Draft plan ready to curb rhino poaching
Department announces that a draft plan has been finalised by South Africa and Mozambique in an effort to protect wildlife.
SKUKUZA – Almost a month after South Africa and Mozambique signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), aimed to, among other things, curb rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park, a draft implementation plan was announced.
Representatives of the two countries finalised the draft plan. It is hoped that its implementation will be finalised and signed by the end of July. The MoU was signed at Skukuza by the minister of water and environmental affairs, Ms Edna Molewa, and the Mozambican minister of tourism, Mr Carvalho Muária on April 17.
Water and Environmental Affairs announced this week that discussions had started on fund-raising for anti-poaching, wildlife trafficking, community development and awareness campaigns. It stated, “Talks have also been held regarding the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms to ensure rhino poaching is curbed.”
To date 106 people have been arrested since January 1. The KNP has lost 245 so far this year, of the 376 in the country in total. The only province not affected this year has been the Northern Cape. A total of 39 rhino have been killed in Limpopo, 37 in KwaZulu-Natal and 26 in North West.
Among steps being taken by South Africa and Mozambique since June 2013 to address the menace of rhino poaching have included:
- Immediate maintenance and erection of fencing along the eastern boundary of Kruger National Park with Mozambique;
- Strengthening of the buffer zone in Mozambique through the establishment of the Greater Lubombo Conservancy;
- Creation of an intensive protection zone in the Limpopo National Park;
- Deploying a well-trained and armed anti-poaching unit for joint collaboration with the Kruger National Park team and the
- Synchronisation of operational plans between the Limpopo and Kruger National Parks.
Read more about the MoU as well as the allocation of recently donated funds here.
