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Tech aids in nabbing poachers

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 10 May 2016
2015 is the first year since 2007 that a dip in rhino poaching levels has been recorded.
2015 is the first year since 2007 that a dip in rhino poaching levels has been recorded.

The South African government has hailed the use of technologies in turning the tide against rhino poachers.

Environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa this week provided an update on the progress of the Integrated Strategic Management Approach of Rhinoceros, government's strategy to combat poaching announced by Cabinet in 2014.

The strategy included the creation of an intensive protection zone within the Kruger National Park, the introduction and implementation of new technology, and proactive intelligence.

It emerged from the briefing that more than 200 rhino poachers have been arrested in SA since the beginning of the year.

Molewa attributed this to the use of technologies such as drones, night vision equipment, early warning and detection, as well as tracking.

However, she noted there were 1 038 rhino poaching incursions in SA's biggest national reserve, the Kruger National Park, in the first four months of 2016, up from 808 a year earlier. Nonetheless, the number of animals killed for their horns fell to 232 from 302.

"We are optimistic that this is the year in which we turn the tide on rhino poaching," Molewa said. "We are under no illusions of the challenges ahead, but we are confident that slowly, but surely, progress is being made."

Nationally, about 1 175 rhinos were poached in SA last year, 40 fewer than the previous year. This makes 2015 the first year since 2007 that a dip in rhino poaching levels has been recorded.

Hawks head Mthandazo Ntlemeza says: "We have responded accordingly and stepped up our efforts to apprehend suspected rhino poachers. Since the first of January 2016, a total of 206 alleged poachers have been arrested in South Africa.

"This success is the result of improved collaboration between the security cluster as well as working with the communities and non-governmental organisations," says Ntlemeza.

The government has also introduced a number of initiatives to curb rhino poaching in partnership with environmental groups and the private sector.

This came after the South African National Parks and government faced increasing pressure from the public and other stakeholders to stop the poaching. Compounding the problem is the fact that the criminals are highly organised and have vast resources, including sophisticated technology, at their disposal.

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