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Private Group fighting Poaching |
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There was a time when hunters paid good money to hunt animals like antelope and buffalo at Simon Rood?s wild-game reserve. But on a recent day, Rood watched as one of his staff stared into a tangle of dried-out trees and waited to load his rifle during a training exercise. The quarry was something different. ?What do we eradicate?? barked Rood. ?Poachers!? shouted his employee. Poaching has taken a devastating toll on iconic African wildlife, like the rhinoceros. In the early 20th century, there were about half a million rhinos in the wild internationally today, there are less than 30,000 across Asia and Africa. The vast majority live in South Africa. Protecting those animals has become a serious business. Rood decided several years ago to get out of the hunting industry and start a security company aimed at conserving wildlife. Now he uses his land to train anti-poaching guards that his firm, Nkwe Wildlife and Security Services, sends to work at private reserves. The slaughter has become an emergency for national parks as well as for South Africa?s private game reserves, where tourists come to stay at luxurious lodges and catch a glimpse of the ?Big Five? — lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos.
Since 2009, South Africa?s private rhino owners have spent $115 million on security to protect the rhinos, Jones said.
Although police investigate poaching crimes that occur on public and private land, landowners largely furnish their own security. ?Before, we could get away with having a couple of guys, not formally trained,? says Pelham Jones, chairman of the rhino owners? association. ?We are all now required to provide armed anti-poaching units.? He said that in the past seven years, there have been at least 20 armed attacks by poaching groups on park management or staff. One member of an anti-poaching unit was killed, he said. |
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Previous : Creative industries 
11 Comments
John & Peter, great comments. Thank you
Posted 08-11-2016 16:21
Great efforts SouthAfrica, poaching is Africa's number one problem,glad to see efforts like this.Thank you for sharing
Posted 08-11-2016 02:06
Extinction is irreversible, hence, it is permanent. With that being said, it was really good to see that both public and private sector had already been doing such collective action towards saving several species from the predicament of extinction. Awesome! Great job!
Posted 04-11-2016 18:16
Heonjun, it is really surprising that people can go to the extend of doing that. Thanks for reading and I hope they get the necessary punishment
Posted 02-11-2016 01:47
It's outrageous that the poachers even dare to harm the anti poaching side! Their maniac frenzy is simmering and finally affecting human boundary as well. I wish they will find themselves in the court and get the proper punishment for that. Thanks for sharing
Posted 01-11-2016 14:20
From your comments, I can see a global voice calling for an end to poaching. We need to protect our wildlife - not only Rhinos or Elephants.
Posted 31-10-2016 15:48
Thanks for sharing Joshua....I am really happy to hear that actions are being taken against the poachers In South Africa. Poaching is one of the unsolved crimes here in Nepal . Millions of deer,leopard,tigers are killed every year but I do not hear about any efforts made by the government.....I jus hope for the best that poaching shall be eliminated not only from South Africa but frm the entire world.....
Posted 31-10-2016 13:49
The greatest threat facing African rhinos is poaching for the illegal trade in their horns. I am glad to note that rhino poaching is categorized national crime by South African government. Poachers should be severly punished. Sad to know that these criminals/poaching groups have killed people protecting or safeguarding parks. Thanks for the great report.
Posted 31-10-2016 04:14
Poaching posses an immense threat to our wildlife which is a key resource in many African countries
Posted 31-10-2016 00:40
Sure.
If all governments will make an effort to end this inhumane act, we could preserve nature to some extent.
Posted 30-10-2016 17:32
Thanks for sharing, Joshua! As a person who agrees with the eradication of poaching, I am for the South African government's decision to declare rhino poaching to be a national priority crime. I hope there be more organizations who can keep an eye on illegal poaching. Have a great day : )
Posted 30-10-2016 15:38