Teacher_Book - General - Draft 23 - 2015

ACTIVITY 3 ANSWERS
NATURE OF THE ISSUE
OVerview and calculations
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
1,000
Across the African continent is the world’s 3rd largest criminal activity. It’s called “poaching”. Poaching is the
illegal taking of wildlife, in violation of local, state, federal or international law such as C.I.T.E.S. (Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora). Activities considered as poaching
include killing an animal protected by C.I.T.E.S., killing out of season, without a license, with a prohibited
weapon, or in a prohibited manner such as jacklighting. Poaching is threatening Africa’s habitats and
wildlife. Poaching is closely linked to slum life, poverty and a way to fund terrorism.
What are TWO types of poaching?
1. Commercial: Commercial poaching is by organised wealthy foreign syndicates or gangs from the Middle
East and/or Asia. These wealthy syndicates bribe local officials (eg Judges, Magistrates, Police-Officers, Custom
Officials & Governments) to smuggle in illegal weapons such as AK47s, M99 vet darts and poison for poor,
uneducated local villagers to use as tools to poach rhino and to smuggle rhino horn back out again The locals get
paid around $1000 - $10,000 to do this. They use other tools too such as wire snares, machettes and dogs. The
rhino horn sells for about $100,000 on the illegal black markets. Countries like Yemen use rhino horn for Jambiyas
(ie: daggers), jewellery and ornaments (eg: vases); Asian countries like China & Vietnam use rhino horn for their
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) argued to cure headaches, arthritis and fever. Both countries use rhino horn as a
status symbol of their wealth. Commercial poaching is the biggest cause of rhino endangerment and habitat threat.
(WATCH THE JAMBIYAS VIDEO: https://goo.gl/og4mu8) (2 minutes)
2. Subsistence: Many African villagers live in absolute and relative poverty. They live and survive on less than a few
dollars a day to buy essentials (eg: food, water, clothing, school fees, housing and hygienic products). Most people in
Africa are unemployed and have no income. They survive on their crops and livestock which they eat and trade at local
markets. Wildlife often venture through and eat village crops and livestock. Villagers respond by hunting the wildlife
for food and bush meat to sell at the local markets. They do this with wire snare traps layed throughout wildlife trails
and tracks, spears, machettes, bushfires and dogs.
What has been the result of the poaching?
Since 1900, poaching has caused a fall in rhino numbers from 500,000 (Africa and Asia) to 70,000 by 1970 and the
table below shows the numbers of rhinos in the world today.
ACTIVITY / INSTRUCTIONS
1. In Table 1, calculate the total of each country’s White Rhinos and Black Rhinos.
2. In Table 2, calculate the Minimums, Maximums, Totals and Averages for White Rhino’s and then Black rhinos.
TABLE 1
WHITE* RHINO BLACK RHINO TOTALS
Numbers Trend Numbers Trend
South Africa(#) 18,796 up 1,915 up
Namibia 469 up 1,750 up
Kenya 361 up 594 up
Zimbabwe 290 down 431 down
Botswana 135 up 7 stable
Tanzania 0 0 113 stable
Swaziland 88 up 17 stable
Zambia 7 enhanced 27 stable
Malawi 0 0 24 up
Uganda 9 up 1 stable
Mozambique 6 down 1 stable
TABLE 2
Minimum
Maximum
Totals
Average
WHITE* RHINO
6 Mozambique
18,796 South Africa
20,161 #
20161 / 11 = 1833
Minimum
Maximum
Totals
Average
BLACK RHINO
3. Using Table 1 data, construct a Bar Graph showing the population of White and Black rhinos
left in each country.
1 Mozambique
1,915 South Africa
4,880 #
4880 / 11 = 444
20711
2219
995
721
145
113
105
34
24
10
7
(#) Rhinos killed in South Africa
2009 = 112
2010 = 333
2011 = 448
2012 = 668
2013 = 1004
2014 = 1215
0
S. Africa Namibia Kenya Zimbabwe Botswana Tanzania Swaziland Zambia Malawi Uganda Mozambique
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