A Sustainable Lie - Rhinoceros Racketeering

A Sustainable lie

The Republic of South Africa holds the largest populations of Rhinoceros in the world to date, and as we are moving nearer to the Cop (16) summit that will be heard in Bangkok on 3^rd March 2013 we now as the Rhinoceros protectors and their only hope for freedom must take evasive action to ensure that our Rhinoceros will not become exploited in a free for all, for greed, and ancient Asian and middle east counterfeit pharmaceuticals and culture that has spanned back over one thousand years.

International Animal Rescue Foundation and other conservation teams has been ploughing the way forwards now showing the world and its vast supportive network the cruel, barbaric and narcissistic trend that has seen thousands of African Rhinoceros wiped out by Asian and middle eastern poachers that have become more sophisticated and intelligent in their ways of illegally obtaining what is just Keratin and a mixture of phosphorus, nitrogen, and other non-medicinal chemical properties, better known as the Rhinoceros horn.

Rhinoceros horn is worth more than its weight in gold and since the illegal Rhinoceros slaughtering increased from 2007 although documented back to roughly 2000. Legal profiteering of the Rhinoceros is now seen as a quick monetary gain for farmers and outfitters that have made millions of dollars via this lucrative trade that we must now put an end to.

We are no longer fighting a war here with just the poachers we are fighting a war with hunters and farmers that we know are using the just legitimate sales of Rhinoceros as a front for the Traditional Chinese Medicine market of which we call animal exploitation for the sake of greed that is a sustainable and compulsive lie spun by famers and hunters in “some” Rhinoceros and animal activists groups plus online media and non-media propaganda all over Africa and Europe alone.

International Animal Rescue Foundations Investigations Unit that launched (OTH) Operation Trojan Horse has for the past year although only made public in May investigated many “individuals” and lucrative deals along with farmers that have seen many Rhinoceros sold to the hunting market or over the border to hunt. Counter surveillance in Hanoi and Saigon, Vietnam, has also seen vast amounts of Rhinoceros horn on sale in these hot zones even though the (DEA) Department of Environmental Affairs has withheld all hunting permits to Vietnamese hunters, which therefore then raises the question as to how these horns that we know are illegally smuggled out of Africa via poaching and legitimate hunting is ending up on these Vietnamese markets of which the Vietnamese government is acting ignorantly into halting and increasing arrest rates of this highly destructive yet illegal trade.

Just to reiterate the law once again as it seems to be falling upon deaf ears in Vietnam, China and other parts of Asia, Rhinoceros horn is banned by the Convention in International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)  along with this the ban on all hunting permits in regards to Vietnamese hunters is also “proscribed” as of the 2012 Department of Environment and Affairs (DEA) transcript made public this year 2012 as of the high poaching rates and the vast illegal usage of Rhinoceros horn the full document can be read here http://www.environment.gov.za/?q=content/molewa_rhinopoaching_briefingat_krugerpark

Subaqueous and silentious investigations are now being steeped up due to the increased illegal market trade of Rhinoceros horn in Asia that also includes the purchasing and decimating of Rhinoceros in South Africa which includes sales over the border.

Evidence has portrayed that hunters, farmers, rangers and veterinary staff are becoming more known to law enforcement agencies in and outside of Africa that has seen increased numbers of arrests to convictions although the exact number including names and what positions they worked at will not be fully known until the end of the year or if we decide to obtain the freedom of Information act from the South African Government.

Reams of data of which International Animal Rescue Foundation has displayed below shows the number of Rhinoceros that’s being sold just from various farms to mostly “hunting organisations” or as one better knows them Safaris that are frequented by thousands of tourists/hunters all over the world every year and of which we will see more in the summer coming that we are now increasingly concerned about raising the question that we have known all along but stayed laconic on as to not raise awareness whilst on-going investigations proceed.

