Mass Wildlife Poisoning in Limpopo National Park

Posted on October 28, 2016 by GarryRogers

GR: Lion bones? Are ignorant people of Asia the most deadly threat to lions and rhinos? Do they also crave Panda and Snow Leopard body parts? What about American Mountain Lions? Ranchers of the western U. S. love to kill Mountain Lions. Let’s hope they don’t start selling the bones to Asians.

Lion remains left at the scene of a wildlife poisoning in Limpopo National Park, Oct. 10, 2016 (Photo by Rae Kokes)

“CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 22, 2016 (ENS) – The ongoing Asian demand for lion bones has led to a wildlife poisoning in the Limpopo National Park, just over the Mozambican border from South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

“A mere two kilometers from the Machampane tourist camp, a research team from the Limpopo Transfrontier Predator Project came across the carcasses of two nyala, a warthog and an impala laced with what they describe as a black granular poison.

“Lying nearby were the bodies of two lions, 51 vultures, three fish eagles, a yellow-billed kite and a giant eagle owl. There was evidence of a leopard but its body was not found.” –– Mass Wildlife Poisoning in Limpopo National Park | ENS

Bat-hawk – We own the Night

Posted on December 28, 2014 by GarryRogers

“Whether you view wildlife as a resource or an elemental responsibility of our very humanity, it is under threat. And nowhere is this threat more evident than across the grasslands and forests of Africa where iconic species such as Elephant and Rhino are under threat.
This threat is intensifying as African development stutters, populations grow and Asian demand increases. The result of these factors and modern communications is a new type of organized crime that connects this demand to communities surrounding parks and reserves.
Attention is needed at the market end of this chain and in the middle sections of transit. The new UAV technologies however presents a very real and immediate opportunity to tackle this problem at the source. Bathawk Recon is a practical focused tool to do just that.”

Source: www.bat-hawkrecon.com

GR: This private start-up company is offering wildlife monitoring services aimed at preserving African wildlife. As clearly stated on the website, monitoring is only one part of a complex problem. Let’s offer what support we can, and hope the company succeeds. We need more businesses that contribute to general goals.

Are Namibia’s Rhinos Now Under Siege?

Posted on December 2, 2014 by GarryRogers

GR: Nowhere is safe for rhinos. Once intelligence arose alone without the guidance of wisdom, most of Earth’s species were doomed. Can our species survive when only the toughest ruderals remain? Perhaps we will die or send a small colony into space. Either way, evolution could once again begin to recreate the biological riches it held when we appeared. Probably not. Why go to space when we can cover Earth with solar cells, wind turbines, hydro-generators, and of course, hydroponic greenhouses. With only small adjustments, our current non-sapient behavioral systems will survive.

strange behaviors

Early this year in The New York Times, I wrote an op-ed in praise of Namibia’s work in restoring populations of endangered black rhinos and, more important, in avoiding the poaching nightmare taking place next door in South Africa (on track to lose 1100 rhinos this year). Here’s part of that piece:

Daniel Alfeus //Hawaxab– aka Boxer
Namibia is just about the only place on earth to have gotten conservation right for rhinos and, incidentally, a lot of other wildlife. Over the past 20 years, it has methodically repopulated one area after another as its rhino population has steadily increased. As a result, it is now home to 1,750 of the roughly 5,000 black rhinos surviving in the wild … In neighboring South Africa, government officials stood by haplessly as poachers slaughtered almost a thousand rhinos last year alone. Namibia lost just two.

But a new report says the…

View original post 543 more words

Wildlife decline: Why does biodiversity matter anyway? – Christian Science Monitor

Posted on October 9, 2014 by GarryRogers

Half of the planet’s wildlife populations suffered severe decline between 1970 and 2010, according to a new report from the WWF. So what does dwindling biodiversity mean for us?

Source: www.csmonitor.com

GR: As biodiversity declines, the Earth’s carrying capacity, its ability to produce renewable resources, declines. Scientists are already telling us that the growing human population has exceeded the Earth’s carrying capacity. What motivates our leaders to continue with development and “progress” when they surely know what is happening? What should we do?

