Biodiversity Management Plan for White Rhinoceros (Notice No. 1191 of 2015)

BOMO D T4 MOLEWA MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS 1 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 4 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 General notices • alGemene KennisGewinGs Environmental Affairs, Department of/ Omgewingsake, Departement van DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS NOTICE 1191 OF 2015 1191 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004):: The Biodiversity Management Plan for White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) 39469 GOVERNMENT NOTICE NOTICE NO. OF 2015 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY ACT, 2004 (ACT NO. 10 OF 2004) THE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simum) I, Bomo Edith Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, hereby publish the Biodiversity Management Plan for the White Rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum) in South Africa in terms of section 43(1) {b)(i) read with section 43(3) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004), set out in the Schedule hereto. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 5 2 SCHEDULE White Rhino Plan for SA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Jointly developed at a stakeholders workshop organised by the SADC RMG. Knight MH1, RH Emslie2,R Smart3 & D Balfour4 (compilers) 1 Park Planning and Development, Conservation Services, South African National Parks, and Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa 2 IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group, Hilton, South Africa 3 Park Planning and Development, Conservation Services, South African National Parks 4 Independent specialist, East London, South Africa Cite as: Knight MH, RH Emslie, R Smart & D Balfour. 2015. Biodiversity Management Plan for The White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) in South Africa 2015-2020. Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria. South Africa. BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WHITE RHINOCEROS (WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simumCeratotherium simum) IN SOUTH AFRICA 2015-2020 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 6 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Southern white rhino Ceratotherium simum was historically found in southern Africa. Hunting and poaching reduced the population to between 20 - 50 animals in the iMfolozi area (now Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu Natal) by the end of the 19th century. By the beginning of 2012 the South African population had increased in size to represent over 93% of Africa’s wild white rhino. The saving of this species is hailed as one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park accounted for an estimated 53% and 13% of South Africa’s white rhinos in 2012, respectively. The private sector has also played a major role in rhino conservation by conserving about 24% (4,520) of the national population by 2012. The communal sector is beginning to play an increasing role in the conservation of the species. Although South Africa’s white rhino have increased at an average of 6.6 % per annum from 1991-2012, this growth is under pressure from resurgent and escalating poaching of rhinos for their horns. This upsurge in poaching has coincided with soaring costs for protecting rhino, increased risks to owners and conservation staff and the rhinos themselves. Worryingly, incentives (e.g. live sale prices) for rhino conservation have been generally declining. If these trends continue this will threaten continued increases in numbers of rhino and extent of suitable habitat under rhino management as well as reducing funds available for field conservation action, especially by the important source populations. Rhinos act as “flagship species” because they require large areas and significant protection measures that help to conserve a wide range of biodiversity, particularly where wildlife-based land-use systems have been established. The conservation of these rare and charismatic animals also attracts donor as well as state support, with the latter being stimulated by the national prestige of rhino conservation projects and the fact that rhinos are a major attraction for eco-tourists, in turn creating jobs and attracting important Forex, adding significant value to wildlife operations. Where markets have been established, such as in South Africa, rhinos have a high value in live sales, thus generating revenue for wildlife operations. Both black and white rhino are part of our national heritage, and also have spiritual/existence value for many people. The increased levels of poaching that have been experienced since 2008 are cause for major concern. If poaching rates continue to escalate year on year as they have been doing then this could result in numbers starting to decline in just a few years. The previous Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Ms Buyelwa Sonjica held a summit on rhino’s from 5-6 October 2010 in Pretoria. The summit was held to augment and endorse the current initiatives against rhino poaching and afford stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on the current interventions and harness further political and broader stakeholder commitment. One of the recommendations of the summit under the Monitoring and Evaluation key issue was the development of a BMP for white rhino as the BMP for black rhino was in process then. In addition, the development of the white rhino BMP is to enhance conservation efforts with regard to the species as well as achieving the target in terms of the Delivery Agreement. Additionally, the development of this BMP came about in response to an instruction from the Environmental Parliamentary Portfolio Committee as a result of the current upsurge in rhino horn poaching. The development of the BMP also reflects on the commitment of the key partners involved to work together in order to effectively achieve priorities highlighted in the Minister’s rhino summit as well as try to curb the illegal poaching and trade in rhino horn. The main purpose of BMP-S in terms of NEMBA is to ensure the long-term survival in the wild of the species and provide for monitoring and reporting on the progress with implementation of the plan. The BMP for white rhino will build upon an initial “Strategy for conservation and sustainable use of wild populations of southern white rhino Ceratotherium simum in South Africa” that had been developed following a stakeholder workshop convened by This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 7 4 the SADC Rhino Management Group and approved by MINMEC on February 29th 2000 (RMG 2000). The Rhino Management Group (RMG) initiated the process to develop the BMP for the white rhino. The draft South African white rhino BMP has a logical structure with a 5 year time horizon with targets. The plan has a long term vision and a shorter term conservation goal covering the time period of this plan. By achieving the short term goal progress will be made towards realising the longer term vision. The plan identifies a number of key components with associated objectives. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 8 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 5 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Adaptive genes: Functionally significant genes that result from the propagation of advantageous mutations through positive selection. Biodiversity Management Plan for Species: A tool to guide the management of indigenous species (and any sub-specific taxa) and groupings of indigenous species that are adversely affected by similar threats and enables the evaluation of progress with regard to such management. Ecotype: A group of organisms within a species that is adapted to particular environmental conditions and therefore exhibits behavioural, structural or physiological differences from other such members of the species. Intensive breeding: Rhinos usually in small to very small areas, in or out of historical range, living at compressed density and spacing, with routine partial food supplementation, with frequent levels of husbandry and veterinary interventions, and a manipulated or partially manipulated breeding system. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species List: (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List), is a comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species which provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those plants and animals that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable) as well as to examine trends in numbers and status of listed threatened species over time. Meta-population: In a meta-population the various individual populations in a country or region are managed as part of an overall national or regional herd with interchange of animals (genetic material) between the constituent subpopulations. A meta-population is not simply a set of separate rhino breeding groups within the region - there has to be some form of managed gene flow between the individual populations that make it up. Rhinos are managed as part of a meta-population to meet demographic and genetic conservation goals. Native Species/Indigenous species: A species is defined as indigenous or native to a given region or ecosystem, if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. NEMBA defines an indigenous species as a species that occurs, or has historically occurred, naturally in a free state in nature within the borders of the Republic, but excludes a species that has been introduced in the Republic as a result of human activity. It thus excludes agricultural and domesticated livestock and plants. Private Rhino Owners: Refers collectively to individuals who either own white rhinos or manage white rhinos on behalf of the owners. Put-and-take: Denoting a system whereby animals are deliberately introduced to an area for removal through consumptive-use practices (e.g. typically trophy hunting) within a relatively short time period (generally less than 25% of a generation for long-lived animals such as rhino). Selective breeding: The intentional breeding of selected individuals with specific traits in an attempt to produce offspring with similar characteristics or with improved traits. Species: The National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004 (NEMBA) defines a species as a kind of animal, plant or other organism that does not normally interbreed with individuals of another kind, and includes any sub-species, cultivar, variety, geographic race, strain, hybrid or geographically separate population. This definition applies in this document. Subspecies: Any natural subdivision of a species that exhibits small, but persistent, morphological variations from other subdivisions of the same species living in different geographical regions or times, but which are likely to interbreed and produce viable offspring if put together with another subspecies of the same species. