How long do we have left to appreciate our rhinos in their natural environment?
Will Joubert be able to take his children to a South African game reserve and show them what a real, live rhino looks like?
Would the citizens of the countries driving the slaughter of our rhinos to satisfy their fallacious beliefs even care about what they stole from Africa’s children?
World Rhino Day is upon us again, and as every year before for almost the last decade the future for these spectacular creatures seem even more bleak.
Figures published by South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs at the end of August 2015 indicated a minimum of 749 rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa for the year to date, 544 of which in the flagship Kruger National Park. A recent poaching incident in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park pushed the total lost in Kwazulu-Natal Province this year to 75. This follows on the loss of a staggering 3,900+ rhinos in this country alone to the end of 2014, since the poaching scourge started escalating in 2007 .
Still, there are many individuals and organisations investing enormous effort and resources into ensuring these charismatic animals are protected for future generations, and they deserve our respect and support. According to DEA at the time of their release, 138 poachers have been arrested in the Kruger Park this year, many of them heavily armed and only apprehended after exchanging fire with rangers and military personnel. The costly process of translocating rhinos out of high-danger zones to areas where they are thought to be more secure, is continuing. South African National Parks invested large sums donated by the Howard G Buffet Foundation, Peace Parks Foundation, and private donors into the purchasing of helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and other equipment to ensure that the Kruger Park’s rangers have the resources they need to face this onslaught on the wildlife in a Park bigger than many sovereign countries. Involving the communities living around reserves where rhino occur is pivotal to success, exemplified by SANParks’ liaison with Christian churches and iSimangaliso Wetland Park and their partners’ “Rhino Walk” taking place between 7 September and 2 October, during which they’ll visit 75 schools with thousands of learners. Fighting rhino poaching requires a multi-faceted approach, which is why iSimangaliso have also recently de-horned the entire rhino population on the Western Shores of Lake Saint Lucia, and publicised this widely.
Had it not been for these, and many more, dedicated people, and their tireless efforts, the situation undoubtedly would have been far worse still.
The war has not yet been lost.
DeWetsWild 
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Did you see this? – https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/thorny_issues/synthetic_rhino_horn_will_it_save_the_rhino
I’m not sure if it’s going to help the rhinos though, but it might be a development to be tracked.
I think we should use any means possible to eradicate the demand for rhino horn! Thanks for the link!
It’s a war, indeed… It’s human’s stupidity and greed!!
Such a disgrace, Amy. We can’t afford to lose this war!
Ja – jou artikel begin met ‘n baie groot vraag. Soms word mens moedeloos as nuusberigte negatief is. Dankie vir julle goeie werk, asook die van die dedicated rangers. Ek glo saamstaan sal dinge verander.
Hou baie van Joubert se foto saam die renosters. Oulik!
Is dit nie, Spokie!? Dis presies wat my met bekommernis laat wonder het of hy ook eendag so sy eie kinders se reaksie op n renoster sal kan geniet…
Uithou en aanhou, met ondersteuning van ons almal, sal die deurslag gee!
Always glad to hear that there’s hope. Thanks!
janet
The wider the message, that rhino horn is not medicine, can be spread, the more hope we’ll have Janet. Thanks for the support!
I love rhinos. I saw them for the first time this year in July and August. They are grazers and browsers and look to be generally peaceful and minding their own business. Thanks to all of the organizations and individuals that are supporting and protecting these beautiful animals.
We love them too Rosemarie. It would be a terribly sad day if they were wiped out…
Such a shame to have to dehorn them to protect them, but if that is what it takes….Poor animals.
All because of human’s stupidity and greed!
Agreed.
The figures are so high! Even one is one too many. Thank goodness for the people who are raising awareness. As you say, “The war is not yet lost.” 🙂
It’s a terrible situation Sylvia, and would have been so much worse if it wasn’t for our dedicated rangers…