13.000
Plans of Rhino group. In 1981 the Wankie meeting recognized that the northern white rhino (Caratotherium simum cottoni) presented the most urgent conservation challenge, yet, in spite of funds already allocated by WWF, no action had been taken. The Nairobi meeting of AERSG set as its first priority the task of initiating a conservation programme. Pat Rogers of UNDP Zaire had already been in contact with IUCN over the plight of white rhinos in Garamba National Park, and lan Hughes and Kes Hiliman were sent on an emergency mission in November 1982 to report on what could be done. As a result of their visit, and urgent pleas from the Zaire government, anti-poaching equipment is on its way to Garamba to help protect the rhino population, now reckoned to number in the low tens, down from over 400 in the early 1970s. Kes Hillman is also engaged on a much larger survey, recommended by AERSG, that will assess the status of northern white rhinos and recommend what action can be taken to conserve them in Zaire and Sudan, the two countries where they still occur. Kes Hiliman reports more about the project in this Newsletter.
We have been actively concerned with other aspects of rhino conservation, including rhinos on private ranches in Africa and the United States. In Kenya many of the remaining 1000 or so rhinos are found on private ranches where land owners protect them. Since it costs a rancher considerable money, it is not unreasonable that he should expect support from public conservation bodies. However, there are many issues that concern us about how this is done, and we have been helping to formulate ideas for a policy that would enable Kenya to promote rhino conservation on private lands, yet still guarantee that the State, which legally owns all wildlife, could ultimately benefit in the process and safeguard rhinos should a rancher no longer want to preserve them. Incentives for private conservation efforts must be recognized, but so too must the rights of conservation organizations who help with funds. No less than any government agency, conservation bodies are ~untable for the projects they support. How this might be accomplished to the general satisfaction of ranchers, government, and conservation bodies, is now being discussed.
Rhino group report. An equally vital project is Esmond Bradley Martin's recent survey of the trade in rhino horn in the Far East. The results of his findings are summarized in his report and will form the basis of decisions made at the Harare meeting to close the remaining avenues of trade. There is good reason to think that concerted action now could soon eradicate most of the remaining trade. The African Wildlife Foundation recently spear -headed a publicity campaign that caused North Yemen to ban the import of rhino horns. If successful, the ban could lead to a significant improvement for the black rhino since over 40% of all horns traded found their way into North Yemen durin%he late 1970s. Bradley Martin advocates that similar diplomatic and press campaigns could work in Far Eastern countries.
