Chefs in poaching scam
http://www.financialgazette.co.zw
Monday, 05 December 2011 12:36
RHINO poaching is said to be on the increase in Zimbabwe with some of the
cases cited by leaked United States cables implicating senior government
officials.
At the time the cable was written, on December 14, 2009, local
conservationists were said to be increasingly concerned that Zimbabwe’s
rhinos were on a path to extinction as government officials had failed to
take adequate action to stop their slaughter and bring the rhino killers and
horn traffickers to justice.
Between 2006 and 2009, one-quarter of the country’s black rhinos were
estimated to have been killed by poachers.
“Since 2005, populations of black African rhinos have been either stable or
improving in every country in Africa except Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s black
rhinos suffered significant poaching losses in the 1990s that reduced their
population to just over 300 animals in 1995,” reads part of the cable.
“Between 1995 and 2001, some of Zimbabwe’s intensive protection zones
demonstrated the highest reproduction rates seen in the wild, bringing the
population to 500-550 black rhinos between 2001 and 2007.
:However, since 2007, poaching has increased dramatically, reducing the
population to just over 400 black rhinos at present.”
A Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fau-na and
Flora (CITES) report said Vietnam has a growing demand for rhino horn
because many believe it can prevent or cure cancer and in turn, cancer
patients — in desperation — are willing to pay increasing sums, further
driving up the price and demand.
The US cable blamed the problem on lax law enforcement and what appears to
be a growing Asian demand for rhino horn.
It said local rhino conservationists believe that Chinese and Vietnamese
smugglers move rhino ho-rn through South Africa to markets in Asia, mostly
China and Vietnam.
“A study conducted by Zimbabwean scientists was recently submitted to the
CITES and appears on the CITES webpage.
“The report, ‘African and Asian Rhinocero-ses — Status, Conservation and
Trade,’ . . . estimates that around 235 rhinos (both black and white) were
killed in Zimbabwe between 2006 and 2009 — half of all rhinos illegally
killed in Africa during that time,” reads part of the report.
“In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend to-wards more
sophisticated and violent methods of killing, including AK47 assault rifles,
immobilising drugs, poison, and crossbows.” — Staff Reporter.