE" FOR THE WHITE RHINO IS NEEDED?
Please help us to stop these abuses - sign and share this petition and send it to your local CITES representative. (list of national contacts and contact information at http://www.cites.org/cms/index.php/lang-en/component/cp/)

This article appeared in the late news this afternoon. I believe the possibility exists that the South African Government is going to propose trade in rhino horn to CITES, or maybe lift the moratorium on internal trade in the country. Please increase your efforts. Sign and share the petition widely. Show the world this is NOT acceptable. They say horn will come from stockpiles? Stockpiles that will be constantly topped up by horn that has been cut off a rhinos face using M99 as an anaesthetic during capture and dehorning. Help us to stop this. We need a CITES party to propose a suspension of trade.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/appeal-for-one-off-rhino-horn-auction-1.1393594#.UGmbwJiHeSp

Dear CITES Representatives around the World,

They are calling it BLACK SEPTEMBER.

South Africa celebrated World Rhino Day on Saturday 22nd September. By Monday the 24th nine rhinos had been poached in Kwazulu Natal game reserves, including one cow with a fully formed foetus in her uterus and another with a one-month-old calf. And on Wednesday evening another rhino was found dead near iMf­olozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve and one suspect was arrested.

This brings the total to 10 rhinos found dead since last Friday and pushes the 2012 provincial total to 47. Countrywide 419 have now been poached this year.

THEN.. on the 26th September Lalibela Game reserve in the Eastern Cape announced the devastating news that 4 of their rhinos were poached the night before.

"We are being assisted by the police and various arms of the State. An autopsy will be carried out on our 4 beloved rhinos. What we can say at this stage is that there are no visible bullet wounds on any of the rhino and it is likely that they were poisoned." The horns had been neatly and professionally removed by chainsaw.

Our rhino are being subjected to the most cruel and savage attacks and the reason is because BUSINESSMEN AND CRIMINAL SYNDICATES want to make their fortunes off endangered species.

The 1994 CITES annotation that allowed South Africa to begin trading live rhinos and trophies is the cause of this carnage. It perpetuates the myth that rhino horn has medical worth and that it is acceptable to trade a bogus product that is cruelly harvested from a sentient being.

THE CITES DEFINITION OF "ACCEPTABLE AND APPROVED DESTINATION" DOES NOT ALLOW FOR RE-EXPORT OF RHINO BUT RHINO ARE BEING MOVED AROUND THE WORLD AT WILL AND WITH IMPUNITY!

To try and halt this unfair practice I have started a new petition:

WE HEREBY REQUEST THAT THE CITES STANDING COMMITTEE, OR ONE OF THE AFRICAN OR ASIAN STATE REPRESENTATIVES PROPOSE FOR COP16 IN 2013:

THAT SOUTH AFRICA AND SWAZILAND BE SUBJECT TO A CITES "SUSPENSION OF TRADE regarding the

SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS (CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM SIMUM)."

http://www.causes.com/actions/1688826

Please CITES reps, we need you to act on this?

Regards,

Margot Stewart

RHINO SOS South Africa

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhinosos/