NEWS AND COMMENT-BOTSWANA: In an event which belies the so-called security of Botswana as a safe haven for the persecuted rhino, it has been reported that poachers bought tickets to one of the country’s top animal sanctuaries, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, and boldly killed and dehorned two of the rhinos. This event has marked a “brazen new phase” in the killing of rhinos for their horns on the African continent and it has prompted the dehorning of Botswana’s black-and-white wild rhinos. In addition, they have been evacuated to fenced areas. Although the country’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks refused to comment on the event which occurred in early August. Note: The Khama Rhino Sanctuary website is a complete f*** up. It has not been updated for years by the look of it which is indicative of the sleepy nature of its management. This is no longer a ‘sanctuary’.
Ten years ago, Botswana was regarded as a safe haven for rhinos. As a consequence, the country took in approximately 100 rhinos for safekeeping from neighbouring countries such as South Africa where they were experiencing rampant rhino poaching.
The problem, as reported in The Times, is that the authorities in Botswana are failing to be transparent as to the viability of the rhino population in their care. It’s not known how many “refugee rhinos” are alive in Botswana. Neither is it sure that the current population of rhinos in Botswana is viable because it might be too small to be sustainable.
In March, the Environmental Investigation Agency, based in Britain, said that there is a lack of transparency from the authorities which denied the severity of the “catastrophe”. Also, the alleged corruption in the country called into question “Botswana’s ability to protect its rhino population from poaching and illegal trade”.
Certain NGOs, scientists and conservationists have tried to shed some light on the crisis but they’ve been “vilified” by the Botswana authorities. A report has been filed by the Environmental Investigation Agency to the Cities Secretariat, the international body that monitors endangered species (IUCN Red List).
The Red List is, in my view, entirely useless. They are always behind the curve and I don’t see a genuine commitment perhaps because of attitude or lack of funding (or corruption?) which tells me that they can’t do any real good in terms of protecting wildlife.
Often their latest reports on population sizes of any individual species are dated 2014! This is simply unacceptable. To be monitoring population sizes based upon almost 10-year-old data is not going to benefit conservation. They are simply unable to work out whether a species is currently vulnerable or not.
I have little faith in the attempts to protect these iconic species from poaching. China is the ultimate culprit in fostering this catastrophic poaching. Rhino horns are made of keratin, the same protein which makes our fingernails and yet they believe eating the stuff benefits their health.
Note: the quotes come from Jane Flannagan’s report in The Times. Thanks.