World Rhino Day is on September 22, 2018
On World Rhino Day, the Stiftung für das Tier im Recht (TIR) draws attention to the still alarming situation of rhinos worldwide. The populations of all five rhino species are in a critical state. However, there is hope that they will recover in their natural habitat through targeted conservation strategies and the tireless efforts of rangers.
September 22, 2018
The threat to the world's rhino population can be attributed to a variety of causes: An important factor is the limitation of its habitat due to the progressive use and development of such land by humans. Mainly, however, poaching is responsible for the dramatic decline of the rhinoceros population. In Asia, the horn of these animals is still regarded as a status symbol and a medical remedy although there is still no scientific evidence that it has any medicinal value. It is assumed that about three rhinos per day are killed by poachers, which is not only a species protection problem but also a major animal welfare problem. Mozambique is considered the largest exporter of illegally poached horns, though the most horns are actually sourced in South Africa. The horns are mainly exported to China and Vietnam and sold on the black market where they sometimes achieve a higher sales value than gold.
In order to protect the rhinoceros populations as well as the individual animals on a sustainable basis, it is important that both exporting and importing countries of rhinoceros products comply with their international obligations. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which 183 countries have now signed, is of particular importance. A total of around 5,800 animal and 30,000 plant species are protected by CITES, where they are divided into three categories (Appendices I-III) according to their degree of endangerment. Depending on their allocation, international trade with these species is regulated differently. All rhino species and populations (except for the populations of the species Ceratotherium simum simum, a subspecies of the white rhino, in South Africa and Swaziland) are listed in Appendix I. This means that international trade with them and their products may be prohibited in principle and only permitted in exceptional cases (e.g. for zoos, trophy hunters or research purposes). This trade ban must be consistently implemented by the responsible authorities and violations must be strictly punished.
Conservation strategies such as the use of rangers have contributed to a certain de-escalation of the crisis in exporting countries. TIR gained an impressive insight into the dangerous and sacrificial work of rangers to protect rhinos in Zimbabwe in 2015 while its deputy managing director, Vanessa Gerritsen, visited Bryce and Lara Clemence (see News Release of September 21, 2015 (currently only available in German)). Bryce Clemence is the director and trainer of the Anti-Poaching and Tracking Specialists (ATS). He and his team are responsible for coordinating anti-poaching efforts in the Savé Valley Conservancy in southeast Zimbabwe, which is home to 25 percent of the remaining Zimbabwean black rhino population.
In many African countries, efforts against poaching are poorly organized. For example, many rangers are assigned to anti-poaching units that have neither the appropriate equipment nor training. Oftentimes, they are injured or even killed during their assignment or they are simply unable to prevent poachers from their criminal activities. This is where Bryce Clemence comes in by professionally training and equipping the rangers in Zimbabwe's National Park. He is convinced that only well-trained rangers and the sensitisation of the population can ensure the survival of rhinos in the long term.
TIR would like to thank the ATS team for their tireless efforts. TIR is convinced that targeted measures both in export countries as in consumer countries will help to protect the rhino population from disappearing completely.
Further information:
- TIR Information Flyer Nr. 41 (currently only available in German)
- News Release of February 23, 2018: Stop trade with wildlife and wildlife products (currently only available in German)
- News Release of July 31, 2017: World Ranger Day on July 31, 2017 (currently only available in German)
- News Release of April 28, 2016: TIR is pleased with the success of Zimbabwe's Rangers
- News Release of April 20, 2016: Protecting wild animals from poaching – The fight against the illegal wildlife trade
- https://rhinos.org/
- https://www.savetherhino.org/
- https://www.worldrhinoday.org/
- TV documentary by Al Jazeera "The Poachers Pipeline" of November 13, 2016 in English