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

SiTuATion AT THE SouRCE: SouTH AfRiCA
through close collaboration with relevant law enforcement and government regulatory agencies. PROA
was directly involved in the development of a National Rhino Security and Coordination Plan. In
November 2011, PROA organized a National Rhino Summit for all private rhino owners to promote
awareness and information sharing and to discuss and identify policy issues related to the protection
and preservation of privately-owned rhinos in South Africa.
Capture of a Black Rhino for translocation.
© Brent Stirton/reportage By getty imageS for WWf-UK
Wildlife capturing, translocation and sales associations
The Wildlife Translocation Association (WTA), the representative body for game managers involved in
the commercial capture and translocation of wildlife species, was established in the 1990s. Importantly,
the WTA is recognized by both national and provincial government conservation authorities. Although
ostensibly a voluntary association, those wishing to tender for government contracts must be members
of WTA (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). As such, WTA currently has 53 members and probably represents the
majority of active capture units in South Africa (Hall-Martin et al., 2009). In terms of live rhino sales,
the company Vleissentraal (Pty) Ltd plays the leading role in servicing the needs of the game ranching
community throughout the country.
Veterinary Council
The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) regulates the veterinary and para-veterinary professions and
the registration of persons engaged in these professions. The role of the council is to exercise effective
control over professional conduct, determine the standards of professional conduct and promote efficiency
in and responsibility with regard to the practising of these professions. The council also acts as an advisory
body to the government in relation to any matter affecting veterinary and para-veterinary matters.
Following the arrest of two veterinarians allegedly involved in rhino poaching in September 2010, SAVC
issued a press release stating that it fully supported the investigations into all illegal activities and if any
registered veterinarians were found guilty of criminal activities, disciplinary action would be taken. The
penalties that the Council may impose if a person is found guilty of disgraceful, improper or unprofessional
conduct range from a reprimand to the withdrawal of registration to practise as a veterinarian.
Veterinary Association
The South African Veterinary Association (SAVA) is a voluntary professional association of veterinarians in
South Africa. The aim of the association is to promote the interests and activities of the veterinary profession
and to assist veterinarians to fulfil their role in the community. SAVA’s Wildlife Group held a symposium
on “Rhinos As Game Ranch Animals” in 1994 (Penzhorn and Kriek, 1994) and, in March 2011, a
rhino conservation workshop to develop uniform protocols and best-practice principles for the treatment
and care of injured rhinos, as well as dehorning exercises, post-mortem examinations and sampling techniques.
SAVA has stated that “we want to collaborate closely with all role players in rhino ranching and conservation,
as well as the industry supplying our much-needed drugs and equipment. The illegal and non-veterinary
use of scheduled drugs is of great concern to us and we condemn this in the strongest possible way.” However, as a
voluntary organization, SAVA is not able to formally regulate the activities of veterinarians.
SOUTH AFRICA’S TROPHY HUNTING INDUSTRY
For many years, South Africa has been the premier country on the African continent offering the
opportunity to hunt the legendary “big five”: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhinoceros. (Namibia
has allowed a small number of White Rhino hunts in recent years). This distinction has made South
Africa a major drawcard on the global sport hunting circuit. In 2000, the total value of the game industry
in South Africa was collectively estimated at ZAR140 million (or approximately USD20.2 million)
(Barnett and Patterson, 2005) but, by 2007, total revenues from daily rates, animals hunted and taxidermy
work increased to approximately ZAR730 million (or USD91.2 million) (PHASA, 2009). The total
income from sport hunting in South Africa peaked in 2008 at close to ZAR1 billion (USD124.8 million)
according to DEA (Figure 8).
Figure 8 Total income from sport hunting in South Africa 2005-10 (data from DEA)
Between 2006 and 2007, a total of 16 394 overseas hunters visited South Africa to hunt for an average
of four days each, taking a total of 46 727 animals (PHASA, 2009). While impala was the most commonly
hunted species, White Rhino was the most valuable. A total of 62 843 animals were hunted in
2009 with the 10 most important species for income generation being Lion, White Rhino, Buffalo,
Kudu, Gemsbok, Nyala, Blue Wildebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Waterbuck and Elephant (Carroll, 2010).
Currently, there are approximately 500 safari or trophy hunting outfitters in South Africa who market
and provide services to the international sport hunting community. There are about 3000
licenced Professional Hunters in South Africa, most of whom are employed by outfitters or, in some
cases, are the outfitters themselves. To support the game ranching and sport hunting industries, a
large number of other wildlife professionals are also found in the country, including game capture
and translocation specialists and wildlife veterinarians. Overall, the industry currently provides
approximately 70 000 people with job opportunities, mainly in rural areas (PHASA, 2010). The South
African sport hunting industry services clients from as many as 60 countries around the world, with
the bulk coming from the United States and Europe, notably France, Russia, Spain and the Nordic
countries. As a well-developed industry, a number of professional associations and sport hunting
management bodies have been established.
32 the south africa – viet nam rhino horn trade nexus TRAFFIC 33
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