Rhino Poaching: The Lies and The Truth

Lie: Poachers are poor rural people who are victims of a failed economy that cannot provide them with honest work. They are just trying to scrape a living and feed their families.

Truth: The shooters are professional hunters equipped with sophisticated military-grade tracking equipment and weaponry. They make huge amounts of money from selling rhino horn (up to R 150 000 for a single horn), and they typically drive expensive German luxury cars.

Lie: The true culprits are the Chinese and Vietnamese buyers and end-users.

Truth: The industry is directed and sustained by immensely wealthy South African intermediate agents who buy product from the hunters and sell it on to the international buyers.

Lie: The South African government is doing its best to eliminate poaching.

Truth: Before Jacob Zuma became president in 2009, the plight of the rhino was under control. Since then, far from addressing the problem with commitment and determination, the government has allowed high-placed individuals in its ranks to benefit from the rhino horn industry. Public officials at all levels have enriched themselves by accepting bribes and participating in the poaching industry in various ways.

Lie: Legalised trade in rhino horn will help save the species by eliminating poaching.

Truth: Legalised trade in rhino horn will increase demand, enrich corrupt officials even more, and hasten the extinction of species.

Lie: SANParks is under-resourced and is virtually powerless to stop rhino poaching.

Truth: SANParks has sophisticated equipment which is not being used to good effect. Some isolated rangers and officials are doing their best, but bribery has infiltrated even SANParks personnel.

Lie: The SA Police and SANDF actively and effectively arrest poachers and dealers, and confiscate poached rhino horns.

Truth: Hunters and agents transport rhino horn blatantly. They buy their
way out of road blocks with lavish bribes. Court dockets disappear, and evidence is destroyed.

Lie: The Save the Rhino Foundation has the situation under control. The Southern White Rhino has been dragged back from the brink of extinction, and is now out of danger.

Truth: The Southern White Rhino was saved from extinction at the hands of trophy hunters by good governance in the early 20th century. The Save the Rhino Foundation, and other high-profile conservation groups, despite doing commendable work in various other ways, have been totally ineffective against horn poachers in the 21st century.

… AND THE BIGGEST LIE OF ALL

Lie: Powdered rhino horn has useful medicinal and therapeutic qualities.

TRUTH: NO! It’s made of keratin: you’d be better off biting your nails.