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The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus

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The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus Executive Summary of The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus: A deadly combination of institutional lapses, corrupt wildlife industry professionals and Asian crime syndicates By Tom Milliken and Jo Shaw with contributions from Richard H. Emslie, Russell D. Taylor and Chris Turton A TRAFFIC REPORT THE SITUATION AT THE SOURCE SOUTH AFRICA outh Africa, a vast country spanning the bot- tom of the African continent, unquestionably has the world’s most successful conservation record for rhinos. In 2011, this country alone Sconserved 83% of Africa’s rhinos and nearly three-quarters of all wild rhinos worldwide. As one of the most biologically diverse nations glob- ally, South Africa has long promoted biodiversity con- servation through the sustainable use of natural resources. In fact, the country’s constitution enshrines these principles, calling for: “a prosperous, environ- mentally conscious nation, whose people are in har- monious coexistence with the natural environment, and which derives lasting benefits from the conserva- tion and sustainable use of its rich biological diversity”. With such an enabling environment, it is not sur- prising that, since the 1960s, there has been a marked shift to wildlife-based land-use amongst private land- owners, and today game ranches in South Africa cover an area nearly three times the collective size of all national and provincial protected areas on State land. Wildlife in general, but rhinos in particular, have ben- efitted tremendously from these visionary natural resource policies. But the country’s superlative conser- vation record of more than a century is under threat. Ironically, the fate of South Africa’s rhinos is now inextricably linked with market forces in Viet Nam, a country that recently saw its own rhino population slip into ignominious extinction. ©MARTIN HARVEY/WWF-CANON TIM JACKSON/AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC A White Rhino Ceratotherium simum simum cow and calf. A Black Rhino Diceros bicornis RHINO NUMBERS Threatened category and, although conservation In sharp contrast, all specimens of the southern sub- dependent, the subspecies is no longer regarded as a EXECUTIVE SUMMARY species of White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum threatened or endangered species. simum originate from a remnant population of 20 to Africa’s other rhino species, the Black Rhinoceros his document summarises TRAFFIC’s compre- In contrast, almost no empirical data exist for under- 50 animals that have been protected in the Hluhluwe- Diceros bicornis, has not fared nearly as well. The esti- hensive overview of events and dynamics cur- standing the Vietnamese side of the equation, which iMfolozi Game Reserve since 1895. South Africa now mated 100 000 Black Rhinos in Africa in 1960, prior to rently driving an escalating illicit trade in rhino comes into focus primarily through a growing body conserves 18 800 White Rhinos, which represents the first catastrophic rhino poaching crisis, were near- horns from South Africa to Viet Nam. Whilst it of observational and anecdotal accounts. nearly 95% of Africa’s total White Rhino population ly wiped out and plummeted to just 2410 animals by Tis recognized that there are other dimensions to Regardless of any shortcomings, it is hoped that (Figure 1). The remarkable recovery of the Southern 1995 (Figure 1). Since then, numbers have more than the rhino horn trade within Africa and in Asia, this this effort will make a valuable contribution towards White Rhino via Natal Parks Board’s “Operation doubled to 4880 animals in 2010, but this species is examination of the two principal countries serves to understanding the salient factors both in the source Rhino”, which pioneered wildlife translocation and still considered Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red bring into focus many prominent characteristics of a country and end-use market that underlie the current other important management strategies, remains one List. A different story has unfolded in South Africa, still-unfolding wildlife trade crisis of global importance. rhino crisis. In turn, this knowledge should lead to of the world’s greatest conservation triumphs. Part of however, where Black Rhino numbers have shown a The story for South Africa is a data-rich narrative remedial strategies, actions and interventions that this achievement rests with the country’s private sec- steady increase since the 1980s. South Africa now con- that underscores the intense preoccupation and com- serve to mitigate and prevent further losses of Africa’s tor that accounts for a growing proportion of the serves an estimated 1915 Black Rhinos – more than mitment of that nation regarding rhino conservation. iconic but threatened rhino species. national White Rhino population. Estimates from any other range State – and nearly 40% of all wild 2010 indicate that approximately 25% of all White Black Rhinos alive today (Figure 1). Again, the private Rhinos in