The Rhino Rubbing Post

RHINO SECURITY BOOKLET UPDATE

The “Rhino Security Booklet” produced by the EWT (thanks to sponsorship from the SA Mint and the International Rhino Foundation) has been widely distributed, with more than 2000 booklets sent out to interested parties to date. In fact, it has been so popular that we have had a second- and even a THIRD print run – and these booklets too are going fast. We have donated booklets to rhino owners, law enforcement officials, provincial conservation authorities, magistrates, members of the media and other interested parties countrywide. The feedback we have had has been very positive, and although the booklet was primarily aimed at contributing to improving the security of rhinos, particularly on private land, it has found much broader application, which will hopefully contribute to reducing the current rampant poaching.

If you would like a copy of the booklet, please contact Kirsty at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 011 372 3600

WILDLIFE CONTRABAND DETECTION DOGS

This is a new initiative that the EWT has undertaken as a result of investigations into the wildlife sniffer dog capacity currently available at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA). Although there is a need to examine the situation at all the major points of entry and exit, the initial focus was on ORTIA as it is the hub of travel in Southern Africa, particularly for flights to the Far East. These investigations revealed that wildlife crime is currently regarded as having a low significance by border and enforcement agency officials, compared to the priority awarded to other illegal contraband such as narcotics and explosives.  The number of dogs currently deployed could not possibly cover the terminals as well as the vast amount of cargo that goes through ORTIA. As one intervention to address this, the EWT started looking for potential partners – and found ACTS (part of the BidVest Group), a cargo clearing company which currently uses dogs to clear cargo of explosives for a number of customers. This partnership is now being formalised, and with generous sponsorship from the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, the EWT and ACTS are pleased to announce that at least two wildlife contraband sniffer dogs, which will be trained to detect rhino horn, ivory, and abalone, will be deployed in the cargo warehouses of ACTS’s customers. Watch this space.....

Wildlife Trade Law Compliance and Enforcement Pilot Training Programme (PART I)

Continuing with our efforts at ORTIA... During the investigations into the deployment of wildlife sniffer dogs, it became apparent that there was also a dire need to train airport officials in issues around the illegal trade in wildlife contraband. As a result, from 18 – 22 July 2011, the EWT hosted and presented a pilot skills training programme entitled ‘Wildlife Trade Law Compliance and Enforcement’ which was attended by 18 participants from various agencies operating at ORTIA. The Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee (BCOCC) based at ORTIA was represented at the training, as were the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), the South African Police Services: Organised Crime (HAWKS) and the private cargo clearing company ACTS.
The training centred around the following topics: An introduction to wildlife trade; Legislation applicable to wildlife trade; Species Identification; Enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES); Law enforcement skills; and lastly, Court procedures. The participants were challenged to respond in simulated smuggling scenarios, which along with the species identification component provided some practical hands-on training, which proved very popular!
This is the first course offered by the EWT as a registered training service provider and the skills programme is worth five credits at the National Qualifications Framework Level Five.

Wildlife Trade Law Compliance and Enforcement Pilot Training Programme (PART II)

Species ID training at Johannesburg Zoo for ORTIA staff

On the 20^th of October Rynette Coetzee (Project Executant: EWT’s Compliance and Enforcement Project) presented a practical introduction to species identification to 9 attendees from the original training course in Part I above. Johannesburg Zoo staff members introduced the various live animals to the attendees and some of the braver individuals even touched a toad and a Ball Python. They also met the various primates that are often smuggled in from other African and South American countries. The Siberian Tiger had them stunned at the sheer size of the adult male.

To round off the day Tess Rayner from TRAFFIC East/southern Africa introduced the draft version of the electronic species ID tool she has developed, which will hopefully become a working tool in early 2012.

TRAINING PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE....

