Court decisions. Past sentences of those convicted of rhino-related crimes have generally not been commensurate with the severity of the crimes committed (often with only paltry fines being imposed). In an attempt to improve this situation, the AfRSG's Scientific Officer appeared (at the request of Natal Parks Board's Wildlife Investigators and the Endangered Species Protection Unit of the South African Police Service) as an expert state witness in South African rhino horn dealing and poaching cases in KwaZulu-Natal during 1997. In each case, the Scientific Officer worked closely with the investigating officer and prosecutor, and presented both written and verbal statements to the court arguing in aggravation of sentence. In particular, the Scientific Officer stressed the seriousness of rhino crimes, and the need for the imposition of heavy sentences to act as a deterrent. In the first case, the four convicted of illegal possession and attempted dealing in one rhino horn were sentenced to a total fine of R85,000 (approximately US$17,000), well above the local black market value of the hem, or a total of 9 years 3 months in prison. In the second case, a man convicted of poaching four white rhinos received the maximum sentence of ten years in jail (plus an effective additional two years for stealing a vehicle used in the crime) without the option of a fine. This was the first time that the maximum jail sentence for a rhino crime had been imposed by a SouthAfrican court.
In the last edition of Pachyderm I mentioned the participation of AFRSG members in a workshop to review Zimbabwe's rhino policy. Following the workshop, I am pleased to report that the Zimbabwean Minister of the Environment and Tourism has subsequently published and released the country's new Rhino Policy and Management Plan, and that it incorporates many of the critical success factors recommended by the AfRSG members at the workshop. It is encouraging that the new plan recognises the need for constructive partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental agencies, by requiring the establishment of national and provincial rhino management committees which are to include representation by stakeholders from government, and also from the private sector and civil society. However, it is concerning that a number of properties which currently form part of Zimbabwe's black rhino conservancies have recently been designated for expropriation by the government to provide additional land for resettlement.
The situation remains extremely serious, with poachers having moved into the rhino's core area, and a number of carcases and horns having been found. Only about 20 rhinos may remain, a more accurate estimate of the number surviving will be available later.
The AfRSG has obtained sponsorship from the World Wide Fund for Nature to undertake its horn fingerprinting project. Pilot projects have indicated that trace element and stable isotopic analysis of horn samples provides a chemical signature specific to different locations. The problem to date has been samples from only a limited number of areas have been analysed, and there is a need to increase the number of baseline areas for which horn fingerprints are available. The AfRSG office has therefore initiated the process of obtaining samples of horn for this project from as many key and important populations throughout the continent as possible. The project also seeks to refine the statistical analysis procedures used to discriminate between different areas. In the most recent rhino horn dealing case in South Africa, the results of stable carbon isotope analysis of the horn in question was presented in court for the first time, and showed that the horn in question was definitely that of a black rhino. With the delay caused by the postponement of this case, it is hoped that additional horn-fingerprinting data obtained from this horn, and results of trace element and other stable isotopic analyses can be analysed to shed light on the likely origin of the horn.
Next meeting due in April 1997 in Namibia. A limited print run of African Rhinos, first issue, was produced and distributed at COP 10 in Zimbabwe, June 1997.
African Rhino Specialist Group. Limited time was left for discussion of the proposed annotated downlisting of South Africa's white rhino population to allow a regulated trade in horn some time in the future, but with an initial zero quota. This proposal sought support for the continued efforts by South Africa to investigate the desirability of opening the trade, and in particular to continue the development and investigation of possible control measures to prevent illegal laundering of horn which might threaten other taxa of rhino. IUCN did not make any interventions from the floor. The white rhino proposal was narrowly defeated, just failing to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority. When the South African proposal was put to a secret ballot later in the proceedings, it again got a majority of votes, although with a significantly reduced majority. Indicators of Success. These indicators should in future evaluate policy interventions pursuant to CITES. A workshop is called for.