An Epic Move for Rhinos

Posted on August 14, 2014 by GarryRogers

RhinoGirl: “After much speculation as to whether or not it would happen, the South African government has made it official. They have approved moving 500 rhino out of Kruger National Park. Of the rhino to be moved, 250 will be sold to private buyers and another 250 taken to a safe location.

“Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, confirmed the possibility the rhino will be sent to Botswana and Zambia, where there will be “intense protection zones”.

According to Molewa, “this move, along with creating rhino strongholds could allow a total rhino population size of South Africa continue to grow.”

“Botswana not only has better political and economic stability and a smaller population than South Africa, but they recently banned commercial trophy hunting and in 2013 adopted the controversial shoot-to-kill policy in place for poachers.”

Thank Animal Conservationists for Saving Rhinos

Posted on August 10, 2014 by GarryRogers

Petition Target: National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Derek and Beverly Joubert. Goal: Thank Derek and Beverly for their efforts to save rhinos.

‘Animal conservationists Derek and Beverly Joubert helped to save big cats in 2009 with the Big Cats Initiative, and now have started a new project called Rhinos Without Borders. In January 2015, they will move more than a hundred rhinos from South Africa to Botswana an in an attempt to diversify and save the dying species.

“South Africa holds more than 80 percent of the world’s population of rhinos, with only 26,000 of these animals left in the area. Most of these rhinos make their home in the Kruger National Park, but poaching has taken a toll on these majestic animals. In 2013, 1,004 rhinos were lost to poachers who kill these animals for their horns. So far, 618 rhinos have been killed in 2014, most of which have been lost in this national park. And it’s believed that more rhinos have been lost, as their carcasses have been found due to vultures eating the corpse before researchers and park rangers can get there.

“The Jouberts are moving the rhinos to Botswana for two reasons. Botswana wants the rhinos, and they have the lowest poaching rate. However, the project will prove to be a difficult one. Rhinos weigh up to three tons, and moving at least a hundred of these animals is a daunting task. While the park is accustomed to moving rhinos from different areas of the park, only fifty rhinos in the past ten years have been moved across the border. There is a two to five percent chance that rhinos could also die from this move, but it is a risk the conservationists are wiling to take if it means the rhinos are able to survive for years to come.”

Source: forcechange.com

YOU can save these rhinos – Africa Geographic Blog

Posted on August 8, 2014 by GarryRogers

Rhinos Without Borders is on a mission to move rhinos to safe havens in Botswana in order to save them from the poaching crisis and they need your help!

“Three down, seven to go. 100 rhinos will be relocated to a new safer life and YOU can help make this happen. Of the first batch of 10 rhinos due for relocation in 2015, 3 have already reserved their places via a unique campaign – please help Dereck and Beverly Joubert help save the remaining 7. This is a unique opportunity for ALL OF US to get involved personally, rather than leave everything to the authorities and NGOs. Your donation (even just $1) will help more than you could imagine. Every donation earns rewards and enters you into a draw for some really grand prizes. This has to be the most innovative campaign ever to save the rhino from poachers. 3 down, 7 to go! (Africa Geographic)”

GR: One dollar to save 100 rhinos? Everyone please contribute. We must recognize, however, that following through with continued monitoring and protection is essential. Wild animal relocations are difficult. New habitats with new resting places, new food, new water sources, and new dangers coupled with the stress of the move…. Better make it two dollars.

Go here to make your donation.

“This relocation operation will take place with an assertive and elaborate anti-poaching force and strong commitment to save this species. This initiative is about taking rhinos from existing, high density populations which are attracting more and more poaching, and releasing them into the wild within a country that has low densities of rhino and the best anti-poaching record on the continent. It also secures rhino breeding diversity and provides a nucleus of stock in a different location, so that these animals are not all concentrated in one location.”

Source: africageographic.com

Go here to make your donation.