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 9 6 Vita-darting: Refers to the almost simultaneous firing by a ‘green hunter’ of a dart loaded with a vitamin supplement injection under the guidance of a veterinarian, who fires another dart to immobilise the animal. It is normally done as part of a management operation. In essence vita-darting allows a green hunter to ‘shoot’ the rhino without killing it and to help fund a necessary management action, while getting round a prohibition of the South African Veterinary Council on veterinarians allowing green hunters to immobilise rhino themselves under their guidance. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 10 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 7 ACRONYMS AfRSG African Rhino Specialist Group of IUCN’s SSC BABS Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CoI Commission of Inquiry CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora COP Conference of Parties DEA Department of Environmental Affairs DWA Department of Water Affairs ECC Ecological Carrying Capacity (Zero population growth density) ECPTA Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency ECWG Environmental Crime Working Group of Interpol which is now formally linked with the RESG EKZNW Ezemvelo Kwa-Zulu Natal Wildlife GEF Global Environment Facility IMC Inter-Ministerial Committee IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature KNP Kruger National Park LATF Lusaka Agreement Task Force NEMBA National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) NEMPAA National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003) NPA National Prosecuting Authority NSSSRP National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations NWCRU National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit NWPTB North West Parks and Tourism Board NWR Northern White Rhino SADC Southern African Development Community SADC RMG SADC Rhino Management Group (see Appendix 1 for details) SADC RPRC SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation (not currently operational) SADC RRG SADC Rhino Recovery Group (not currently operational) SANParks South African National Parks SANDF South African National Defence Force SAPS South African Police Services SOP’s Standard Operating Procedures SSC Species Survival Commission (of the IUCN) SWR Southern White Rhino ToPS Threatened or Protected Species. RESG/Interpol ECWG Rhino & Elephant Security Group/Interpol Environmental Crime Working Group. After holding joint meetings for a number of years these two groups merged and the RESG is now formally linked with the Interpol ECWG. RIM Rhino Issues Management. RhODISTM Rhino DNA database system based at Onderstepoort’s Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, University of Pretoria. PH Professional Hunter PHASA Professional Hunters Association of South Africa This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 11 8 VGL Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, Onderstepoort, University of Pretoria (that runs the RhODISTM forensic Rhino DNA analysis system and database). WAZA World Association of Zoos and Aquaria WWF World Wildlife Fund MSAM RHINO MANAGEMENT GROUP ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST www.ewl.org.za This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 12 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  This plan was jointly developed at a stakeholders workshop organised by the SADC RMG attended by South African members of the SADC Rhino Management Group (K. Adcock, D. Balfour,,A. Conway, J. Eksteen, R. Els, R. Emslie, R. Hustler, P. Jones, M. Knight, J. Koen, S. Meintjies & P. Nel) and other invited stakeholders (G. Bauer, M. Boshoff, K Brebner, T. Carroll, D. de Villiers, K. du Toit, H. Els, M. Eustace, C. Harper, E. Hermann, J Okori, K Odendaal, R. Martin, K. Maggs, P. Novellie, K. Odendaal, S. Palos, J. Shaw, E. Schulze, R. Smart, A. Steyn, L. Steyn, M. t’ sas Rolfes & M van Heerden). The plan represents the consensus view of those at the workshop representing SADC RMG, IUCN SSC AfRSG, South African Dept. Environmental Affairs, DEDEA Eastern Cape, Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, Ezemvelo-KZN Wildife, Free State Dept. of Environment Affairs and Tourism, Mpumalanga Parks & Tourism Board, Northern Cape Dept. Environment & Nature Conservation, North West Parks and Tourism Board, SANParks, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory – University of Pretoria, Wildlife Ranchers South Africa, Private Rhino Owners Association, Rhino & Elephant Security Group/Interpol Environmental Crime Working Group, TRAFFIC, National Prosecuting Authority, National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit, Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, The Hunters Confederation of South Africa, South African Police Service, SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association, Private Specialists in rhino conservation and resource economics, and representatives of some private rhino owners/managers. RMG representatives from Limpopo, Gauteng and Western Cape Provinces were also invited but unfortunately were unable to attend the workshop. It was later reviewed at the 2013 RMG meeting. Further comments from Dr P Goodman, Dr R Kyle and Mr B Coverdale are appreciated.  Mike Knight, Richard Emslie are thanked for helping facilitate and organise the workshop. Russel Smart is also thanked for logistic support and for together with Dr’s Knight and Emslie assisting with compiling a draft plan following the workshop. The document represents the consensus view of the workshop and not necessarily that of the compilers or all of the organisations represented at the workshop.  Richard Emslie would like to thank core sponsors of the AfRSG Scientific Officer in 2011-12, namely US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Rhino & Tiger Conservation Fund , Save the Rhino International, The International Rhino Foundation, WWF African Rhino Programme (with funding from WWF Netherlands), and the UK’s DEFRA for helping sponsor his time to assist with reviewing and drafting of this document.  CHASA is thanked for sponsoring the workshop & EWT logistical support to make it happen.  Thanks are extended to the sponsors mentioned above for facilitating the development of this stakeholder plan. The plan represents the consensus views of the participating stakeholders and does not necessarily represent the views of the various sponsors. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 13 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………………………………………….…....3 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ......................................................................................................................................... 5 ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 ACKNOWLEGDEMENTS ....................................................................................................................................... 9 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…...13 1.1. Why the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) requires a Biodiversity Management Plan ................... 12 1.2 Rhinos as flagship species ........................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 The aim and objectives of the Biodiversity Management Plan .................................................................... 14 2. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................... 15 2.1 Continental and National White Rhino Trends – The importance of South Africa ........................................ 15 2.2 Subspecies/ecotypes in South Africa ........................................................................................................... 16 2.2.1 Taxonomy ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..16 3. CONSERVATION STATUS AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT (Relevant International Conventions and South African Legislation) ............................................................................................................................. 19 3.1. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) .................. 193 3.2 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) .................................................................................................... 20 3.3 World Heritage Convention .......................................................................................................................... 20 3.4 SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement .................................................................. 20 3.5 Lusaka Agreement ....................................................................................................................................... 21 3.6 African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation & Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna & Flora in Africa (Brazzaville Strategy-30th April 2015) ………………………………………………………………..……….………….25 3.7 Kasane Declaration…………………………………………………………………………………………………..25 3.8 Relevant South African Legislation………………………………………………………………………………....25 4 PLAN STRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.1 VISION AND SHORT -TERM TARGET ....................................................................................................... 27 4.1.1 Vision…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..29 4.1.2 Short-term (5 years) conservation target ...................................................................................................... 29 5 KEY COMPONENTS ................................................................................................................................... 30 5.1 PROTECTION .............................................................................................................................................. 30 5.2 MONITORING, PERMITTING & STOCK CONTROL ................................................................................... 37 5.3 SUSTAINABILITY ......................................................................................................................................... 41 5.4 BIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................... 47 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 14 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 11 5.5 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION .......................................................................... 69 5.6 HUNTING OF RHINOS ................................................................................................................................ 57 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………...78 APPENDIX 1: SADC RMG AND OTHER RHINO CONSERVATION GROUPS ................................................... 64 APPENDIX 2: CONSTANT HARVESTING STRATEGY ...................................................................................... 67 FIGURES Figure 1. Increase in southern white rhino numbers since 1895………………………………………………………15 Figure 2. Graphs showing the marked and continued escalation in rhino poaching………………………………..16 Figure 3. Historical distribution of Southern (SWR)………………………………………………………………….