The Department of Environmental Affairs (read: the South African government) has welcomed (obviously?) the Council of the Global Environment Facility’s approval of R25 million worth of funding aimed at strengthening the current wildlife forensic capabilities in South Africa. The donation will help combat wildlife crimes like rhino poaching.

If you missed it earlier this week, the Kruger National Park will finally begin construction of its first luxury hotel development aimed at increasing the Park’s revenue, and attracting a new mix of visitors.

Wildlife officials will today be ecstatic with the latest development aimed at stamping out wildlife crime – a staggering R25 million worth of funding intended to aid the South African government in reducing poaching of rhinos, and the illegal international trade in their horns.

The funding will strengthen the enforcement capacity in Southern Africa through enhancement of forensic-based technologies.

SANParks has more:

South Africa is home to approximately 22 000 white and black rhinoceros of which 12 000 are found in the Kruger National Park. This represents 93% of the world’s total rhino population.  The South African population is one of the last viable rhino populations in the world which makes it vulnerable. South Africa is therefore the remaining hope for the world in terms of rhino conservation.

Advances in the field of science have made it possible to use DNA analysis for the examination of evidence for a variety of legal issues involving wild animals. To this end, the Department of Environmental Affairs intends to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Pretoria to facilitate collaborations to thwart the ongoing scourge of poaching, particularly of rhinoceros, in tandem with the norms and standards for the marking of rhinoceros horn and the hunting of white rhino for trophy hunting purposes.

The allocation, which is a shot in the arm for efforts by government to fight rhino poaching, comes two months after the gazetting of revised norms and standards in terms of which  samples are to be taken for DNA analysis of the live  rhinoceros when translocated. The norms and standards further prescribe that DNA samples are collected from the hunted animal and the hunting trophy including horns to verify the legality of the hunt.  The bona fide status of the hunting client and specifications in terms of horn identification and microchipping are also addressed by the revised norms and standards.

With regard to the collection of samples for DNA profiling, the norms and standards state that when live rhinoceros is darted for translocation, treatment or any other management purpose, samples of the horns and blood must be collected by using the RhODIS™ DNA kits provided by the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Samples may only be collected by either a registered veterinarian responsible for the darting of live rhinoceros, an official from the issuing authority trained in the collection of samples or the official or environmental management inspector who attended the hunt and is trained in the collection of samples. As soon as possible after it has been collected, the samples must be sent to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort for analysis for the purpose of DNA profiling and incorporation into the RhODIS™ database.

The allocation comes as a South African Government delegation prepares to visit Hong Kong to take DNA samples of the rhino horns confiscated by the Hong Kong authorities late last year. The DNA will be taken on these horns and matched with the samples in the RhODIS™ database. Matches between these recovered horns and the RhODIS™ database may provide evidence that could be used in further prosecutions. The South African government would like to urge all Non Government Organisations and organisations involved in fighting rhino poaching to continue working together with law enforcement agencies and research institutions to utilise science based evidence for the conviction of alleged poachers.

SANParks continues to appeal to the public for any information that can help them in their mission to eradicate the illegal trade in animals.

Regular 2oceansVibe News readers will recall how Searl Derman, owner of Aquila Private Game Reserve, and the head of Saving Private Rhino, immediately contacted the Hawks after receiving information about a “burning hair” smell, and the sound of grinding coming from a garage at an apartment block in Tableview last year.

After a member of the public alerted him to the irregular activity, he, along with the Hawks, proceeded to the scene. That led to the arrest of two Chinese suspects on site.

If you have any information you want to share, or even if you suspect you may know anything related to poaching or wildlife crimes, SANParks offers a number of services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, in all 11 official languages.

To report those suspicions, click HERE.

Such a donation may help quell Prince William’s fears that “if we don’t do something about them (rhinos) it will be a tragic loss for everyone,” and that poachers are “extremely ignorant, selfish and wrong.”

Will’s, you should think about donating some of your £10 million inheritance from Mummy to the cause, instead of helping the Middleton’s buy a £4,5 million house.

[Source: SANParks]