Environment Affairs Minister Dr. Edna Molewa on Thursday, January 25, said some 1 346 Environmental Monitors have been deployed in rhino poaching hotspots to assist with environmental protection.

Molewa, who was giving an update on progress in the implementation of the integrated strategic management of Rhinoceros, said the monitors will be further empowered to become “Rhino Ambassadors” in these hotspots.

The management of rhinos is centered around combating poaching.

“Today’s report back will cover the following thematic areas in line with the integrated strategic management approach, namely compulsory interventions, managing rhino populations, long-term sustainability interventions and new interventions – all of these within the context of national and international cooperation,” said the environment minister.

Read: Suspected rhino poachers arrested in Hoedspruit

Molewa said compulsory interventions include the creation of an Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ), which she added “allows us to allocate limited resources to ensure maximum protection in areas of greatest importance”.

The minister said: “In our last briefing we reported that an IPZ had been established in key reserves in KwaZulu-Natal province and that we were investigating rolling it out in other provinces. I am pleased to report that an IPZ has since been established in the Eastern Cape”.

She said technical guidelines have been developed on the implementation of a restorative justice programme, which is aimed at ensuring that rhino poachers become either Rhino Ambassadors or perform community service.

In addition there were new interventions as well as national and international cooperation. Resourcing had also been made available for anti-poaching and rhino security initiatives

Molewa, who was flanked by State Security Minister Bongani Bongo – and joineds via videolink from Cape Town by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, reiterated that “rhino poaching is a national priority crime” which was being tackled by various departments..

She said there has been progress in a number of areas, including arrests, investigations and successful convictions of rhino poachers and smugglers, as well as the stepping up of technological and other interventions within our joint operations.

“We have initiated a patrol optimisation programme in our Parks. This is the intelligence-driven allocation of patrol resources into high risk poaching areas said the minister.

She said the Patrol Optimization Program, which began in the Balule Game Reserve with the all-female Black Mamba anti-poaching unit in 2016, has since been successfully expanded into six other rhino reserves.

Read: HOEDSPRUIT: Black Mambas tackle poaching

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For the full article on The Citizen’s website, click on: SA deploys 1 346 monitors in rhino poaching hotspots