Booo!
This is so sad and needs to STOP!
Hunting of the endangered Rhino in South Africa has reached an all time high with 333 rhinos killed in 2010.
Poachers are driven by Asian medicine market demand and can acquire a small fortune on the black market by selling the horns of these poor creatures.
Conservation officers are finding it hard to keep up with these criminals who are using advanced techniques and technologies to capture their prey in the middle of the night. Tranquilizers, night vision, silenced rifles, and helicopters are a few of their techniques to take down the endangered creatures.
Sounds like these guys are straight out of James Bond movie!
Dr. Joseph Okori, African Rhino Programme manager for the WWF, explained:
“The criminal syndicates operating in South Africa are highly organized and use advanced technologies. They are very well coordinated…this is not typical poaching.”
Since South Africa is home to 21,000 rhinos, more than any other country in the world, it is a prime target for these scum-bags to operate, despite strict government measures in place to protect the animals.
Clearly, it’s going to take more than just South Africa’s conservation officers to stop this dangerous and illegal black market trade. Tom Milliken, Director of TRAFFIC’s East and Southern Africa program, agrees and says:
“Only a concerted international enforcement pincer movement, at both ends of the supply and demand chain can hope to nip this rhino poaching crisis in the bud.”
Absolutely! Lets hope the world can work together to beat this TERRIBLE trade.
[Image via AP Images.]
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