…17 Figure 4. The South African white rhino Biodiversity Management Plan………………………………………….....27 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 15 12 1. INTRODUCTION Rhinoceroses, commonly known as rhino, belong to one of the few remaining categories of mega-fauna surviving today. The white (Ceratotherium simum) and black (Diceros bicornis) rhinos are native to Africa. Asia conserves another three surviving species of rhino. The white rhino that weighs from 1,600 to 2,700 kg is Africa’s second largest land mammal after the elephant. It is a grazing mega-herbivore and historically has had a more restricted distribution than its browsing relative, the black rhino. Two subspecies of white rhinos are recognized by the IUCN SSC AfRSG. These are the northern white rhino (NWR) Ceratotherium simum cottoni and the southern white rhino (SWR) C. s.simum. The NWR used to range over Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Uganda, and north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) but by 1984 following rampant poaching throughout its range, only one remaining confirmed wild population occurred in Garamba National Park in the DRC. Unfortunately, due to escalating poaching in the early 2000’s this population was also wiped out by 2007. The last four potential breeding northern white rhino from a zoo in the Czech Republic have been moved to a rhino sanctuary in Kenya where it is hoped a move to the wild will encourage breeding. These animals are unfortunately inter-related and in the absence of any further animals being found in the wild it will be necessary to intercross these remaining NWR with SWR in an attempt to at least conserve some adaptive northern rhino genes. Reports of a possible small number surviving in a remote area of southern Sudan remain unconfirmed. Thus, this subspecies is close to extinction. The SWR was historically found in southern Africa; but again owing to hunting and poaching by the end of the 19th century the population was reduced to around 20 - 50 animals in the iMfolozi area of what is now Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal. In 1960 the subspecies was still restricted to this one population. In 1961 the late Dr Tony Harthoorn developed techniques to immobilize and move white rhino, and together with Dr Ian Player and others in the then Natal Parks Board, Operation Rhino began with the first translocation to nearby uMkhuze Game Reserve. That same year the first rhinos were translocated to Kruger NP which received in the region of 320 over the next 12 years in what has proved to be a very wise and productive investment. However, by the beginning of 2012 the South African population had increased to about 18,900 animals representing just over 93% of Africa’s wild white rhino. The saving of this species is hailed as one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories. Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park accounted for an estimated 53% and 13% of South Africa’s white rhinos by the beginning of 2013, respectively. The private sector has also played a major role in its conservation conserving about 24% (4,520) of the national population by 2012. Although South Africa’s white rhino have increased at an average of 6.6 % per annum from 1991-2012, this growth is under pressure from resurgent and escalating poaching of rhinos for their horns. This upsurge in poaching has coincided with soaring costs for protecting rhino, increased risks to owners and conservation staff and the rhinos themselves. Worryingly, incentives (e.g. live sale prices) for rhino conservation have been declining. As a result some owners have started to sell off their rhino. If these trends continue this will threaten continued increases in numbers of rhino and extent of suitable habitat under rhino management. In addition it will lead to reduced funds available for field conservation action, especially for the important source populations. 1.1. Why the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) requires a Biodiversity Management Plan The white rhino is currently listed under the international IUCN Red List as Near Threatened (Emslie 2011) and nationally as Least Concern (Friedmann & Daly. 2004). However, given the recent continued escalation of poaching and the fact that the national list is outdated, both of these Red Listings are under review. Preliminary suggestions indicate that the national listing may change to Vulnerable (Emsilie R, pers comm). The IUCN’s This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 16 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 13 African Rhino Red List Authority is to update the international status. It is also currently listed as a protected species in terms of section 56(1) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA). In addition, South Africa’s white rhino population is included in CITES Appendix II but only for the export of live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations, and the export of hunting trophies. All other specimens of the South African white rhino population are deemed to be included in Appendix I for which international commercial trade in horn and other rhino products is currently prohibited. The white rhino warrants special attention as a species both through its global status as well as its conservation dependence and current poaching threats. Hence, the development of a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP-S) for this species to ensure its long-term survival in the wild has become inevitable. This plan builds upon an initial “Strategy for conservation and sustainable use of wild populations of southern white rhino Ceratotherium simum in South Africa” that had been developed following a stakeholders workshop convened by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Rhino Management Group and approved by MINMEC on February 29th 2000 (RMG 2000); but which is now outdated and needs to be expanded and revised. In addition, the plan is informed by the National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa (DEA 2011) and the Rhino Issues Management Report (DEA 2013). At the Rhino Summit in 2010, the then South African Minister for Environmental Affairs requested the SADC RMG to assist with developing a national white rhino biodiversity management plan. The SADC RMG organised a multi-stakeholder workshop to develop this plan. It was jointly developed by South African members of the SADC RMG and invited experts and representatives of many stakeholders (see Acknowledgements). In addition of ensuring the long-term survival in the wild of the species, NEMBA also provides for monitoring and reporting on the progress with implementation of the plan. 1.2 Rhinos as flagship species Where wildlife-based land-use systems have been established, rhinos act as “flagship species” because they require large areas and significant protection measures that help to conserve a wide range of biodiversity (du Toit 2006). The conservation of these rare and charismatic animals also attracts donor as well as state support, with the latter being stimulated by the national prestige of rhino conservation projects and the fact that rhinos are a major attraction for eco-tourists, in turn creating jobs and attracting important Forex. Where markets have been established, such as in South Africa, rhinos have a high value in live sales, thus generating revenue for wildlife operations. Both black and white rhino are part of our national heritage, and also have spiritual/existence value for many people. Rhinos can add significant value to wildlife operations. For example between 2000 and 2005, live sales of white and black rhinos from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park generated the equivalent of 60% of the park’s conservation budget; and surveys of tourists in this park, as well as in private reserves in South Africa and Namibia, indicate that 7 14% of total wildlife viewing value can be ascribed to rhinos (Spenceley & Barnes, 2005). Moreover, they have had considerable value at times, with white rhino sale prices averaging R360,000/animal by the Big three sellers (KZN Wildlife, SANParks & Vleissentraal) in 2008 when a record 350 rhinos were sold (Emslie, unpublished data, Milliken & Shaw 2012)). The average price declined to an ~ R260,000 per animal in 2012 when fewer (150) animals were being sold. In 2013 there was a short-lived spike in average per animal prices back to that noted in 2008, which subsequently fell to ~R300,000 animal when even fewer (60) animals were being sold on the market in 2014. Overall turnover by the Big three has declined from R100 million in 2009 to less than R20 million in 2014. Loss in this revenue has placed increased financial stress on the statutory organisations in their expensive fight against poaching. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 17 14 1.3 The aim and objectives of the Biodiversity Management Plan NEMBA provides the opportunity for any person, organisation or organ of state desiring to contribute to biodiversity management to submit to the Minister, for approval, a draft management plan for an indigenous or migratory species warranting special conservation attention. The Norms and Standards for the development of Biodiversity Management Plans for Species (BMP’s), developed in terms of section 9 of NEMBA, outlines the process, format and scope that should be used to develop biodiversity management plans for indigenous species. The aim of a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) is to to ensure the long-term survival in nature of the species (and any sub-specific taxa) to which the plan relates. They enable the evaluation of conservation progress and management. The BMP also sets out key actions and strategies needed to ensure that monitoring, protection, conservation and sustainable management of the species will contribute to meeting conservation goals and contribute towards meeting the long-term vision for conservation of the species in question. BMP’s form part of a dynamic and continuing management planning process and allows for review and monitoring of actions to accommodate changing priorities and emerging issues. However, they are only as good as their implementation which is why it is important to evaluate success of plans against indicators of success and measurable targets identified in the plans, and adapt accordingly. The purpose of the plan, in terms of NEMBA, is to provide for the responsible person, organization or organ of state responsible to monitor and report on the progress with implementation of the plan; and to be consistent with NEMBA, the National Environmental Management Principles, the National Biodiversity Framework, any relevant international agreement, and any other relevant environmental management plans. 20000 17500 15000 12500 10000 7500 5000 2500 o Southern White Rhino Numbers 1895 20 -50 in iMfolozi area of Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park All southern white rhino in world today ultimately derived from these rhino Beginning of 2013 500+ populations in Africa South Africa conserved 18,910 white rhino -South Africa r O h O ^ O VI O 4J O 47 O 47 h QOi i m m á w m á m 0 43 4-V ó ry This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 18 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 15 2. BACKGROUND 2.1 Continental and National White Rhino Trends – The importance of South Africa Figure 1. Increase in southern white rhino numbers since 1895 showing key events/milestones and the continental importance of South Africa in conserving over 93% of this species by the beginning of 2012. Total numbers of wild white rhinos in Africa are shown by the yellow line with blue and red lines showing numbers in South Africa and the rest of Africa, respectively. Arrows from left to right show. 1895: Only 20-50 southern white rhinos left in the iMfolozi area of what is now Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. 