Demand for the horn in Asia is not yet fully known although we have seen strange activity of which could point to a decrease in demand via the usage of synthetic man made horn which is even more harmful to humans than good.  The inside of the synthetic man made horn is filled with tissue paper or sawdust of which the purchaser is not aware of until thousands of dollars have been handed over and the user then cuts the synthetic man made article. By that time the counterfeit dealer has long gone with thousands of dollars.

As humorous as this may sound to some it raises the question though of how important it is to now undertake the much needed census population count on the Rhinoceros in South Africa that International Animal Rescue Foundation has lobbied the South African Government on since February 2012 and if the usage of counterfeit synthetic man made horn is widely being used of which (OTH) Operation Trojan Horse has reported an increase in arrests on then too this also raises eyebrows on whether there is a vast decrease in Rhinoceros population in South Africa that would then pinpoint now why more private reserves are being targeted to even more arrests being made as of opportunists going to great lengths to obtain that much needed fake non-medicinal horn. Arrests have shot up in Hanoi and Saigon the “hot zones” from which the synthetic man made horn has been sold. Please view link http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/132/1321179326.pdf the link explains the lucrative trade in synthetic and non-synthetic Rhinoceros horn.

News just in has also now seen a massive arrest October 2012 compromising four Rhinoceros horns three large front and one rear back from a Vietnamese hunting official of which shows in the document that the horns where non-mounted. The investigative authorities are now trying to trace the location of and/or geographical location using DNA analysis please view link here http://thethaovanhoa.vn/374N20121003145209748T132/co-can-cu-de-dieu-tra-dai-gia-mat-sung-te-giac.htm Rhinoceros horn is also as we advertised before this media page “did” the selling of horn online which is ILLEGAL - http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=east+african+rhino+medicine+pics+&view=detail&id=75BDB100CA875D72A0873BF9B47B292B36698481&first=121&FORM=IDFRIR

Another site selling Rhinoceros horn http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=White+Rhino+Horn+For+Sale&view=detail&id=28B312B365A516857D912474DB4E6BABC236394A&FORM=IDFRIR

Moving on to the sustainability of Rhinoceros, this we are now outright quoting is a complete lie and front for the lucrative and increased poaching operations. Operation Trojan Horse is sending back much data to us of purchasers and users of Rhinoceros horn that have been made in Hanoi, Saigon and China of which these horns where taken of the mounts and used in (TCM).

Pic above was recently placed upon the internet offering this horn for sale, all details have been passed to Interpol.

Please view the data below on why now International Animal Rescue Foundation is asking for a moratorium on hunting temporally to then an outright ban, we have explained the use of a “temporary moratorium” so we can prove to the Department of Environment and Affairs plus South African government that this will and can work thus not damaging nor altering the economic or monetary conservation trade.

Hunting Africa we have noticed to be selling recently vast quantities of Rhinoceros to many people and over border reserves/buyers of which sees the Rhinoceros hunted. This is a big loophole that still sees Vietnamese and Chinese then going to bordering nations that then sees the Rhinoceros hunted legitimately (Please note Chinese hunters are not banned “yet” from hunting. Although the trophy is chipped and a (DNA) sample taken it does not under no circumstances halt the illegal wildlife trade not just in Rhinoceros but other horned animals to. As you can see in this link http://hunting-africa.co.za/  that a “Johan Welgemoed” is the number one kingpin here he has on sale for 2012 over sixty specimens and if one does a random check through the classified adverts you can view just how lucrative the Rhinoceros sales are. Please view the links below and the brief detailed analysis that I have inputted next to each link.

http://hunting-africa.co.za/?s=white+rhino+cow+for+sale&sa=search&cat=0 (Six Rhinoceros sold from April to July)

http://hunting-africa.co.za/?s=Rhino+bull+for+sale&sa=search&cat=0 (Ten Rhinoceros from April to August)

http://hunting-africa.co.za/ads/madikwe-white-rhino-for-sale/ (Six or more Rhinoceros sold here again)

Buyers seeking Rhinoceros trophies http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2010/07/22/taxidermists-warn-against-suspicious-buyers-seeking-rhino-horn-trophies/

Mr Johan Welgemoed then goes on to state this in the freely obtainable article that’s available on Google South Africa –

Hi Amanda, BJ, Douglas and the others – Thanks for your emails:

We don’t shoot rhino, we sell them.