Save Rhinos from Rampant Poaching

Posted on August 1, 2014 by GarryRogers

Target: President Barack Obama and U.S. Government Goal: Save the last remaining rhinos from poachers before these amazing animals go extinct *This petition is in collaboration with Care2, thereby allowing all signatures to appear in a single…

From the petition description: “The Western black rhino species has been declared extinct and the two other rhino species found in Africa are close on its heels towards disappearing from the face of the planet. All this for a lucrative black market where poachers make millions of dollars from people who buy the illegally traded rhino horn, falsely believing it can cure cancer and other ailments.

“Amidst this bleak news, there is a ray of hope. The U.S. government is making moves to list rhinos as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The listing closes a loophole that was being abused by traffickers, and strengthens the anti-poaching efforts being undertaken by African governments and conservation partners such as the African Wildlife Foundation.”

Source: forcechange.com

Stop South African Mine That Threatens Rhino Sanctuary – The Petition Site

Posted on July 31, 2014 by GarryRogers

“A proposed mine in South Africa poses serious risks to rhinos. It would not only give poachers easier access to the animals, but the mine’s toxic byproducts would threaten their health.

The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park in KwaZulu-Natal became the southern white rhinos’ last refuge after it was hunted to near extinction in the 1890s. Now the high demand for rhino horns – fueled by Vietnamese and Chinese markets – has led to huge incentives to poach and a dramatic increase in rhino killings – over 1,000 last year alone.

The proposed mine, to be located just 40 meters from the boundary of this protected wilderness, would turn its pristine rolling savannah into a wasteland of dumps. Relied on for generations by the nearby Zulu community for grazing cattle, the landscape would be pock-marked with black cavities. Mines a bit further away have already polluted their air and water, and the toxic water is killing their cattle.

There is little doubt that if this mine goes forward, it will destroy this wilderness and put the rhino once again on the brink of extinction. Don’t let Ibutho Coal build this mine in South Africa! It would not only give poachers easier access to the animals, but the mine’s toxic byproducts would threaten their health.

“The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park in KwaZulu-Natal became the southern white rhinos’ last refuge after it was hunted to near extinction in the 1890s. Now the high demand for rhino horns – fueled by Vietnamese and Chinese markets – has led to huge incentives to poach and a dramatic increase in rhino killings – over 1,000 last year alone.

“The proposed mine, to be located just 40 meters from the boundary of this protected wilderness, would turn its pristine rolling savannah into a wasteland of dumps. Relied on for generations by the nearby Zulu community for grazing cattle, the landscape would be pock-marked with black cavities. Mines a bit further away have already polluted their air and water, and the toxic water is killing their cattle.

“There is little doubt that if this mine goes forward, it will destroy this wilderness and put the rhino once again on the brink of extinction. Don’t let Ibutho Coal build this mine in South Africa!”

Source: www.thepetitionsite.com

Add your signature.

White Rhino Poached in Kruger Park

Posted on July 31, 2014 by GarryRogers

By Albert Pule

“Pretoria — A male white rhino has been poached in the Kingfisher Section of the Kruger National Park (KNP).

“According to section ranger Richard Sowry, shots were heard by tourists and reported to the authorities.

“Four shots were heard at about 6.05pm by tourists on Sunday from a nearby camp and they alerted us to the incident.”

“Sowry said since rhino poaching has become rife, his team is working hard to protect the endangered species and cases of rhino poaching take priority. He said since the beginning of the year, only six arrests have been made in his section.

“Since the beginning of the year, over 380 rhinos have been poached in the KNP.

“Meanwhile, three people were arrested on Tuesday at Tshokwane camp, in the south of KNP, for suspected poaching. “One of the suspects was wounded by rangers and investigations are currently under way,” said SANParks’ Acting Head of Communication Reynold Thakuli.

“Warrant Officer Linda Luther said a case of poaching will be opened and investigations will commence.

“A water bottle lid was found next to a rhino carcass and Luther said it will be crucial in the investigation. “This will be sent over to the laboratory for DNA analysis to see if we can link the suspects to another case of poaching,” she said.”

Source: allAfrica.com