2014 satte ny rekord i nedslagtning af verdens sidste næsehorn. Organiserede krybskyttebander med langdistancevåben nedlagde 1.215 næsehorn i fjor i Sydafrika, langt de fleste i den store Kruger Nationalpark. Det er 21 procent flere end i 2013, som ellers også satte rekord.
Den skånselsløse jagt på tykhuderne fortsatte med uformindsket styrke i januar i år: Frem til torsdag d. 22. januar blev der dræbt 49 såkaldte bredsnudede (hvide) næsehorn, dvs. to om dagen. Sydafrika er hjemsted for 80 procent af verdens næsehorn.
The last few years have all seen new records set, with poaching fuelled by the belief in countries like China and Vietnam that horns have medicinal properties, writes BBC online Thursday.
South Africa’s environment minister Edna Molewa said more than 100 rhinos had been moved to “more secure locations” – some of them in neighbouring countries – in a bid to protect the animals.
Conservationists say they are facing an ever greater challenge to protect animals against poachers who are equipped with sophisticated tools such as night-vision goggles and long-range rifles.
“Killing on this scale shows how rhino poaching is being increasingly undertaken by organised criminal syndicates,” said Dr Carlos Drews, WWF’s director of global species programme.
“The country’s brave rangers are doing all they can to protect the rhinos but only a concerted global effort can stop this illegal trade. This includes South Africa scaling up its efforts to stop the poaching and Viet Nam taking urgent measures to reduce consumer demand,” noted he.