We don’t subscribe to the Green Hunting of Rhino either (That is where hunters dart Rhinos for the hunting experience).

ALSO, with enquiries from overseas for Rhino sales, we say NO. It is normally very obvious where they will end up… (Posting will be as bad as poaching is these cases).

Financial: Rhinos with horns sell for more than without – so more horn (by the inch) will be better. Also with age, mature animals rather than very young ones.

Thanks for caring.

Regards,

Johan Welgemoed

Please do “note” what Mr Welgemoed states “We don’t shoot rhino, we sell them.

We don’t subscribe to the Green Hunting of Rhino either (That is where hunters dart Rhinos for the hunting experience).”

This is a ridiculous and absurd claim of which he knows where and to whom the Rhinoceros are going to or do we need to spell that out to a little clearer for all to view. Please view link here http://vnmade.com/?p=15092 This blog goes on to state exactly what we International Animal Rescue Foundation has stated that since the Vietnamese permits where withdrawn Rhinoceros poaching has rocketed http://saverhino.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/bureaucratic-pitfalls-for-rhino-farmers.html  (please note though we do not support the “legalised” selling of Rhinoceros horn “should it be made legal” that is in state vaults but more ask government to now destroy it by incinerating it thus sending out a message to Asia that Rhinoceros horn is not medicine and poaching will not be tolerated.

Another media statement made by Green Planet states;

This week, the South African media reported that some game farmers and reserve owners have allegedly been killing their own rhinos and claiming the rhinos were “poached” — and then selling the horns on the black market.

Of course, game farmer Dawie Groenewald was mentioned in the IOL/ Cape Times revelation, since the bodies of 20 dehorned rhinos were found in a mass grave on his property shortly after his 2010 arrest.

The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association’s deputy president, Gerhard Verdoorn, also told the Cape Times about “a suspicious case in KwaZulu-Natal where a game farm owner did not want police to investigate the dehorning of one of his rhinos and had warned his staff members not to talk about the incident”.

But it’s not only the private rhino owners who are willing to make a killing by killing. Back in March 2010, a Carte Blanche episode revealed that a well-known predator breeder in South Africa obtained a permit to euthanize 20 lions so he could sell their bones. (South Africa has managed to capitalize on the scarcity of tigers by supplying lion bones as a substitute for tiger bones in traditional Chinese medicine and “tiger bone wine” — a Chinese luxury tonic.)

And then there’s game farmer Marnus Steyl, who (allegedly) hired Thai prostitutes to pose as trophy hunters to kill rhinos on his property. Steyl is (allegedly) linked to the lion bone trade as well. However, a Hawks’ spokesperson told Eyewitness News that they do not want “farmers to be painted with the same brush [as poachers] “.

Meanwhile, R11 million (US $1,331,077) in assets belonging to South African game farmer and convicted rhino horn dealer Jacques Els have been seized. The assets are “believed to have been acquired through criminal activities” and the seizure includes his Thabazimbi property.

Els began serving his eight-year sentence earlier this month. As of July 17th, at least 281 rhinos have been massacred for their horns this year in South Africa.

Another rhino horn dealer sentenced

A South African court sentenced Chinese national Xiaja Chen to eight years in prison for illegal possession of rhino horns, elephant tusks, and leopard skins.

Chen — who was arrested in May along with four accomplices — claimed he obtained the rhino horns so he could smuggle them to China for his cancer-stricken uncle, according to Beeld.

Then on the 14^th march 2012 it was reported http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2012/03/14/south-africa-game-farmer-found-guilty-of-rhino-horn-crime/ that another game farmer had been found guilty of Rhinoceros horn crime.

