Swaziland loses first rhino in 20 years
July 4, 2011, 10:55 AMBy: |17 Comments | Tags: Swaziland loses first rhino
As the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa reaches new heights with a rhino lost every day, June saw Swaziland lose its first rhino in two decades. By Katie McCarthy
The young two-ton white rhino cow, mother to a calf and instrumental to the future of rhino in Swaziland, was found de-horned at Big Game Parks’ Hlane Royal National Park on Saturday 4 June, World Environment Day.
In Swaziland, poachers undertake a massive risk by crossing one of the strictest and most respected poaching laws in the conservation world: the Game Act. In accordance with this law, rhino poachers face a mandatory minimum five years in jail and have to pay for the replacement of the animal – now valued at E200 000 (R200 000).
Thanks to sharp detective work by the rangers of Big Game Parks and the Royal Swazi Police, three poachers have already been apprehended. The poachers, local men with knowledge of the rhino’s habitat, were acting as middlemen for a buyer abroad.
The killing of this rhino cow was clearly an act of structured poaching as one of the poachers was a former cadet ranger at Hlane. While rural poor people are sometimes driven to subsistence poaching, no meat was removed from the carcass in this instance.
In contrast to the once-off financial gains made from poaching, the eco-tourism industry provides a sustainable source of employment. It’s estimated that a single Big Game Parks wage sustains over 15 people. Protecting Swaziland’s natural heritage safeguards the environment for the future while supporting communities today.
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A refuge for rhinos
The Kingdom of Swaziland’s Big Game Parks is one of the few breeding environments in the world stable enough to ensure the survival of the species. Exceptional white rhino viewing opportunities are available at both Hlane Royal National Park and Mkhaya Game Reserve, while intimate encounters with black rhino are popular at Swaziland’s haven for endangered animals, Mkhaya Game Reserve.
Swaziland may have lost her proud record of rhino protection but she is determined to retain her rich heritage for the enjoyment of future generations.