1961: In 1960 there still was only one population of southern white rhino in the world. However following the development of translocation techniques, the first translocations started. Translocations to Kruger National Park also started in 1961 and continued over the next 12 years. 1968: Start of sport hunting of white rhinos. 1977: Rhinos onto CITES Appendix I. 1980: Record drought in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi with 446 white rhino translocated in one year 1989: White rhinos allowed to fetch their economic value on auctions encouraging private sector to primarily buy rhinos to breed them up. 1994: South African obtains partial down-listing of its white rhino to CITES Appendix II (for live sales to approved and acceptable destinations and export of hunting trophies only). 2004: Swaziland gets a similar partial down-listing for their white rhino at CITES, and 2008: Start of major escalation in poaching. Since 2008 there has been a marked and continued escalation in poaching (Fig. 2). As current poaching levels in 2014 are in the region of two-thirds of net population growth rates, they considered to be fractionally sustainable. However the Kruger National Park (KNP) population may already have reached the tipping point and if year on year increases in poaching rates continue, then very shortly deaths will start to exceed births threatening to reverse the successes achieved. White rhino account for the majority (~95%) of poached animals. mß E Z 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Rhinos Recorded Poached in SA: 1990 -2014 El 01 Ql 01 CT CM al IT Cr i Ol al O O O O O O O O O O O N N ti 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 01 0 0 0 O O O O O O O O O O O ON N N N N N N N N N N N N N N VYears "or, SSÇ w.r < 4 !.. 3.5 jt 3 2,5 2 ce 1.5 1 0.5 0 Clamp down on Psuedohunting Nov '4'44SIL444.Pj04:4-4444.Wii Month Rhinos Poached/Day -Poly (Rhinos PoachecWay) -3 per. Moo. Avg. (Rhinos Poached/Day) Ï. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 19 16 Thus addressing the escalating poaching is the biggest challenge that needs to be addressed for the life of this plan. Figure 2. Graphs showing the marked and continued escalation in rhino poaching in South Africa. Top graph shows annual change in poaching since 1990 while the bottom graph illustrates this by month to indicate the variation over time and the smoothed (red line) increase. The graphs show total poaching (both species) of which white rhino account for ~95% of poaching incidents. 2.2 Subspecies/ecotypes in South Africa 2.2.1 Taxonomy South Africa’s SWR C. s. simum is the only subspecies for the region. Its NWR (C. s. cottoni) cousin was restricted to northern Central Africa (Fig. 3). The latter is extinct in the wild, with a newly introduced group of four (now three) animals from the remaining seven animals held in captivity to a private reserve in Kenya. The historical/natural range of the SWR (following Rookmaaker 2012) was largely restricted to the mesic savannas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. White Rhinos Ceratotherium Q.Ulf ; IUCN Red List Northern white rhinos C. s. cotton! SIERRA LEONE CONORES ` Southern white rhinos C. s. simum e VAZILAND¿I ESO TNO Resident Re- introduced Possibly extinct Introduced This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 20 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 17 Groves et al. (2010) argued using a phylogenetic species concept supported by morphological and genetic differences that the NWR should be considered as a separate species Ceratotherium cottoni. Following Heller (1913), Rookmaaker (http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/species/nile-rhino/) proposed that it should be referred to as the ‘Nile rhinoceros’. It was suggested that the two species separated about 1.1 - 1.4 million years ago. However, as there are a number of alternative ways to classify species, Figure 3. Historical distribution of Southern (SWR) Ceratotherium simum simum and Northern (NWR) C. s. cottoni white rhinos (following Rookmaaker 2012) and their current distribution (as per country). Their separate historical ranges are indicated by light blue areas surrounded by blue dashed lines. The only original population of white rhinos remained in South Africa from which all other populations have been introduced or re-introduced, there is no universal agreement on this issue. Conservation scientists often prefer to rely upon the biological species and mate recognition concepts that argue that if two separated populations, irrespective of minor morphological differences, recognise each other and mate successfully producing viable offspring that they should be considered the same species. Groves et al. (2010) paper is generally not accepted given the small sample sizes used, choice of nuclear and mitochondrial genes studied, and interpretation of the results (Harley pers comm; Kingdon & Hoffmann 2013). 2.2.2 Distribution in South Africa From a single remnant population of 20-50 animals, in what is now the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, the SWR is now well distributed in South Africa (Figure 3). This was made possible through the development of translocation techniques in the 1960s. White rhinos have been reintroduced to former range states of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (Figure. 3). The Mozambiquean population introduced into the transfrontier Limpopo National Park adjoining Kruger National Park is considered to be possibly extinct from recent intense and persistent poaching activities. In the absence of NWR, and the Pleistocene records for white This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 21 18 rhinos east of the Nile River, extralimital (not found within a given geographical area) populations of this subspecies have been introduced in Kenya, and recently in Uganda. Although SWR did not occur north of the Zambezi River, a small population has been introduced in Zambia. 2.2.3 Population trends in South Africa Figure 1 above shows the rapid population growth of the southern white rhino population. Over the 19 years between 1991-2010 white rhino numbers in South Africa increased on average by a net +7.2% per year. While the levels of poaching at the time of writing were considered sustainable (i.e. net births still considerably exceed deaths), if this trend were to continue at the current year on year rate (~36%), the population may start to decline in the 2015-2017period (depending on underlying growth rates). 2.2.4 Major constraints The increased levels of poaching that have been experienced since 2008 are cause for major concern. If poaching rates continue to escalate year on year as they have been doing then this could result in numbers starting to decline in just a few years. The continued rapid increase in numbers and range of white rhino is now contingent upon primarily private land owners and communities making additional land available for rhino conservation (as state reserves that could take white rhino already have them and homes for surplus animals need to be found elsewhere – although northern KNP could be stocked but would be ill-advised under the current poaching crisis). Declining incentives and increased costs and risks are now being linked to an increasing number of owners looking to get rid of their rhinos. Live sale prices declined from 2008-2011 but in recent year’s prices appear to have increased again. This may in part be a reflection of speculative buying by some owners hoping that a trade in horn may be approved by CITES in future and lower numbers of white rhinos being sold by one of the biggest suppliers (SANParks) in recent years. These trends threaten and are likely to constrain future growth in rhino numbers and range. Insufficient human and financial resources are also constraining conservation of white rhino in the field. In particular additional resources are urgently required to help address the escalating poaching that has occurred following an increase in illegal demand for rhino horn in South East Asia and a sharp rise in black market horn prices. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 22 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 19 3. CONSERVATION STATUS AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT (Relevant International Conventions and South African Legislation) 3.1. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) South Africa is a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which is an international agreement between governments, and aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. With the exception of South Africa’s and Swaziland’s populations of the SWR, the white rhino is listed in Appendix I of CITES, which requires strict international trade control. South Africa’s white rhino population was included in CITES Appendix II in 1994, but only for the international trade in live animals to appropriate and acceptable destinations and for the export of hunting trophies, which hunters must retain as mementoes of their hunts. CITES Resolution Conference 11.20 defines the term appropriate and acceptable destination as a one where the Scientific Authority of the State of import is satisfied that the proposed recipient of a living specimen is suitably equipped to house and care for it. All other specimens of this species are deemed to be included in Annexure I, which means that international trade for commercial purposes is prohibited (the purpose of importation may not be for commercial purposes) in accordance. To give effect to the provisions of the Convention and to ensure effective implementation thereof in South Africa, the CITES Regulations were published in the Gazette for implementation on 5 March 2010. Moreover, the Minister responsible for Environmental Affairs has an obligation in terms of Section 59 of NEMBA to monitor compliance in South Africa with the provisions of CITES, and to consult the Scientific Authority on issues relating to trade involving specimens of, among others, CITES-listed species. The exportation of live rhinoceros from South Africa requires a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7 of NEMBA, and in compliance with the provisions of both the Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS) Regulations, 2007 and the CITES Regulations, 2010. To ensure that live rhinos are exported to appropriate and acceptable destinations, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Members of the Executive Council responsible for the conservation of biodiversity in the respective provinces (MINMEC) have approved the following criteria, which have to be met by captive facilities abroad wishing to acquire or keep rhinoceros imported from South Africa:  The facility where the rhino will be kept must be an institutional member of either the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), or institutional or affiliated members of WAZA e.g. Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAZAAB), or accredited members of regional zoo associations recognized by the CITES Management Authority of the state of import, as a reputable association. These associations must require zoos or captive facilities to:  Keep a high standard of husbandry and veterinary care;  Maintain animal record systems;  Contribute to conservation activities with written conservation action plans for the institution, with specific reference to rhinos;  Contribute to relevant scientific studies to improve the conservation status of species, with specific reference to rhinos;  Promote education as a key component of the institutions’ mission;  Have a written policy that outlines the type of research that it conducts, with specific reference to rhino; and This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 23 20  Develop a risk management plan that identifies and assesses potential risks for injury / harm to specimens kept in facilities and the visiting public and employees.  Exports for re-introduction purposes will only be approved if the export is to range states of the specific species to be introduced  Both horns of the rhinoceros to be exported must be micro-chipped and DNA samples must be taken prior to export. The DNA samples must be sent to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at Onderstepoort for analysis and DNA banking. In addition to the adherence of the above-mentioned criteria, the following additional information must also be submitted in terms of section 88(2)(a) of NEMBA in order for the relevant issuing authorities to consider permit applications for the export of live rhino from South Africa:  A letter from the CITES Management Authority of the importing country to the relevant issuing authority, indicating that the rhino horn will not be used for commercial purposes;  Written confirmation from the CITES Scientific Authority of the importing country, that the destination is appropriate and acceptable and that the facility is able to house and care for the rhino in accordance with Resolution Conference 11.20;  Documentary proof that both horns of the rhino to be exported have been micro-chipped and DNA samples taken. 3.2 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their utilisation to the Convention on Biological Diversity of which South Africa is a signatory provides a framework and principles for conservation of biodiversity, sustainable uses and fair and equitable sharing of benefits derive from use of genetic resources. Furthermore, South Africa has an international responsibility to conserve the southern white rhino found in South Africa. The objectives of the Convention are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The programmes of work developed under the CBD encourage parties to take a wide range of actions to secure biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. The Convention also provides for the establishment of a system of protected areas or areas where special measures need to be taken to conserve biodiversity. Parties are required to promote the protection of ecosystems, natural habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of species of threatened species in natural surroundings through development and implementation of plans and other management strategies. 3.3 World Heritage Convention The World Heritage Convention is a Convention concerning the protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage considered of outstanding value to humanity. It provides for the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage, including the habitats of threatened species, around the world considered of outstanding value to humanity. Countries submit places for designation under the World Heritage List. 3.4 SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 24 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 21 The SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement provides a clear rationale for ensuring that any national or regional goals for rhino conservation refer to the interdependency between human welfare and sustainable management of wildlife resources, within which the “flagship” role of rhinos is highlighted. Implementation of rhino conservation projects with a development orientation is also in accordance with one of the ten principles that were expressed in the “Agenda for Action” that was drafted at the World Parks Congress in Durban in 2003. Rhinos are particularly appropriate as “flagships” for regional cooperation in resource management because the decline of many of the sub-continent’s rhino populations was due to cross-border poaching and illegal trading networks that extended through several countries. Showing a reversal of this trend, through regional cooperation in law-enforcement, sharing of rhino management expertise, and sharing of rhinos through meta-population management, would be a very graphic demonstration of SADC’s effectiveness. South Africa as the major white rhino range state has and can continue to play the major role by being the source of founder white rhinos to re-establish the species in the SADC Region. The draft SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-Poaching Strategy that is embedded in the above SADC protocol emphasises the need for a cooperative and more integrated response to addressing the illegal killing and wildlife trade. 3.5 Lusaka Agreement Although it is not one of the seven Parties that have formally ratified the Agreement; South Africa is one of three other countries that are signatories to the Lusaka Agreement. The Lusaka Agreement is a treaty between many African nations that seeks to “reduce and ultimately eliminate illegal trade in wild fauna and flora and to establish a permanent Task Force for this purpose.” The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) members, endowed with broad diplomatic immunities, are charged with the task of investigating violations of various national laws and presenting evidence to the appropriate countries. However to date it appears the LATF has had limited impact. 3.6 African Strategy on Combating Illegal Exploitation and Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora in Africa (Brazzaville Strategy – 30th APRIL 2015) The overall objective of the strategy (http://unep.org/PDF/Brazzaville Strategy.pdf) is to prevent and reduce with the view of eliminating the illegal exploitation and illegal trade in wild fauna and flora in Africa through the domestication and implementation of an Africa wide strategic framework. It has been formulated to guide a common, coordinated response by countries in Africa to combat the illegal exploitation and illegal trade in wild fauna and flora. 3.7 Kasane Declaration The 2015 intergovernmental Kasane declaration (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment data/file/417231/kasane-statement 150325.pdf) built upon the earlier London Declaration calling for joint cooperative efforts to eradicate the market for illegal wildlife products, ensure effective legal frameworks and deterrents, strengthening of law enforcement, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods and economic development. 3.8 Relevant South African Legislation 3.8.1 National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act 57 of 2003) (NEMPAA) This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 25 22 NEMPAA provides for the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa’s biodiversity and natural landscapes and seascapes in protected areas. Protected areas in South Africa offer a viable tool for habitat protection and the protection and maintenance of ecologically viable numbers of the white rhino and their associated species and habitats. 3.8.2 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) – (NEMBA) NEMBA gives effect to the constitutional commitment to take reasonable legislative measures that promote conservation by providing for the management and conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of indigenous biological resources. Chapter 3 provides for the planning and monitoring of biodiversity. Sections 43 (1)(b) and (c) provide for any person, organisation or organ of state, desiring to contribute to biodiversity management, to submit to the Minister for approval a draft biodiversity management plan (BMP) for an indigenous or migratory species warranting special conservation attention. Section 44 empowers the Minister to enter into an agreement with any person, organisation or organ of state for the implementation of a BMP. In relation to the regulation of restricted activities involving white rhino, NEMBA further empowers the Minister in terms of:  Section 56, to publish, by notice in the Gazette, a list of critically endangered species, endangered species, vulnerable species or protected species;  Section 57, to:  regulate the carrying out of restricted activities involving a listed threatened or protected species or a CITES-listed species by means of a permit,  prohibit the carrying out of a restricted activity involving a listed threatened or protected species, if such activity has a negative impact on the survival of the species, or  exempt a person from the requirement of a permit in relation to a listed threatened or protected species or a CITES-listed species. The white rhino is listed as a Protected species in terms of section 56(1) of NEMBA. NEMBA further enables the issuing authority in terms of section 88(2)(e) to defer a decision to issue a permit, in terms of section 92(a) to refuse a permit, in terms of section 93 to cancel a permit, or in terms of section 93B to suspend a permit, in certain circumstances. The ToPS Regulations, the National Norms and Standards for the marking of rhinoceros and rhinoceros horn and the hunting of rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes and the CITES Regulations are legislative tools promulgated in terms of NEMBA that regulate restricted activities involving white rhino, particularly including the hunting of white rhinos and the legal export of the hunting trophies. The current penalty upon conviction of an offence in terms of NEMBA, involving white rhino, is:  A fine, not exceeding R10 million, or a fine equal to three times the commercial value of the specimen or restricted activity involved, whichever is the greater;  Imprisonment, not exceeding 10 years, or  Both such fine and imprisonment. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 26 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 23 3.8.2.1 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Regulations, 2010 CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of the IUCN and formally implemented in 1975. CITES is a voluntary international agreement and is legally binding on the Parties which provide a framework which is then translated into relevant domestic legislation to ensure that it is implemented at the national level. It is an international agreement between governments aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Species are categorized into two main groupings based on how endangered they are as a species. Species listed in Appendix I are those threatened by extinction and trade in these is not allowed unless there are extraordinary circumstances; those listed in Appendix II are not necessarily threatened by extinction but there needs to be some control to ensure this does not happen. CITES works by regulating international trade listed in the Appendices of CITES. For these species, import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea is regulated through a permitting system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or more Management Authorities in charge of administering that permitting system and one or more Scientific Authorities to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the species. White rhino are categorised as threatened and are also listed in Appendix I; and have an annotated partial down listing for live sales to appropriate and acceptable destinations and for the export of hunting trophies. No trade in loose horn or any other specimens of rhino, for commercial purposes, is currently allowed. 