Update: Mozambique disappoints with report on rhino poaching

April 7

NELSPRUIT – “A disappointment” is how several members of the CITES committee working on the issue of rhino protection described the report submitted by Mozambique.

Commitee member Dr Colam O Croidain explained, “Most of the concrete progress reported relates to activities in the Limpopo National Park, supported by external partners.” (Read more about the alliances established to protect the rhino of Kruger National Park  here). Also of concern to the committee is the fact that the new conservation law intended to address current shortcomings, such as the low penalties for poaching rhino horn, has not been promulgated; “nor is there any timeframe for it’s adoption,” O Croidain said.

The committee has not made a decision yet on how to address the shortcomings of this report.

April 2

NELSPRUIT – It was confirmed on Monday that the Mozambican ministry of tourism has submitted a report on measures to curb rhino poaching and trade to CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments with the aim of ensuring the survival of wild animals and plants by managing international trade in these specimens. Mozambique and Viet Nam, considered to be the problem countries in terms of the trade in rhino horn, agreed to submit reports to a CITES committee by January 31, detailing how the governments would tackle the matter within their borders.

This report is currently being assessed by members of the committee. Dr Colman O Criodain, member of the CITES working committee and policy analyst of the World Wildlife Fund, indicated that comment on the content would only be forthcoming within the next week. The Viet Nam report awaits further clarification from that government.

Read the initial article of March 28:

NELSPRUIT – It is no secret among conservationists in South Africa that more than 80 per cent of rhino-poaching incidents involve Mozambican nationals. This makes it imperative that our eastern neighbour demonstrates the political will to take action against this attack on our natural resources, particularly within the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Its commitment to control the rhino-horn trade within its own borders should have been declared in a January report to a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) committee. Mozambique missed this deadline.

Another large player in this illicit industry, Vietnam, complied with a report and a national directive by its prime minister, Mr Nguyen Tan Dung to “strengthen measures to protect endangered and precious wild animals”.

The failure of Mozambique’s ministry of tourism to observe the agreement caused concern internationally. Dr Colman O Criodain, member of the CITES working committee and policy analyst of the World Wildlife Fund stated that missing a deadline such as this could be considered as “serious.”

If that country did not respond to continued pressure to plan tougher anti-poaching and control measures, the committee could recommend to all CITES parties (169 countries) to cease trading with Mozambique in CITES-listed species, which would impact on the trade in reptile skin and trophy hunting.

According to Ms Emilia Polana, responsible for CITES management within Mozambique, she expected the report from the ministry by Friday.

The Vietnam directive  outlines, among others, the following actions in an attempt to discourage the trade in and use of rhino horn, namely:

• Strengthen its responses to transnational organised-crime syndicates

• Increased inter-agency efforts at borders and hot spots

• Increase prosecution of individuals involved in this crime

• Improve awareness of wildlife crime among the general population.

O Criodain admitted that the committee awaited clarification on many of these points, and added that “it is not to be expected that these measures would have an immediate effect on poaching levels”. However, tighter regulation in consumer markets like Japan, China and Yemen had resulted in a decrease in demand, he said.

Meanwhile, in local conservation circles, there is apprehension about the effect that a large Chinese presence in Mozambique will have on the smuggling of horns through this country. As one man, who wishes to remain anonymous, explains, there is a sizeable fishing fleet operating along the eastern coastline, with little knowledge on how it is being monitored. One source believes as many as 450 to 600 horns could have been smuggled via Mozambique over the past year. The value is about R50 million.

Currently, the Mozambican poaching law is being redrafted, but is described by many local law enforcers as “a shambles”. There is no imprisonment for poachers caught in the country, only fines. Last year three police officers and forestry inspectors were arrested in Mozambique’s Magude district for providing weapons with which to conduct poaching. Of the 167 arrests for rhino poaching made in South Africa last year, 68 per cent were that country’s citizens. A total of 36 Mozambican poachers were killed in the KNP in 2013. It is now rumoured in anti-poaching rings that many cross the border with their bail money in their pockets.

A well-known anti-poaching operator in Mozambique concludes that, with the number of rhino killed this year at 189 (known) cases, pressure should be on the South African Government to, in turn, force its neighbour to take more rigorous action to find the middlemen, most of whom operate from Maputo and are the ones paying the poachers, and to seal its borders as an exit point for rhino horn to the Asian market. His opinion: “If you sort Mozambique out, you will have sorted out 50 per cent of the problem.”

This week, the deputy minister of water and environmental affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, met with her Vietnamese counterpart to see how their departments could work together to control the illegal wildlife trade.