Field staff at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, 30 kilometres north of Serowe in Botswana, are pleased to confirm the birth of two white rhino calves. One of the calves was born in late July and the second cow gave birth approximately two weeks later. Although both calves have been spotted on separate occasions and appear to be in a healthy condition, their sexes have not as yet been established. These welcome new additions bring the total rhino population at the sanctuary into double figures - 11 in all. This is a major achievement for the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust, as one of their primary objectives is to preserve and propagate Botswana's remaining rhino population. Other objectives include environmental education and community development through the sustainable use of natural resources.
Private landowners conserve 20 per cent of the white rhino population in South Africa and 16 per cent of the remaining black rhinos. Live sales of black and white rhinos to the private sector have generated much-needed revenue for the country's conservation departments.
Proposal of South Africa. A draft proposal from the Department of Environment and Tourism aims to eventually legalise the export of South African white rhino horn to China and other countries where the material is believed to have powerful medicinal properties. The proposal will form part of the government's submission to the conference of parties to the Convention on international Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which takes place in Harare in June next year. Under South Africa's proposal, CITES members would be asked to end the overall ban on trade in horn and other products of the southern white rhino and to set a 'zero quota' on trade pending the outcome of an enquiry into the possibility of establishing trade in these ,products with appropriate controls that will prevent laundering of illegal products. Tom Milliken, Director of TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa said the proposal was a sincere attempt to be provocative' and that it would be irresponsible to dismiss it out of hand. He questioned whether it would ever be possible to stamp out poaching and smuggling while traditions dating back thousands of years continued to create strong demand for rhino horn and other body parts, particularly in the Far East. It made sense at least to think about ways of supplying that demand in a manner that enhanced the chances of the species' survival by knocking out the profits to be mad from illegal trad while generating funds for conservation. 'The key to conservation is finance ... and the private sector moving in and making lots of areas available,' Milliken said, adding that the Natal Parks Board had made more than R l million from selling live rhinos to zoos and private reserves after trade restrictions were modified at the last CITES meeting. The board was sitting on 'a ton of horn' it could not sell to generate even more funds. He was, however, not prepard to endorse th proposal and doubtd that it would bcom part of South Africa's final submission to CITES.
