The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus (PDF ... - WWF

RHino populATionS
7%
6%
4%
13%
4%
3%
3%
14%
1%
Limpopo
Greater Kruger PNR
KwaZulu Natal
North West Province
Mpumalanga
Gauteng
Eastern Cape
Northern Cape
Free State
Western Cape
Figure 7 Relative proportion of White Rhino numbers on private land by province in South Africa in 2008 (data
from Hall-Martin et al., 2009)
There have been eight surveys of private sector White Rhino populations since 1987 and the ninth is
currently in progress (Buys, 1987; Buijs, 2000; Buijs and Pappenfus, 1996; Emslie, 1994; Castley and
Hall-Martin, 2002; Castley and Hall-Martin, 2005; Hall-Martin et al., 2009; Shaw et al., in prep.). The
2004 survey of White Rhino populations on private property identified a total of 3247 animals (Castley
and Hall-Martin, 2005), whilst the study conducted in 2008 indicated that the number had increased
to 4033 (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). In 2008, nearly three-quarters of South Africa’s privately-owned
White Rhinos were found in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces and in private nature
reserves in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces that border KNP (Hall-Martin et al., 2009; Figure 7).
TRAFFIC, in collaboration with the SADC RMG and Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA), is currently
undertaking an updated survey of the number of White Rhinos on private land in South Africa as of
31 December 2011. Preliminary results from this ninth survey suggest the current numbers are likely to
be over 5000 (E. Daffue, pers. comm., 2012).
The annual growth rate of White Rhinos in the private sector has also been around 6.1% per annum
from 2005 through 2008, although the actual net recruitment figure is much lower as 723 rhinos were
either exported as live animals, killed as hunting trophies, died during capture or were poached during
this period (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). By 2008, there were six IUCN/SSC AfRSG-rated “Key 1” populations
of more than 100 animals on private properties outside of the “Greater Kruger” private nature
reserves and five “Key 2” populations of between 50 and 100 White Rhinos (Hall-Martin et al., 2009).
In addition, there were at least 10 known IUCN/SSC AfRSG-rated “Important” populations of between
20 and 50 rhinos (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). In 2008, 395 private properties holding White Rhinos were
identified, an increase from 332 in 2004 (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). Hence, while there were some significant
White Rhino populations on private land, the majority of rhino owners are small-scale operations
and the average number of rhinos per property was estimated at 10.2 (Hall-Martin et al., 2009).
Those undertaking recent surveys have noted that accurate statistics are difficult to compile as the
numbers of properties involved in White Rhino conservation are variable and ever-changing, with
owners periodically taking up new properties, selling existing landholdings and/or the rhinos on them,
or allowing sport hunting of rhinos. Hall-Martin et al. (2009) lamented:
45%
The carrying out of this survey has been fraught with frustration and endless delays. The level of cooperation
afforded by many individual owners of white rhinoceroses, their managers, the provincial and
national authorities has been disappointing. The professional hunters and individuals involved with
hunting were particularly unhelpful. Much of the official co-operation was grudging at best and many
owners and management authority officials refused outright to provide information when requested.
However, it was also noted that:
The level of involvement and the quality of the contributions of many officials [named in acknowledgements],
a number of landowners with large rhino populations, wildlife vets who work with rhinos on a regular
basis, and operators in the wildlife trading [and transport] industry were far more positive than could
have been imagined.
There is a growing realisation among thinking owners of rhinos that the rhino industry in South Africa is
at a crossroads. However, there is also a grave sense of foreboding about the onslaught of poaching of
rhinos on private property in South Africa and the abuse of the CITES concession to allow trophy hunting.
JAVAN RHINO POPULATIONS IN VIET NAM
The IUCN Red List’s Critically Endangered Javan Rhinoceros R. sondaicus was, until recently, found in
only two populations. One, in Ujung Kulon National Park in western Java, Indonesia is estimated to
number fewer than 50 animals based on a 2008 census and comprised only the subspecies R. s. sondaicus.
Another population was only discovered by scientists in 1989 in a forest location in southern Viet Nam at
a time when it was widely assumed that no rhinos could have survived the years of conflict in the country.
This area became proclaimed as Cat Tien National Park, and until relatively recently held the last estimated
five to 12 animals of the only other surviving Asian continental mainland population of the Javan
Rhinoceros subspecies R. s. annamiticus. Since then, this remnant population appeared to be in steady
decline, based on the number of camera trap photos obtained in the area (Milliken et al., 2009b). A WWF
project using sniffer dogs to find evidence of rhino presence led to the discovery in April 2010 of a rhino
carcass with a gunshot wound in the leg. The horn had been removed from the carcass. Genetic tests
found that the last 22 dung samples collected between 2009 and 2011 had all originated from this one
animal (WWF, 2011; Brook et al., 2012). Hence, with the poaching of this last known rhino for its horn,
as of October 2011, rhinos in Viet Nam are presumed to be extinct.
Vietnamese subspecies of Javan Rhino Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus.
28 the south africa – viet nam rhino horn trade nexus TRAFFIC 29
©WWf greater meKong