3.8.2.2 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004): Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS) Regulations, 2007 The Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS) Regulations under NEMBA came into force on 1 June 2007 and provide for the protection of species that are threatened or in need of protection to ensure their survival in the wild. A permit is required in order for a person to carry out a restricted activity concerning rhino. These restricted activities include hunting, capturing, killing, cutting parts off, importing or exporting into or from South Africa, having in possession of exercising physical control over any rhino; breeding, translocating, moving, selling, donating or accepting any rhino or any of its products or derivatives as a gift. It is compulsory in terms of the ToPS Regulations for the owner of a sanctuary, breeding facility, commercial exhibition facility, or for a wildlife trader to register his/ her facility. However, the registration does not authorize the carrying out of any restricted activity; the afore-mentioned persons thus still need to obtain the relevant permit issued in terms of Chapter 7 of NEMBA. White rhino may not be transported to a protected area (proclaimed as such in terms of NEMPAA) if the protected area falls outside its natural distribution range. This prohibition is not applicable to an extensive wildlife system that has NOT been declared as a protected area. The ToPS Regulations prohibit the hunting of white rhino in the following manners/ circumstances:  Put and take hunting of captive-bred white rhino;  In a controlled environment;  If the rhino is under the influence of a tranquilizing, narcotic, immobilizing or similar agent;  By means of a bow and arrow;  By means of darting;  By means of poison, traps, snares, flood- or spot lights or darting; This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 27 24  With an automatic weapon, a weapon discharging a rimfiring cartridge of .22 of an inch or smaller, a shotgun or an air gun;  By luring it by means of bait, smell, sound or any other luring method;  Motorized vehicles, except for the tracking of the white rhino if the hunt takes place over long ranges, for allowing a physically disabled person to hunt;  Aircraft, except for the tracking of the white rhino if the hunt takes place over long ranges; or  Dogs, except if the dogs are used to track a wounded white rhino, or for the purpose of pointing, flushing and retrieving a li white rhino. White rhino may not be transported to a protected area (proclaimed as such in terms of NEMPAA) if the protected area falls outside its natural distribution range. This prohibition is not applicable to an extensive wildlife system that has NOT been declared as a protected area. Although the ToPS Regulations prohibit the hunting of white rhino by means of darting it by the hunter, it does not prohibit the darting of white rhino by a veterinarian or other person authorised by the South African Veterinary Council for management purposes, disease control procedures or scientific research, veterinary treatment, or for translocation. The marking of rhino horns by means of a microchip is compulsory in terms of the ToPS Regulations. 3.8.2.3 Norms and Standards for the marking of rhinoceros and rhinoceros horn and for the hunting of rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes The Norms and Standards for the marking of rhinoceros horn and the hunting of white rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes were published in the Gazette, No. 32426, for implementation on 20 July 2009. These norms and standards were amended in 2011, and the revised Norms and Standards for the marking of rhinoceros and rhinoceros horn and the hunting of rhinoceros for trophy hunting purposes were published in the Gazette for implementation, Notice No. 35248, on 10 April 2012. Although the marking of rhino horns by means of a microchip is compulsory in terms of the ToPS Regulations, the norms and standards further require that:  all live rhinos sold and transported after the commencement of the amendments, be microchipped;  in addition to the microchip, all detached rhino horns 5 cm or more in length be marked by means of punch die or indelible ink by an official of the issuing authority, using the formula ZA/ serial number/ year/ weight;  DNA samples of live rhinos darted for translocation, treatment or other management purposes, and of detached horns, be collected and dispatched to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria, for analysis for the purpose of DNA profiling. The norms and standards further provide an extensive procedure for the management of rhino hunts, and require that all rhino hunts must take place in the presence of an official of the issuing authority who is authorised in terms of provincial legislation to conduct compliance inspections, but preferably an environmental management inspector from the province concerned. 3.8.2.4 The Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing (BABS) Regulations of 2008 The Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing (BABS) Regulations of 2008 fall under NEMBA. The BABS Regulations promote conservation of indigenous biological resources and sustainable utilization of its This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 28 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 25 components whilst ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their commercialization in the neutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, agricultural and other relevant industrial sectors. The use of South Africa’s indigenous biological resources and/or associated traditional knowledge for bioprospecting purposes as well as export from the Republic of South Africa of any indigenous biological resources for purposes of bioprospecting or any other research is regulated in terms of Chapter 6 of NEMBA and the associated Bio prospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing (BABS) Regulations, 2008. Hence the use of rhino horn for Bioprospecting purposes will fall under the regulatory scope of BABS Regulations. Bioprospecting is defined in terms of NEMBA as “any research on, development or application of indigenous biological resources for commercial or industrial exploitation, and includes: systematic search, collection or gathering of such resources or making extractions from indigenous biological resources; utilization for purposes of any information regarding traditional uses of indigenous biological resources by indigenous communities; research on, application of , development or modification of any such traditional uses of the indigenous biological resources; or the trading in and exporting of indigenous biological resources in order to develop and produce products, such as drugs, industrial enzymes, food flavours, fragrances, cosmetics, emulsifiers, oleoresins, colours, extracts and essential oils. Bioprospecting comprises of two phases, namely: Discovery phase which is the systematic scientific research process in search of valuable chemical and genetic constituents of biological resource where the nature and extent of any actual or potential commercial or industrial exploitation is not sufficiently clear or known to begin the process of commercialisation; and Commercialisation phase which describes research, development or application of indigenous biological resources where the nature and extent of any actual or potential commercial or industrial exploitation is sufficiently established to begin the process of commercialisation. Commercialisation in relation to indigenous biological resources, includes the following activities: (a) the filing of any complete intellectual property application, whether in South Africa or elsewhere; (b) obtaining or transferring any intellectual property rights or other rights; (c) commencing product development, including the conducting of market research and seeking pre-market approval for the sale of resulting products; or (d) the multiplication of indigenous biological resources through cultivation, propagation, cloning or other means to develop and produce products, such as drugs, industrial enzymes, food flavours, fragrances, cosmetics, emulsifiers, oleoresins, colours and extracts; and ( e) trading in and exporting of indigenous biological resources to develop and produce products such as drugs, industrial enzymes, food flavours, fragrances, cosmetics, emulsifiers, oleoresins, colours and extracts;” 3.8.2.5 Domestic Moratorium on Horn Sales Currently a national moratorium, issued in terms of NEMBA (Gazette No.31899, Notice No. 148, 13 February 2009) prohibits the trade (which includes selling or donation) of rhinoceros horn, or any product or derivative thereof within South Africa, until further Notice. The Minister may uplift the moratorium if the factors that have caused the moratorium to be implemented in the first place, cease to exist. A recent report that assessed the viability of up-lifting the moratorium (Taylor et al. 2014) recommended not doing so at this stage. However, it is argued that the national sale of horns, if controlled properly, would largely negate the illegal sale of horns, as well as lead to a greater declaration of the amount of horn being held in private hands (DEA 2013). This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 29 26 3.8.3 Provincial and other legislative provisions Apart from the National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and some of its related Specific Environmental Management Acts, the nine provincial conservation acts/ ordinances are the major regulatory instruments for the regulation of wild plant and animal species in South Africa. In extreme cases the prohibition of activities involving wildlife may be instituted at provincial level by means of a moratorium, if such a prohibition is required on provincial level only, and provided that the provincial legislation adequately provides for the MEC to prohibit such activity. Other Acts such as the Animals Protection Act (Act No. 71 of 1962) which regulates animal welfare in South Africa is also applicable to wildlife. The Animal Health Act, Animals Diseases Act (Act No. 35 of 1984), Medicines and Related Control Substances Act (Act 90 of 1997) and the Animal Matters Amendment Act (Act No. 42 of 1993) which falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may also be relevant to white rhino conservation as it plays a significant role in veterinary care of animals. BOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT. To manage white rhino populations in order to achiet¡. a sustained P underlying growth rate of at least 5% per annum (after taking poaching & international translocations