0 comments
0 viewsWildlife activists donning red t-shirts, scarves and hats carried signs and chanted outside of the House of Parliament today to support rhino conservation. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) declared Wednesday, 22 September, “Make Noise for Rhinos Day” and asked citizens to blow their vuvuzelas at 1 p.m. to raise awareness of rhino poaching.
Cars hooted to show their support as the activists chanted, “We hate poachers, yes we do. We hate poachers, how about you?”
Rhino Africa and Wildlife ACT organized the rally outside of parliament with the help of Getaway Magazine.
The gathering supported government initiatives such as the anti-poaching unit and rallied citizens to educate themselves on the plight of the rhinos.
Approximately 210 rhinos have been poached in 2010, compared to 110 in 2009. In the past eight months more rhinos were poached than in the past seven years, according to Sindiswa Nobula of the WWF.
The increase in poaching is in part due to the rise of the Chinese middle class, which, along with other Asian cultures, holds the belief that the horn has healing powers. The Asian market propels rhino poaching despite the fact that no scientific study has been able to prove that the rhino horn has any medicinal benefits according to Johan Maree of Wildlife ACT.
A Vietnamese government official inflamed the issue when he stated that the use of a rhino horn cured him of cancer.
Educating the public and, ultimately, getting the message out to the Asian market about the state of the rhinos is the most effective way to end the poaching, according to Ross Bowers of Rhino Africa.
In order to bring awareness to rhino conservation, monetary donations are needed as well as volunteer work. Engineers and biologists are needed to volunteer their time and skills.
According to Maree, in order to save the rhinos we must stop the supply and demand.
“From this side, we can stop the supply and educate people in this part of the world,” Maree said.
The poachers responsible for the rhino killings are advanced criminal groups, Bowers said. “So we have to be advanced, too.”
Nine rhino poachers were arrested on Monday. They were allegedly linked to the rhino poaching mafia, Maree said.
Ending the brutality of poaching requires stricter trafficking punishments, anti-poaching initiatives, volunteers and funds. Every South African citizen can be a part of this cause, whether it be making a donation or simply spreading the word.
Go to www.worldwildlife.org to make a donation or to find other ways to get involved.
“Why would you not want to save the oldest living mammal in the world?” Maree said.