The rhinoceros population in Swaziland was decimated in 1992.
The rhinoceros population in Swaziland was decimated in 1992 and when an onslaught was launched against the remaining few that were being kept in a so-called safe sanctuary, the assistance of the ESPU was enlisted. After a successful operation which led to the extermination of a smuggling syndicate no further poaching incidents have been reported. This and other operations by this unit have led to the protection of South African populations from the same fate as in other African countries. The sight of a rhinoceros with its horn intact, and of elephants, is still common in South Africa.
Endangered Species Protection Unit. The ESPU has as its main function the identification of routes by which endangered species, or products such as ivory and rhino horn, are smuggled in or out of the country and the destruction of the organisations behind these schemes. The main goal is the apprehension of not only individuals, but of entire networks. The objectives of this unit are not merely to stop this illegal trade in South Africa, but to encourage all law-enforcement agencies in Africa to join actively in this war started by poachers. While we began with the idea of stopping the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn, the Unit is broadening its scope to include every endangered species of fauna and flora.
In one operation in Zambia the ESPU, with the co-operation of the Zambian Species Protection Department confiscated 10 tusks, four horns and three AK-47 rifles and arrested 14 people. A poaching syndicate that operated out of Zambia into Zimbabwe and Bot
In 1992, 99 persons were arrested in 52 cases and 84 rhino horns with an estimated value of R 2.016.000,00 were recovered. In 1993 only 44 horns were confiscated in 33 cases and 56 persons were arrested. In that time the illegal trade in ivory escalated from 292 tusks in 1990 to almost 3 000 tusks in 1993. There could be various reasons for the decline in rhino horn confiscations. The fact is that there are very few rhinos left in Africa. Owing to reasonably good anti-poaching measures and security the losses to poaching in South Africa are minimal. Since 1 April 1990 to the end of February 1994 only 40 South African rhinos were lost to poachers. This must be seen against massive and costly security operations in Kenya and Zimbabwe when the Kruger National Park did not even have an fully operational anti-poaching unit. There is no doubt that we will face an increase in poaching as peace progresses in Southern Africa and we should be prepared for such a situation.
The most recent estimate of its total population is less than 3000 and its numbers are now less than that of the African square-lipped or white rhino. Roughly about 60.000 rhinos were lost in the space of 20 years, which equals 120.000 rhino horns. At an average of 2,8 kg per rhino horn this totals 336.000 kg of rhino horn, all of which have disappeared into Asian markets.
In 1970 the African black rhino was the most abundant species of rhino, conservatively estimated to number at least 65 000 across Africa.
South Africa's wild fauna and flora are protected by various laws and provincial ordinances. These laws regulate the trade of wild fauna and flora and products thereof. The laws referred to are: Transvaal Ordinance - 12 of 1983 Orange Free State Ordinance - 8 of 1969 Cape Province Ordinance - 19 of 1974 Natal Ordinance - 15 of 1974 National Parks Act - 57 of 1976 Prior to the establishment of the Endangered Species Protection Unit (ESPU) by the South African Police, South Africa was accused by the world of impassively standing by while ivory was being smuggled across our borders. The Unit was founded on 30 June 1989 after requests to the South African Police to broaden its services to the community by actively protecting endangered fauna and flora.
The dehorning operation in Zimbabwe was a failure. In September 1993 a total of 332 rhinos were dehorned and by December 1993 at least 80 of these animals had been killed. Even in the areas where poaching is down, rhinos have to be dehorned annually. We had to find a solution elsewhere. To combat the ever-increasing smuggling of endangered fauna and flora effectively, a new approach was necessary. It is no secret that there is an upsurge in crime involving commercial wildlife throughout the world - despite the CITES Convention and worldwide embargoes.
The retail price of rhino horn in Taipei, Republic of China, has nearly quadrupled over the past decade. The following table illustrates the investment value of rhino horn in Taiwan: 1979 R 4 000 per kilogram [in South African Rand] 1985 R 4 000 per kilogram 1988 R11 650 per kilogram 1992 R21 525 per kilogram During visits to Taipei in Taiwan and Beijing and Guangzhou in the People's Republic of China, investigators of the Endangered Species Protection Unit (ESPU) found the wholesale price of African or water horn to average R 8 000,00 per kg. In South Africa the black-market price is between R 2 500,00 and R 8 000,00 per kg.