into account), promote long -term genetic viability, prevent the impact of selective breeding, while maintaining the existing range and establishing new viable populations in additional suita habitat. ACTIONS: Action 1 Action 2... VISION 5 year target KEY COMPONENTS: Essential to meet target & vision ACTIONS & STRATEGIES needed to meet each component. INDICATORS of success VISION A world with reduced poaching and demand for illegal rhino horn, where the future survival of wild white rhinos is ensured in South Africa, through secure populations which are economically and ecologically sustainable, and which provide a source of founder rhinos to help repopulate former range states as needed. T SHORTER -TERM CONSERVATION TARGET To achieve a metapopulation of at least 20,400 white rhinos in South Africa by 2020. INDICATORS: Indicator 1 Indicator 2 .. MONITORING PERMITTING & STOCK CONTROL To: a) Adequately monitor all rhinos and their horns and their movement and; b) Develop an integrated and co- ordinated national information management system for all data related to white rhino management. r PROTECTION To adequately protect and secure white rhinos and their derivatives. HUNTING To recognise that sustainable hunting will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting conservation of the species through increasing its numbers and its spatial distribution in South Africa EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATIONT o coordinate and promote effective collaboration and communication between all white rhino stakeholders in South Africa and internationally. SUSTAINABILITY To manage white rhinos as a national asset, by creating an environment in which they are adequately protected and in which the South African meta population can reach its full biological and economic potential. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 30 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 27 4 PLAN STRUCTURE The South African white rhino Biodiversity Management Plan has a logical structure with a 5 year time horizon with targets and is schematically illustrated in Figure 4. The plan has a long term vision and a shorter term conservation goal covering the time period of this plan. By achieving the short term goal progress will be made towards realising the longer term vision. The plan identifies a number of Key Components with associated objectives that have all been deemed key to achieving the plan’s goal. The diagram also shows that a series of Actions/Strategies are required to achieve each Key Component objective; and that progress towards meeting Key Component objectives can be assessed using associated indicators of success. Figure 4. The South African white rhino Biodiversity Management Plan structure at a glance. See Key Component sections for a list of recommended actions and indicators. Arrows indicate direction of relationships. After listing the longer-term vision and shorter-term goal the main body of the plan follows. This section lists each key component together with its associated objective and rationale. Strategies/actions to achieve that specific objective and indicators of success are then listed. (For additional detail readers should consult listed sources/references where more information can be found or attached Appendices). 4.1 VISION AND SHORT -TERM TARGET With the year on year escalation in poaching from 2007-2014 and increasing numbers of private sector owners either selling their rhino, moving them to other countries or considering getting rid of them (sometimes referred to as unbundling), there has been a change in standard targets and goals of achieving a 5% net minimum growth to simply reducing the impact of poaching on the number and range of rhinos in South Africa. Although the South African white rhino population continues to grow, albeit slowly, with some critically important populations such as This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 31 28 that in KNP possibly having exceeded the tipping-point (between annual growth and poaching induced mortality), it remains imperative to keep the population as vibrant as possible, providing the necessary buffer to poaching. In this current climate where births only marginally exceed deaths from natural mortality, hunting and poaching, every endeavour should be made to keep the underlying population growth as high as possible. None-the-less, it does pose important questions as to how many rhinos can South Africa support and how many is enough. The former relates to an ecological & socio-economic capacity while the latter refers to demographic requirements associated with managing a small population. With regard to how many white rhinos can South Africa provide for,, this question is inherently difficult to answer as it is largely determined by the economic incentives to conserve rhinos on private and communal lands and the state making more land available. Facilitating the occupation of white rhino into the largely vacant northern half of KNP may support another 5,000 white rhino, on top of at least another Key 1 (>100 rhino) population on state land would provide the greatest growth prospects. This would suggest the state could possibly support a total of about 19,000 on state land. However, under the current poaching threat translocating a large number of rhinos to the northern half of Kruger National Park would not be wise, though rhinos are being translocated to other safer areas in other range state, mainly through private initiatives - at this stage. By contrast, expansion of the rhinos in the private/communal environment is largely dependent upon economic incentives and socio-political issues associated with land. Assuming the current ~5,000 in private/communal hands could be increased by a further third, would take the total South African white rhino population ceiling to about 25,600 animals (36% increase on the current population). This is marginally less than the predicted 27,750 animals under a 5% annual growth rate1. Excluding the northern Kruger option and current poaching crisis may realistically see the national population grow to a maximum of about 20,600 (or 9.2% increase on the current population). At the current 2% annual rate of increase, it would take until about 2019 to reach such a target, just outside the proposed time frame of this plan. Setting a population target of about 20,400 by 2018 may be achievable. With reference to the question of how many is enough, the current 18,800 white rhino and target of about 20,400 provides an effective population size of about 6,500. Flather et al.(2011) suggests that one needs thousands, not hundreds, to reduce the probability of stochastic extinctions to acceptably low values. Having grown from a small founder population size of 20-50 animals largely from a single locality raises the important issue of the population’s genetic diversity. Coutts (2009) found the genetic diversity of the white rhinoceros to be lower than that seen in any other rhinoceros species and that seeded populations did not have reduced levels of heterozygosity relative to the source population. Furthermore, Coutts (2009) noted that the SWR population apparently had gone through a genetic bottleneck prior to the 19th century extirpation and recommended that population recovery should focus on establishing larger populations (>100 individuals) to reduce further genetic attrition through genetic drift. With the wildlife industry covering ~205,000 km2 and generating about R4.3 billion in 2007 (K du Toit, pers comm) it plays a pivotal role in the conservation of wildlife in South Africa. The ~5,000 white rhinos on private and communal hands are carried on about 10% of these lands and along with other rare species they are said to generate about 50% of revenue from live sales. White rhinos thus play an integral part of the wildlife industry as an umbrella species and revenue generator. Thus, mindful of the above points and South Africa’s role in the conservation of this Near Threatened (IUCN Red List) white rhino C. simum, and their potential role in the wildlife economy of South Africa, the vision for country’s white rhino: This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 32 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 29 4.1.1 Vision 4.1.2 Short-term (5 years) conservation target Given the current escalating poaching the realistic goal would be 1. Under normal conditions in the absence escalating poaching levels, the short-term goal would have been to achieve a minimum population growth rate of 5% over the next 5 years, with at least 27,750 white rhino by the end of 2020. But at an estimate 2% annual growth after poaching the population is expected to reach about 20,400 by plan end. 2. This growth rate reflects the underlying growth rate of the meta-population – i.e. is independent of any increases or decreases in numbers due to export or import of rhino out or into the country. 3. Progress against the population target should be assessed regularly and not just at the end of the plan lifespan and annual targets should be adjusted to reflect international translocations in or out of the country and any revisions and improvements in baseline population estimates at the start of the plan period. 4. It is useful to understand that the limiting factor in reaching this target of 20,400 is not biological management alone (although it plays a role) but the reduction in poaching induced mortalities. A world with reduced poaching and demand for illegal rhino horn, where the future survival of wild white rhinos is ensured in South Africa, through secure populations which are economically and ecologically sustainable, and which provide a source of founder rhinos to help repopulate former range states as needed. To achieve a meta-population of at least 20,400 white rhinos in South Africa by 2020 1,2,3,4 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 33 30 5 KE Y CO M PO NE NT S 5. 1 PR OT EC TI ON 5. 1. 1 Ob je ct iv e 5. 1. 2 Ra tio na le In o rd er to a ch iev e th e Pr ot ec tio n ob jec tiv e th e fo llo wi ng st ra te gy o ut co m es re qu ire im ple m en ta tio n in ac co rd an ce w ith th e Na tio na l S tra te gy fo r t he S af et y a nd S ec ur ity o f Rh ino ce ro s P op ula tio ns (N SS SR P) . T he m ain a im is to co nt rib ut e to wa rd s p op ula tio n sta bil iza tio n an d/ or in cr ea se b y r ed uc ing th e ille ga l k illi ng o f r hin os . La w en fo rc em en t o n th e gr ou nd ca n als o co nt rib ut e to in te rn at ion al ef fo rts to re du ce th e ille ga l s up ply o f r hin o pa rts a nd th eir d er iva tiv es to e nd u se r m ar ke ts. T he im ple m en ta tio n of e ffe cti ve leg isl at ion , in te gr at ed a nd p ro ac tiv e law e nf or ce m en t in clu din g im pr ov ed in ve sti ga tio n te ch niq ue s, co op er at ive p ro ac tiv e int el lig en ce m an ag em en t a nd e ffe cti ve p ro se cu tio ns to ge th er sh ou ld co nt rib ut e to wa rd s m ee tin g th is ob jec tiv e. 5. 1. 2. 1 Sh or t-t er m in te rv en tio ns Im ple m en tin g an im m ed iat e ac tio n pla n aim ed a t m itig at ing th e cu rre nt th re at to th e wh ite rh ino p op ula tio n po se d by th e es ca lat ion in p oa ch ing a nd th e ille ga l t ra de in rh ino ho rn s a nd its a ss oc iat ed b y pr od uc ts; 5. 1. 2. 