O.R.C.A. Force Protects Critically Endangered Rhino in South Africa
O.R.C.A. Force Protects Critically Endangered Rhino in South Africa
O.R.C.A. Force, Sea Shepherd’s land-based investigation and intervention unit, is currently involved in a highly successful collaboration with local organizations in an effort to enhance anti-poaching efforts within South Africa. Recently, the team recieved a request for assistance from the South African organisation SPOTS (Strategic Protection of Threatened Species). O.R.C.A. Force team members gladly accepted the invitation to asssit SPOTS, who funded the Sea Shepherd crew’s trip to aid their rhino project.
“The decision to support SPOTS was easy to make, even though currently they aren’t targeting ocean wildlife”, explains O.R.C.A. Force director Laurens de Groot. “The Asian crime syndicates profiting from the illegal rhino horn trade are exactly the same as those making huge profits from the shark fin trade. We need to battle these criminals on all fronts whether on land or sea, with the aim of hitting them where it hurts most, by decimating their profits. SPOTS uses innovative direct-action tactics to hunt for poachers, which is exactly what Sea Shepherd is all about, so helping them was in line with our mission.”
At the moment SPOTS co-founder Peter Milton estimates there are less than 12,000 white rhino and 2,500 black rhino left in South Africa. Most of the rhino are shot and left to die in agony while the poachers take off with their 6-7 kilo horn. Profits in this illegal and atrocious trade are high, with a single horn selling to the middle men for as much as USD $65,000 per kilo. Eventually the horns are ground up and end up in the Chinese and Vietnamese markets where they are sold per gram, creating an estimated profit for the mafia in the region of USD $1,000,000 per horn.
Shockingly, so far in 2012 more than 300 rhino have been killed — roughly two per day. “At this rate, Chinese and Vietnamese consumers will have been responsible for wiping out the equivalent remaining population of the similarly endangered Chinese Panda,”says Milton, in a statement comparing the plight of South Africa’s Rhino to China’s beloved national symbol.
Sea Shepherd has been able to provide additional high tech equipment, including Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), night vision and Infra Red equipment, as well as a small team of experts and campaign veterans in order to enhance SPOTS anti-poaching efforts. One of the team members, explains: “Unmanned Aerial Systems and other high tech equipment is key to protecting wildlife in Africa,” he said. “Like our oceans the areas that need to be patrolled in South Africa are vast and UAS technology offers the most cost effective method of surveillance.”
“By sharing our knowlegde and technical expertise we hope to create a network of partners all determined to stop the poachers in Africa’s ocean and wildlife reserves,” says Sea Shepherd South Africa coordinator Rosie Kunneke. “Using eyes in the sky and tools like thermal imagery and night vision, the poachers will be easier to find and we can significantly reduce the risk of both animal and human fatalities. It also reduces the likelihood of corruption and loss of information, which is a huge problem in South Africa. With the right equipment you can work efficiently with a very small team of dedicated and passionate professionals determined to stop poachers.”
By combining forces, knowledge, and expertise with SPOTS, O.R.C.A. Force hopes to create a blueprint that can be used to improve anti-poaching efforts worldwide.
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