South Africa are privately owned. South sector has played a major role in Black Rhino conser- Exchange rates for South African Rand (ZAR) and Vietnamese Dong (VND) into United States Dollars (USD) are indicative and were calculated Africa is justifiably proud that the southern White vation, holding approximately 22% of South Africa’s during drafting of the report between January 2011 and June 2012. Rhino is now listed in the IUCN Red List’s Near current population. ᮣ TRAFFIC 1 SOUTH AFRICA 20 000 20 000 WHITE RHINO TROPHY HUNTING Thefts are another source of illegal rhino horn. As Rest of Africa Rest of Africa Since its resumption in 1968, South Africa’s hunting the value of rhino horn has increased, exhibited 18 000 South Africa 18 000 South Africa market has traditionally been dominated by hunters horns have increasingly been subjected to robberies from North America and Europe, both continents throughout the country. At least 65 rhino horns have 16 000 16 000 with longstanding sport hunting traditions. For some been stolen from public display within South Africa 14 000 14 000 35 years, rhino hunting unfolded without apparent and a minimum of 46 horns have been taken from abuse. From 2003, however, there has been an insidi- European institutions. Further feeding into this illicit 12 000 12 000 ous increase in non-traditional hunters, especially trade, some corrupt wildlife industry individuals also Vietnamese nationals, who purposely began to exploit began illegally dehorning live rhinos without the 10 000 10 000 loopholes in South Africa’s legislation to obtain hunt- required permits and selling the horns to Asian buy- ing trophies for a revived rhino horn trade in Asia. ers. Removal of horns from tranquilized rhinos has 8 000 8 000 Flat-footed and slow in response initially, the South been shown to work as an effective deterrent to African government has since implemented a succes- poachers in some instances, but dehorning live rhi- Number of Black Rhinos Number of Black 6 000 6 000 sive series of measures imposing ever more stringent nos without the relevant permits for the purpose of rules on White Rhino hunts in an attempt to curtail obtaining horns for illegal trade is a development Number of Southern White Rhinos Number of Southern 4 000 4 000 the abuse. For example, rhino hunts are now restricted unique to South Africa. to one hunt per hunter in each 12-month period of A major source of horn supply for the illicit trade 2 000 2 000 time, government personnel must witness each hunt- has been the rhino trophies derived from “pseudo- ing event, rhino horns cannot be exported as part of a hunting” of White Rhinos by non-traditional hunt- 0 0 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 1980 1990 2000 2010 hunter’s personal baggage, the hunter’s home country ers. Whilst this phenomenon effectively surged from must demonstrate sufficient legislation to ensure the 2006 onwards, serious doubts about the presence of trophies remain “non-commercial personal effects”, Vietnamese nationals in sport hunting began to each rhino horn trophy has to be micro-chipped and emerge earlier (Figure 2). ᮣ Figure 1 Numbers of Southern White (left) and Black Rhinos incentives for wildlife conservation for a broad range DNA samples taken for inclusion in the Rhino DNA in South Africa and the rest of Africa to 31 December 2010 of stakeholders. Index System at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (data from R. Emslie) The hunting industry and spin-off services directly in Pretoria. Controls on taxidermists were also employ some 70 000 people, mostly in rural areas. strengthened. There are about 500 trophy hunting outfitters and On another related policy front, since 2011, all live some 3000 professional hunters, who are supported rhino exports to ex situ locations are restricted to mem- LAWS AND POLICY by hundreds of wildlife professionals, including game bers of the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria, fol- In recent years, legislation relating to wildlife conser- capture and translocation specialists, wildlife veteri- lowing concerns over recent exports to China which vation in South Africa has undergone revision to narians and taxidermists. Rhinos are a key compo- appeared to be part of an undisclosed commercial reflect political changes in the country and the nent of the game industry. For example from 2008– rhino farming venture for producing rhino horn medi- increased interest in game ranching and private wild- 2011, White Rhino sales generated over ZAR236 mil- cines for the Chinese market in the future. life ownership. Historically, nature conservation in lion (approximately USD35.5 million) for the main South Africa was governed at the provincial level, but wildlife sales organizations, represented by two wild- since 2004, wildlife management has been regulated life authorities and one private auction company. ILLEGAL TRADE IN RHINO HORN nationally by the National Environmental Manage- South Africa’s wildlife industry is highly developed Rhino horn sourcing by organized crime syndicates ment: Biodiversity Act, Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA).
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