Funding for demand reduction work in Vietnam
 This year, Save the Rhino is working with several different organisations to tackle the rising demand for rhino horn in Vietnam.
We are continuing our support for Education for Nature Vietnam, having given a grant of £16,280 towards this local organisation’s rhino campaign. The funds will be used for awareness campaigns, law enforcement activities and investigations into the criminal trafficking rhino horn.
We have other work planned which we will update you on throughout the year.
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40 rhino horns stolen from South African stockpile
 Around 40 rhino horns have been stolen from a South African provincial park safe. Thieves broke into the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, during a night-time raid in late April.
The attack appears to be well-planned, with the thieves specifically targeting the highly valuable rhino horn. Elephant ivory, rifles and ammunition, which were in the same safe, were left untouched.
Forensic investigators and the police analysed the crime scene, with officials exploring theory that it was an inside job.
Many private individuals and state organisations have large stores of rhino horn, and this recent theft highlights the high security risk associated with the long-term stockpiling of rhino horns.
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Chinese rhino horn smugglers active in Namibia
 Over the past few months, there have been worrying signs of an increasing number of Chinese nationals involved in smuggling rhino horn in Namibia.
On 23 March 2014, three Chinese nationals were arrested by the Namibian police after they were caught trying to board an aircraft with 14 rhino horns and leopard skins hidden in their luggage. The arrests come shortly after a successful sting operation which led to the arrest of a Chinese businessman in Opuwo, who was accused of attempting to buy rhino horns from locals in the area.
These cases follow on from several recent Namibian rhino poaching incidents, prompting fears of a rising international criminal syndicate activity in the country.
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Corruption threatens conservation efforts in Kenya
 In mid-April, news reports announced that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) suspended six senior officers suspected of mismanagement and poaching. The officers are set to be investigated for their seeming lack of contribution to end poaching.
National and international organisations have expressed their concern over the high levels of corruption within the government and the impact on elephant and rhino poaching in the country.
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Using modern technology to protect Africa and Asia’s rhinos
 In the last edition of RhiNEWS we reported that Save the Rhino was working with other partners to co-ordinate a 4-day workshop in Kruger National Park for experts to gather to discuss developments in technology for rhino conservation.
The successful workshop was held in late March and attended by wildlife security experts from 13 countries. The summary of the meeting is now available to read on our website. Click here for full details.
We would love to hear your thoughts on all our stories and the work that we do, please comment on our website, facebook or twitter pages! Or why not get involved and become a member or help fundraise for one of our programmes
Photo credits: @foto by Tom, Steve and Ann Toon, SRI |
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