Rhino Poaching Progress Report 2012

1. PROGRESS REPORTRHINO POACHING Portfolio Committee Meeting 13 November 2012

2. OUTLINE Poaching statistics & Arrests Court, Convictions and Nationals Structure – liaison with Enforcement agencies Impact of legislative interventions State of the Provinces Report Stockpile management Conservation management interventions Conclusion

3. POACHING STATISTICS

4. POACHING STATISTICS (2012)

5. ARRESTS (2010 – 2012)

6. COURT CASES, CONVICTIONS AND NATIONALITIES

7. FINALIZED RHINO MATTERS FOR FEB 2011 TO MARCH 2012:Summary for Feb 2011 to March 2012: • Accused convicted: 26 • Cases in which convictions were for possession of rhino horns: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for dealing in rhino horns: 4 • Cases in which convictions were for illegal hunting of rhinos: 6 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to a fine: 8 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine: 12 • Accused acquitted in period: 7 • Cases withdrawn/struck from roll: 4

8. FINALIZED RHINO MATTERS FOR APRIL 2012 TO MARCH 2013:Summary for April 2012 to current: • Cases in which convictions followed: 22 • Cases withdrawn/struck from roll: 6 • Cases in which convictions were for possession of rhino horns: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for dealing in rhino horns: 5 • Cases in which convictions were for illegal hunting of rhinos: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for only the illegal possession of fire-arm or ammunition: 2 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to a fine: 11 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine: 16 • Accused convicted: 39 • Accused acquitted in period: 2

9. FOREIGN NATIONALS INVOLVEMENT • Of these accused there are 51 foreign nationals as follows: • 27 Mozambique nationals • 10 Vietnamese • 5 Chinese • 3 Thailand • 3 Zimbabwean • 2 Congolese • 1 Malawian

10. CURRENT STRUCTURESDEA & PROVINCIAL CONSERVATIONAUTHORITIES MINMEC MINMEC NWIMU NWCRU MINTECH WG 1 WG 4 PEPC

11. CURRENT STRUCTURESSECURITY FORCES JCPS Cluster ? DGs Committee NATJOINTS PROVJOINTS PRIORITY COMMITTEE: RHINO NWCRU

12. CURRENT NATIONAL WILDLIFE CRIME REACTION INITIATIVE/STRUCTURE Designated EMI’s SANDF SARS INTERPOL Designated National Senior Prosecutor 5 Designated National SAPS Threat Levels NWCRI Investigations National Provincial 4 Asset Forfeiture Specialist Support 3 Designated Provincial Prosecutors Designated Provincial SAPS Designated EMI’s 2 Private Landowners Private Security EMI / APU Parks 1

13. IMPROVEMENT OF CURRENT INITIATIVE/STRUCTURE • DEA is finalising the appointment of a Wildlife Information Management Unit • Priority Committee on Rhino to meet on a monthly basis; National Operating Committee working on the review of the implementation plan for the reviewed strategy • Improved Provincial Joints communication and cooperation – regular meetings between all members and more joint operations in provinces; • Finalised the SAPS/EMI SoP implementation guidelines; • DEA part Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster • Rhino Implementation Plan Finalised

14. IMPACT: LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTIONS AMENDED NORMS AND STANDARDS Hunting by Vietnamese citizens suspended awaiting finalization of inspections: February 2012 Amended N&S came into effect: April 2012- Thai case Applications to hunt white rhino received per annum: Reduction in number of applications ?Possible link – increased poaching (2011: 448; 2012: 500+)

15. IMPACT: LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS PROHIBITION ON TRADE IN RHINO HORN (WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA) Prohibition published for public participation: 8 August 2008 Moratorium published for implementation: 3 February 2009 Significant increase in poaching (2008: 83; 2009: 122) (Feasibility Study show no evidence of linkage) Economic recession/ Increase in disposal income in Asia Legislative interventions to tighten control – increase in illegal activities???

16. IMPACT: OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS RESTRICTIONS ON LIVE EXPORTSTO APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE DESTINATIONS July 2011 – MINMEC approved restrictions relating to appropriate and acceptable destinations for live export of rhinoceros. 101 live rhino exported to Asia from 2007 – 2011 Live rhino exports endorsed at OR Tambo from 2007 – 2012 (June 2012): 236 White rhino exported to various countries (105 to China)

17. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Capacity

18. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity

19. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity

20. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity

21. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources

22. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources

23. STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources

24. Main challenges: • Lack of transport • Costs relating to attendance of hunts / translocation – kilometres to be travelled • Limited number of officials that can attend hunts / translocations STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources

25. Inspections conducted by Directorate Biodiversity Enforcement and Compliance • Secure database developed by DEA IT. Training to be provided and data to be transferred from existing sources. Specific officials in provincial conservation authorities to be trained identified. • Continued with “centralization” of government owned stocks • Privately owned stocks to be captured on national database by provincial authorities(request by pvt sector ) STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT

26. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS • First Draft Biodiversity Management Plan for White rhinoceros to be completed by 31 January 2013 • Black rhinoceros Biodiversity Management Plan to be signed by Minister and published in the Government Gazette for implementation (submitted to Minister for signature)

27. CONCLUSION The Rhino Issue Management(RIM) engagement with stakeholders resulted in recommendations on: Safety and Security Conservation Commercial

28. THANK YOU