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Konica continues rhino poaching fight

Joanne Carew
By Joanne Carew, ITWeb Cape-based contributor.
Johannesburg, 01 Oct 2012

One rhino is killed every 30 hours in SA. In partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Konica Minolta is putting money towards the fight against this epidemic.

Konica Minolta has been supporting the WWF's efforts against rhino poaching since July 2011, and with the latest cheque for just under R400 000 handed to the conservation organisation last week, the company's total contribution to the WWF's anti-poaching initiatives has reached the R1 million mark.

The money is being used to support law enforcement and secure the rhino population while strengthening the capacity of DNA forensic analysis. The money will also go towards the production and distribution of DNA sampling kits, which will be used to build up an African Rhino Database to improve rhino management and traceability.

According to Dr Joseph Okari, head of the WWF's African Rhino Programme, experts currently predict that 500 rhino will be poached this year. "We are facing criminal syndicates that are very wise at what they do," said Okari, who stressed that addressing the demand aspect of this fight by communicating with officials from various Asian countries is essential.

The Rhino DNA Index System, termed RhODIS, is an integral part in the WWF and Konica's fight against poachers. RhODIS is the first DNA database that will match seized rhino horns with carcasses from national parks, reserves and game farms. This DNA system can even be used to prove that the person caught with the rhino horn was also involved in the killing of the animal.

According to Dr Cindy Harper, director of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the University of Pretoria, the primary aim of the RhODIS database is to support the investigation of rhino poaching incidents through forensic DNA testing. Harper describes her work as "rhino CSI", as it involves the piecing together of rhino parts, taking DNA samples, and examining weapons and other forensic evidence, which can hopefully be used in court to secure a conviction.

"Our partnership with Konica is about addressing the problem and focusing on particular issues - in this case, the issue is the merciless killing of our rhinos. Our aim is to boost investment in the fight, and in doing so, increase convictions," said Okari.

"A big turning point in our fight was the admission of RhODIS into law," said Okari. What this means is that legislation passed in SA and Kenya now makes DNA evidence admissible in courts of law, and the DNA profiling of rhinos mandatory. According to Okari, this is a step in the right direction and is something that could never have happened without support from businesses like Konica Minolta.

"We have the responsibility and the economic capacity to do something about this issue. When they are all gone, it will be too late and then we will all have to take responsibility for the fact that we failed these animals," said Harper. For Konica SA's MD, Alan Griffith, the company is doing its best to support and promote RhODIS and the hope is that convictions that have resulted from this DNA technology will deter criminals.

"The problem with this fight is that people get complacent. Yes, one dead rhino is just one dead rhino, but with the figures predicting the loss of 500 rhino in 2012 alone, we cannot afford to let our heritage be stolen like this. Something needs to be done," said Harper. "We rely heavily on companies like Konica Minolta to keep the momentum going in this fight. It is up to those who think it is an important issue to support the fight, be it companies like Konica or individuals."

"Through this partnership, we aim to see the rhino population secure and growing," said Okari, adding that, in 2013, the hope is to build on past successes and to enter into more partnerships across Africa.

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