• Thanks to very generous funding from the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Fund, a further three courses similar to the ‘Wildlife Trade Law Compliance and Enforcement Skills Develop Programme’ above will be offered to officials identified as having critical positions for the identification of wildlife contraband at ORTIA and other national airports in 2012. The first course is scheduled for February 20-24, and will include officials from ORTIA as well as Lanseria International Airport.
• A very basic “Wildlife 101” course will be developed in 2012, and submitted for accreditation through SAQA. This course is aimed at developing skills primarily in species identification as well as procedures, should any suspicious item be detected.
• The EWT is in discussion with a number of stakeholders, including the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) and the North West Parks and Tourism Board to determine how best to broaden the reach of anti-poaching training. A workshop, with all interested parties from as broad an audience as possible, is being planned for January 2012. The workshop will also seek to address the optimal use of the training resources which are already available.

RHINO CALF RESPONSE STRATEGY

The current rhino poaching crisis is creating increased numbers of injured and orphaned rhino calves.  Limited available rehabilitation expertise and a lack of a rapid response and coordinated referral and support network focusing on these calves have resulted in:

However, with a rapid intervention and coordinated rescue response network in place, where the appropriate handling, rearing and rehabilitation protocols are implemented, many more of these poaching orphans and casualties can be rescued successfully, humanely and responsibly, and reared in such a manner as to maximize their full rehabilitation and return to the wild. The ultimate test of a successful rehabilitation of an injured or orphaned wild animal is when that animal can be returned to the wild as a free living, self sustaining viable animal, and breed and rear young successfully.

Based on international wildlife response and contingency planning principles, the Rhino Orphan Response Project is being developed as a partnership between the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Ms Karen Trendler, an internationally recognised expert in rhino rehabilitation.  Some of the project aims include the following:

1. Increase capacity and competence for crisis response and rhino calf rescue and rehabilitation;
2. Standardise Protocols on all aspects of rhino calf response, rehabilitation, rearing and care;
3. A co-ordinated Southern African rhino calf emergency field response and rescue team and support network;
4. A facility, or network of facilities, operating according to established protocols and manned by skilled staff who facilitate responsible rearing and rehabilitation of rhino calves; and
5. A functional co-ordinated network of facilities (existing and new) and trained rescue and response specialists.

Partnerships

The EWT has partnered with a number of South African as well as international organisations.

Due to the EWT’s credibility and good governance, we offer administrative support to:

The IUCN/SSG African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG):
The AfRSG is among the 100+ Specialist Groups in the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN - The World Conservation Union. Its mission is to promote the development and long term maintenance of viable populations of the various sub-species of African rhinos in the wild. Its membership consists of official country representatives from the main range states and a number of specialist members covering a wide range of skills.

AND

The Private Rhino Owner’s Association (PROA): The Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) is a national body with full provincial representation, which was established in 2009 and has subsequently become a Chamber of Wildlife Ranching South Africa. PROA is steered by a nominated committee of experts in their respective fields.

The EWT is also assisting with fundraising for the SAVE Valley Conservancy in Zimbabwe...

The EWT also has a partnership with My Planet which has not only raised money for the rhino project, but has also raised awareness of the plight of the rhinos. The number of contributors and income is increasing monthly – we would like to thank all My Planet Card holders for their help in raising funds for us. Keep shopping!

NETWORKING....OUT AND ABOUT..

Heron Bridge On the 23^rd of September 2011, Rynette Coetzee (Project Executant: Compliance and Enforcement Project) delivered a 20 minute talk on rhino orphans to some of the pupils of the Heron Bridge College, a private school in the north of Johannesburg. The talk centred on the requirements for raising calves successfully and the need to re-introduce the calves back onto game farms or reserves once they were old enough to survive on their own.  More than 100 learners attended the talk, and through their efforts in collecting R10 notes, the school donated R5915 to the EWT’s rhino orphan project.

Kirsty Brebner (EWT’s Rhino Project manager) and Karen Trendler (internationally recognised animal rehabilitation expert) gave presentations at the launch of the RhinoForce Beaded Rhino at the Rosebank Rooftop Market on Sunday October 2 2011.

UNISA Alumni: Both Rynette and Kirsty gave presentations on Saturday October 15, 2011 to the UNISA Alumni at the National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria.

THE EWT RHINO PROJECT IS VERY GRATEFUL TO OUR KIND SPONSORS: