SA_F_2015_04_

58 SA Flyer

demand could soar, outstripping

all efforts to increase supply.

• The bans should be kept in place
  for moral and ethical reasons.

But what, then, should be do to save the

rhino? The anti-trade champions suggest

‘severe anti-poaching measures’, as well as

‘determined efforts to hamper the shipment

of illegal horns’. Sure, but that is exactly

what many of us are trying our best to

achieve. To the tune of R1 billion a year and

dedicated voluntary work like the Rhino Jab

project.

We are engaged in ‘severe anti-

poaching measures’ but these are not

sustainable and they only buy time while

broader solutions are sought. If it weren’t

for the efforts of caring people like the SA

Flyer readers who support such projects,

the guards and rangers who risk their lives

daily, the sponsors and donors who support

our national parks and, finally, the private

rhino owners who persevere in spite of

having their income cut off, we’d have had

the last rhinos confined to zoos by now.

The implications of not lifting the trade

bans sooner rather than later have also

been voiced. These are:

• If the trade bans are not lifted,
  the incentive to poach rhino will
  remain high. Illegal activities
  might be perversely stimulated
  rather than reduced.


• Protecting rhino may become
  financially unsustainable and lead
  many private rhino owners to de-
  stock.


• Live-sale prices of rhinos
  may decrease and reduce the
  incentive to protect them.


• Storing rhino horns will become
  an increasing security risk for
  private owners.


• If the national moratorium is
  not lifted, private rhino owners
  may consider taking legal
  action against the South African
  government.
  
  
  • Donor fatigue, demoralised
    regular forces and the loss of the
    integrity of our protected areas.
  
  
  
  

My own conclusions are as follows:

• As long as a dead rhino is worth
  more than a live one, economic
  forces will continue to frustrate
  our best efforts to protect rhino.


• The demand for rhino horn is
  unlikely to decrease anytime
  soon. Traditional Chinese
  Medicine is, well, a TRADITION
  that won’t be broken by the
  ‘education’ to which we wish to
  subject the users of rhino horn.


• The idea behind legalised trade
  is not to ‘flood the market’, as
  some say! The street value, in my
  opinion, will change little and the
  incentive to acquire rhino horn by
  illegal means will remain.


• Legal trade will divert at least a
  portion of the revenue stream
  towards the rhino custodians, and
  away from the rhino poachers.


• No doubt the criminal element will
  continue to operate in the horn
  trade (no matter what), but much
  needed revenue for the protection
  of rhino will become available, if
  properly planned.

Finally, I quote Jack Greef, leading

anti-poaching expert, whose council I value:

“I also have doubts whether legal trade

will succeed, but I feel that we have to try

it as a last resort with the option to stop it

immediately should the situation turn for the

worse. The big trick will be to get the money

to the rhino. We need to breed rhino faster

than they are being shot. That must be our

national objective. If legalising the trade will

lead to this then we must go for it.”

BACK TO GRU

In January 2015 we took a hammering,

losing nine rhinos to poachers, mostly in

our new areas of responsibility, while one

horn was retrieved. In February we lost four

rhinos. Two horns and one weapon were

seized and four arrests were made.

If you are interested in supporting

the GRU-Wing, please contact me or

our fund manager, WESSA: gruwing@

gamereservesunited.co.za and chris@

wessa.co.za.

Bank: First National Bank.

Branch: Howick.

Branch Code: 22-07-25

Account Number: 62 402 437 728.

Account Name:

WESSA - Game Reserves United

PLEASE USE “GRUWING” and NAME/

COMPANY AS A REFERENCE

All donations can be issued with a tax

deductible Section 18A certificate.

Existing and historical sponsors

and donors are listed at http://www.

gamereservesunited.co.za

FEATURE

Motivated to continue the battle but broader

solutions must also be sought.

We are engaged

in ‘SEVERE ANTI-

POACHING

MEASURES’ but these

are not sustainable and

they only buy time.

j