Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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Rhino poaching is not a new topic and it has been covered a lot in the last 2 or 3 years, but it is getting more and more out of control. I was stunned by some of the figures contained in a Sunday Times article recently. The Rhino poachers, who largely come from Mozambique, cross the border in huge numbers – up to 80 armed incursions are made into the Kruger Park every month. 80% of that Rhino horn invariably goes to Vietnam and the poachers who normally work in groups of three, make R100 000,00 a horn. The article explained that one of the poachers is the shooter, one carries food and the third one carries the water and an axe to cut the horn. The horn is ultimately sold for between R300 000,00 to R600 000,00 a kilogram. It is frightening to think that there is essentially a war going on in the middle of the Kruger Park with 47 poachers killed and 66 shootouts last year and thus far this year 108 poacher groups have been spotted with 30 men either shot dead or arrested. People who have nothing are obviously going to risk death for R100 000,00 and apparently the most dangerous time is around the full moon, because that is when they enter Kruger Park and start shooting Rhino’s with 55 Rhino’s being killed in the Kruger Park during the month of March alone.
These are shocking statistics and while the people are starving we will need to do something about the poacher villages along the Kruger Park border with Mozambique. To make matters worse, those responsible for trying to stop the poachers, say that it appears that almost everybody working in the Kruger Park is giving the poachers’ information. I know that a lot of people have different ideas on solutions, but they need to start some of them now – whether that is getting the army having some practice on the Mozambique border or flooding the market with legal Rhino horn to drop the prices and to make it less worth it for people to risk their lives for R100 000,00 for a night or two in Kruger Park, or both of those together, but a solution has to be found with the numbers of black Rhino down to 800 already.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Monday 05-May-14
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Comments
Sinead said:
on Friday 09-May-14 04:39 PM
I agree with Salomie. I think there is not enough being done to prevent or punish poaching. It is so sad!
salomie said:
on Friday 09-May-14 02:34 PM
I am totally against poaching, there seems to be no actually punishing for getting caught and I think more should be done to prevent this
Henrietta said:
on Tuesday 06-May-14 02:56 PM
I agree with Sally. It makes me hateful reading stuff like this, I mean you really don't have a heart if you can do something like this for money and you don't even have a guarantee that you won't be caught. It's not worth sitting in jail for.
Caron said:
on Tuesday 06-May-14 02:13 PM
When I took my 4 and 6 year old nieces to the Johannesburg Zoo in March 2014, I had them observe the Rhinos for five minutes after informing them that they may be the last Rhinos they see owing to the poachers killing them for their horns.
That's the true reality of the situation we facing!
Lizanne said:
on Tuesday 06-May-14 01:50 PM
I am totally against rhino poaching. It is violent and cruel and i do not know how those people sleep at night and it's all just for money.
Bianca R said:
on Tuesday 06-May-14 01:48 PM
This is totally out of control, it is extremely sad that our wildlife cannot be protected by us and even in an attempt to protect lives are still being lost. I remember when you used to hear the odd story here and there about rhinos being poached, now it is surprising when the poaching is not in the news. I must agree with Elektra, perhaps our children's children will not even know what a rhino is or ever get to experience a game drive through the Kruger and the pleasure of seeing a rhino up close.
Melissa said:
on Monday 05-May-14 04:51 PM
I find it heartbreaking that they poach our rhinos, it's increasing daily. The poachers are heartless and have no conscious. What a disgrace!!!
Melissa said:
on Monday 05-May-14 04:50 PM
I find it heartbreaking that they poach our rhinos, it's increasing daily. The poachers are heartless and have no conscious. What a disgrace!!!
Melissa said:
on Monday 05-May-14 04:47 PM
I find it heartbreaking that they poach our rhinos, it's increasing daily. The poachers are heartless and have no conscious. What a disgrace!!!
Sarah said:
on Monday 05-May-14 04:43 PM
So sad and depressing to read all the time on how these beautiful animals keep getting killed. One of these days we will just see photos of these animals.
Catherine said:
on Monday 05-May-14 02:25 PM
This is really out of control. The fact that they have identified what the problem is, they should be able to find the solution. The army patrolling the boarders to me sounds a viable solution.
Thabitha said:
on Monday 05-May-14 12:50 PM
Because they are coming in larger number they are going kill each other and finished all the Rhino's 800 is nothing something needs to be don't to the borders
Alexis said:
on Monday 05-May-14 12:41 PM
Despicable - when we went to Pilansburg over December, they actually have a systm to show you where you can find certain animals, they withhold the Rhinos due to the poaching etc - which is understandable. I am disgusted to think that by the time my child is a certain age, he will not longer be able to see them in real life, only of we are lucky in the zoo. I can understand that you need money etc, but to take the easy way out disgusts me, get a job - work for your livelihood, do not go and hunt innocent animals for a theory. They should all be shot - no arrests - something does need to be done and soon
Marzelle said:
on Monday 05-May-14 12:32 PM
I went to the Kruger Park this long weekend, we saw alot of Rhino's and I cant believe that people actually goes out and hurt that beautiful animal.
Bianca Els said:
on Monday 05-May-14 12:15 PM
The battle against rhino poaching has gone over from a mere fight to a full blown war.
Yet, most of us have not changed our mind sets from fighting tactics to war tactics, most of us are still watching the few opponents in the middle of the ring from the side lines (sadly I must also admit my guilt in this)
To win a war I believe 4 things are essential for victory: strength in numbers, resources, strategy and leadership.
If you have a look around (bumper stickers, media etc), I believe we have the numbers covered, and if we have the numbers covered we should be ok regarding resources (funds, intellect etc).
Now all we need is the right leadership to bring the right strategy to the table.
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean"
Jade said:
on Monday 05-May-14 11:51 AM
I watched a documentary on the rhino horn trade in Asia a while back. It was fascinating that there is such an open market for rhino horn products. Apparently, people believe that there are huge health benefits from rhino horn which is just ridiculous.
It is awful to think that possibly in a few years time or perhaps sooner, rhinos will be extinct.
I will never understand people who let greed direct them to cruelly hack off a horn from a live rhino and leave it there to bleed to death. People are disgusting.
Jessica said:
on Monday 05-May-14 10:55 AM
I understand that people are starving and will do anything to survive, but not a chance will they take a stand to change the country like voting for DA now to see change. So why attack an innocent animal when all you have to do is try. I am so glad they got the shoot to kill poachers, if they can carelessly do what they doing to these poor animals they get what they deserve. I also donated to the cause of shoot to kill Rhino Poachers because someone has to defend them.
Elektra said:
on Monday 05-May-14 10:19 AM
I just don't understand the ignorance of these poachers, do they not realize that once these Rhinos are all shot dead, there will be NO MORE horn to poach, It's ridiculous to think that in the near future the Rhino population might be but a distant memory, only pictures to look at or a slim few kept in highly secure captivity.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