Supply and demand are brought into equilibrium by the price of $40000/kg. Above that price, volumes sought decline below it, price sellers are reluctant to sell. Thus, there were about 940 horns sold last year 2011 for an average price of $40000/kg at the retail level. Assuming the average weight per horn was 4kg, and then 3760kg was sold for $150m at the retail level and $75m (R600m) at the wholesale price.

With the price having increased strongly in recent years along with other commodities, it is probable that speculators are buying and hoarding horn in the expectation of selling it at higher prices in the future (John Hume being one).

It has been estimated that 300,800 Traditional Chinese Medicine patients used Rhinoceros horn that was supplied to them by their (TCM) practitioner, adding to that of 3008kg was sold into the medicinal market. That then gives the “estimated sum” of usage although as stipulated above the demand can never be assessed through as of the pure commodious amounts of sellers and Traditional Chinese Medicine markets.  Concluding this small but significant amount of data it has shown International Animal Rescue Foundation the following points since Vietnamese permits have been banned.

i.            Poaching has dramatically increased all over the South African parks, farms and reserves.

ii.            Rhinoceros trophy hunting has increased over the border along with poaching.

iii.            Rhinoceros sales have vastly increased from the moment Vietnamese permits where banned from farmers selling mainly the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) too mainly over the border buyers or inland purchasers.

iv.            More farmers have been arrested or found guilty of poaching thus indicating that they are the number one kingpins selling to make a lucrative quick profit of a Rhinoceros.

International Animal Rescue Foundation will be asking Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the Department of Environment and Affairs to;

1. Ban on all sales of White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) with immediate effect.
2. Move the White Rhinoceros up further too critically endangered on the (CITES) annex.
3. Implantation of a full Rhinoceros population census with witnesses present.
4. Ploughing funds into the border fences being repaired that Edna Molowea stated was not finically possible – please view link http://www.environment.gov.za/?q=content/molewa_rhinopoaching_briefingat_krugerpark Please view (paragraph five) International Animal Rescue Foundation knows that this is a week area we of which we ourselves have viewed, so by integrating and proceeding with a copious (SAF) campaign Support Awareness Funding  we can then ensure with the help of all other organisations, African and non-African civilians that this prime area that see poachers gain access can be repaired, maintained and security stepped up thus seeing a decrease in Rhinoceros poaching and other illegal ground and avian activity.
5. As quoted in news reports in regards to a polygraph test being introduced then we International Animal Rescue Foundation supports this greatly thus again seeing a decrease in, in-house corruption within SANparks and reserves.
6. Funding and Awareness in to more Anti-Poaching units being drafted in and utilized.
7. Government to now adapt the methods of poisoning the horn therefore sending home the message to Asia that Rhinoceros poaching will not be tolerated at all upon South African soil.
8. Information sent to all ports land and sea to increase their security, even a possible funding initiative plus commercial, poster and canvasing campaign.

International Animal Rescue Foundations Counter Investigations Unit that has in place working to save the Rhinoceros an elite team of investigators,  investigating and reporting all illegal activity in Hanoi, Saigon, and other districts in Vietnam and China along with monitoring online activity working to in South Africa with (APU) Anti-Poaching Units.

We co-operate with INTERPOLS ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES UNIT in ensuring that as soon as investigative reports are concluded on the ground and via online activity then these reports with picture and video evidence will be passed on hopefully seeing the Vietnamese and Chinese governmental law enforcement agencies working together with INTERPOL to crack down on anyone that has illegally purchased Rhinoceros horn or other wildlife animal parts to randomly monitoring anyone in the areas of CHINA and other ASIAN and MIDDLE EASTERN nations to ensure that “trophies” are kept at just that.

All other activities that involve the protection of African wildlife are kept confidential however we do advise that should you know or see anyone trading in Rhinoceros horn to poaching or illegally hunting or suspicious activity to please report to us at info@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk OR INTERPOL http://www.interpol.int/Forms/EnvironmentalCrime

Please keep signing the petition and now let’s move the fight forwards to save the last of South Africans prehistoric gentle dinosaurs.

International Animal Rescue Foundation

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP ABUSE