2 Lo ng te rm in te rv en tio ns Se cu rin g th e sh ar ed c om m itm en t o f g ov er nm en t ( at th e na tio na l a nd p ro vin cia l le ve l), p riv at e lan d ow ne rs ’, loc al co m m un itie s an d int er na tio na l s ta ke ho lde rs , a s we ll a s th e ne ce ss ar y f ina nc ial a nd m an po we r r es ou rc es a nd p oli tic al wi ll t o im ple m en t t his p oli cy ; Su pp or tin g th e es ta bli sh ed n at ion al co or din at ion st ru ctu re fo r i nf or m at ion m an ag em en t, law e nf or ce m en t r es po ns e, in ve sti ga tio n an d pr os ec ut ion ; De ve lop ing a n int eg ra te d an d co or din at ed n at ion al inf or m at ion m an ag em en t s ys te m fo r a ll i nf or m at ion re lat ed to rh ino s pe cie s in or de r t o ad eq ua te ly inf or m s ec ur ity re lat ed de cis ion s; To a de qu at el y pr ot ec t a nd se cu re w hi te rh in os a nd th ei r d er iv at iv es . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 34 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 31 Th e fo llo wi ng co ns tra int s t o ac hie vin g th e ob jec tiv e ar e ide nt ifie d as :  La ck o f h um an ca pa cit y ( nu m be rs a nd sk ills ),r es ou rc es a nd fu nd ing ;  Th e lev el of p oa ch ing a nd its in cr ea sin g ra te a s a re su lt o f t he in cr ea se in th e ille ga l d em an d fo r h or n;  La ck o f n at ion al co or din at ion a nd th e fra gm en ta tio n of e ffo rt;  La ck o f u nd er sta nd ing , p rio rit isa tio n; se ns e of a pa th y f ro m b ot h sta te a nd p riv at e se cto r;  La ck o f le ga l & p oli tic al co op er at ion a cr os s l oc al fro nt ier s a nd in te rn at ion all y.  In cr ea sin g co rru pt ion w ith in cr ea sin g va lue o f h or n, a nd ;  In ef fe cti ve in te llig en ce o pe ra tio ns (i nc lud ing la ck o f s ha rin g of in fo rm at ion a nd in ad eq ua te a na lys is of d at a) .  A ne ed fo r a g re at er fo cu s h igh er u p th e cr im ina l p yr am id (w hic h is lik ely to re qu ire in te rn at ion al co op er at ion ).  In cr ea sin g hu m an p op ula tio n siz es a nd d isp os ab le inc om es in m ajo r u se r c ou nt rie s i nd ica tin g all e lse b ein g eq ua l d em an d wi ll i nc re as e ye ar o n ye ar . 5. 1. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ic at or s, R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. Fi el d la w en fo rc em en t Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  Un de rta ke re gu lar ri sk a nd th re at as se ss m en ts. NW CR U; N at ion al an d Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n au th or itie s, Re gio na l M an ag er s; Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s Fu nc tio na l a nd co or din at ed NW CR U ris k a ss es sm en ts co m ple te d. Fr ag m en te d co m m un ica tio n. Ou tco m e & re co m m en da tio ns n ot a cte d up on .  Se cu re re se rv es /p riv at e ga m e fa rm s w ith a de qu at e de plo ym en t of su ita bly e qu ipp ed , t ra ine d, a nd ef fe cti ve ly de plo ye d law en fo rc em en t s ta ff Re gio na l M an ag er s; Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n au th or itie s; Pa rk /re se rv e/ Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s St af f le ve ls: In sm all er re se rv es a t th e ve ry le as t of o ne fie ld ra ng er pe r 1 0 km 2 , wh ile in la rg e re se rv es m ini m um ra ng er nu m be rs sh ou ld be e qu al to o r ex ce ed th e sq ua re ro ot o f r es er ve ar ea (i n km 2 ) e. g. a 5 00 km 2 re se rv e sh ou ld ha ve > 22 ra ng er s. Re du ce d po ac hin g ac tiv itie s. Im pr ov ed d et ec tio n ra te La ck o f f un ds . Po liti ca l s up po rt. Se nio r m an ag em en t t ha t in so m e ca se s d o no t a pp ea r t o ap pr ec iat e th e ne ed to g et th e law e nf or ce m en t b as ics ri gh t f irs t be fo re p ro gr es sin g to h i-t ec h so lut ion s. Ba sic co nd itio ns o f e m plo ym en t a ct lim itin g tim e in th e fie ld by ra ng er s.  Tr ain a nd m ot iva te st af f e ffe cti ve ly in an ti po ac hin g pr oc ed ur es Re gio na l M an ag er s; Pa rk /re se rv e/ Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s Tr ain ing p lan in p lac e. Pe rfo rm an ce re co rd s. Im pr ov ed de te cti on ra te o f p oa ch er s & ca rc as se s. La ck o f f un ds . La bo ur la ws La ck o f le ad er sh ip. La w en fo rc em en t s om et im es n ot b ein g giv en a h igh e no ug h This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 35 32 pr ior ity . In so m e ca se s i na de qu at e se lec tio n cr ite ria su ch a s f av ou rin g ac ad em ic pa pe r q ua lifi ca tio ns ra th er th an b us h ex pe rie nc e an d wi llin gn es s t o wo rk in th e fie ld. In so m e ca se s l ac k o f a n ad eq ua te a nd to ug h sc re en ing p ro ce ss to we ed o ut u ns uit ab le ca nd ida te s f or fie ld ra ng er jo bs .  Se cu re fu nd ing fo r o ng oin g gr ou nd su rv eil lan ce a nd a ll l aw en fo rc em en t. Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), DE A, P riv at e Se cto r, Ci vil S oc iet y Fu nd s m at ch n ee ds a na lys is La ck o f f un ds (e co no m ic do wn tu rn ).  Eq uip st af f a de qu at ely . Re gio na l M an ag er s; Pa rk /re se rv e/ Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s Eq uip m en t li st m at ch es n ee ds an aly sis La ck o f f un ds . Po or a ss et co nt ro l. La ck o f a de qu at e lea de rs hip in so m e re se rv es .  En su re a pp ro pr iat e bo un da ry fe nc ing , m ain te na nc e & ch ec kin g do ne in a cc or da nc e wi th fe nc ing pla n (w he re fe nc es e xis t a nd o r re qu ire d) . Re gio na l M an ag er s; Pa rk /re se rv e/ Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s Fe nc ing S OP s i n pla ce . Re du ce d br ea ch es o f f en ce . La ck o f f un ds . In ad eq ua te le ad er sh ip.  En su re a de qu at e co m m un ica tio ns fo r c oo rd ina tio n of p at ro ls an d re ac tio n to in cu rs ion s. Re gio na l M an ag er s; Pa rk /re se rv e/ Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s Im pr ov ed d et ec tio n ra te o f po ac he rs . No co nf lic ts wi th fr ien dly fo rc es . Po or tr ain ing . Po or co m m un ica tio n. In fra str uc tu re n ee ds . In ad eq ua te in ve stm en t. 2. Co or di na tio n & im pl em en ta tio n of i nv es tig at io ns & p ro se cu tio ns o f i lle ga l a ct iv iti es Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  Im m ed iat e im ple m en ta tio n of Na tio na l S tra te gy & S ec ur ity P lan fo r R hin os A cti on P lan ; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), DE A, P riv at e Se cto r, law e nf or ce m en t a ut ho rit ies (N PA , SA ND F, S AP S, C us to m s & E xc ise , As se t F or fe itu re ) Pr ov inc ial a cti on p lan s s up po rti ng Na tio na l p lan in p lac e & ac ce pt ed . In su ffic ien t p oli tic al wi ll/c om m itm en t. La ck o f r es ou rc es . Fr ag m en ta tio n of co ns er va tio n & law e nf or ce m en t a ut ho rit ies . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 36 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 33  Id en tify st ak eh old er s a nd se cu re a sh ar ed co m m itm en t; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), DE A, P riv at e Se cto r, law e nf or ce m en t a ut ho rit ies (N PA , SA ND F, S AP S, N PA , SA RS , Cu sto m s & E xc ise ) Na tio na l R hin o Co or din at ing Co m m itte e (N RC C) a nd Pr ov inc ial rh ino se cu rit y f or um s i n pla ce & fu nc tio nin g. Ap at hy fr om S ta te a ut ho rit ies a nd g en er al sta ke ho lde rs .  Ad dr es s f ina nc ial a nd m an po we r re so ur ce s a nd p oli tic al wi ll t o im ple m en t; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM ), DE A, la w en fo rc em en t au th or itie s ( NP A, S AN DF , S AP S, Cu sto m s & E xc ise ), Pr iva te S ec to r Su ffic ien t b ud ge t a nd re so ur ce s fro m S ta te a nd P riv at e Se cto r i n pla ce . Po or ly pe rfo rm ing e co no m y. La ck o f p oli tic al wi ll. NB . C an b e se lf dr ive n by S ta te a nd P riv at e Se cto r. Ba sic C on dit ion s o f E m plo ym en t A ct.  Es ta bli sh m en t o f a n at ion al co or din at ion st ru ctu re fo r inf or m at ion m an ag em en t, law en fo rc em en t r es po ns e, inv es tig at ion a nd p ro se cu tio n. DE A, N PA , S AP S, S AN Pa rk s, SA ND F, P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion au th or itie s. Na tio na l C oo rd ina tio n str uc tu re s in pla ce a nd fu nc tio nin g an d ap pr ov ed b y a ll p ro vin ce s. La ck o f b uy in fr om n at ion al/ Pr ov inc ial D ep ar tm en ts. Po or su pp or t f or a n at ion al int eg ra te d sy ste m No t e no ug h qu ali ty wi ldl ife in ve sti ga to rs e m plo ye d.  Co nd uc t jo int o pe ra tio ns , la w en fo rc em en t a cti on s. DE A, N PA , S AP S, S AN DF , P ro vin cia l co ns er va tio n au th or itie s, SA NP ar ks , pr iva te se cto r. Ar re sts m ad e. Su cc es sfu l c on vic tio ns Fe ed ba ck o f in fo rm at ion . Re so ur ce s. Co m m un ica tio n. La ck o f t ra ns pa re nc y a nd tr us t. La ck o f p oli tic al wi ll. Th e Go ve rn m en t D ep ar tm en t t ha t s to pp ed cr os s b or de r o pe ra tio ns in M oz am biq ue . Ne ed fo r a ut ho rit y f or ra ng er s t o ac t in M oz am biq ue w ith in de m nit y.  Pr om ot e co o pe ra tio n, sh ar ing an d a co m m on u nd er sta nd ing o f be st pr ac tic es a nd m ini m um sta nd ar ds a cr os s t he sp ec tru m o f or ga nis at ion s c on se rv ing rh ino s Re gio na l M an ag er s; In ve sti ga tin g Of fic er s, Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s/S tu dy G ro up L ea de rs St an da rd O pe ra tio n Pr oc ed ur es (S OP s) in p lac e; Rh ino Jo int s/F or um s o pe ra tio na l; R hin o Se cu rit y N od es op er at ion al; M an ua ls av ail ab le La ck o f c oo pe ra tio n fro m so m e pr ov inc es . Di vis ion b et we en S AN Pa rk s/K ru ge r a nd re st of co un try .  Ob ta in hig h lev el po liti ca l co m m itm en t a nd m an da te ; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), DE A, S AP S. P riv at e In cr ea se d bu dg et s; Gr ea te r c oo pe ra tio n ac ro ss la w In su ffic ien t p oli tic al an d bla ck o wn er sh ip in wi ldl ife /rh ino in du str y. Co rru pt ion . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 37 34 Se cto r a nd re sp ec tiv e As so cia tio ns , Na tio na l P ro se cu tin g Au th or ity en fo rc em en t a ut ho rit ies , Ne w po lic ies ; M OU s i n pla ce ; Al te re d leg isl at ion , Ba il r ef us ed a ut om at ica lly . La ck o f u nd er sta nd ing o f t he e co no m ic va lue o f w ild life a s a n ind us try a nd th e job cr ea tin g an d ru ra l e m po we rm en t p ot en tia l o f co ns er va tio n. Se nio r m an ag em en t in so m e ca se s w ith ou t a pp ro pr iat e sk ills o r ex pe rie nc e an d as a re su lt m ay fa il t o un de rs ta nd th e cr itic al im po rta nc e of g et tin g th e ba sic s r igh t ( es pe cia lly a cti ve la w en fo rc em en t a nd in ve sti ga tio ns /in te llig en ce g at he rin g) . Rh ino p oa ch ing n ot se en a s a p rio rit y c rim e.  Lo bb y a nd se cu re a dd itio na l fin an cia l r es ou rc es , t hr ou gh pr iva te se cto r d on or s a nd /o r gr an ts; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), DE A, P riv at e Se cto r an d re sp ec tiv e As so cia tio ns Gu ide lin es in p lac e. Ad eq ua te fu nd s i n pla ce . La ck o f s uit ab le m ec ha nis m to ch an ne l a nd p rio rit ise a cq uir ed fu nd s. La ck o f g uid eli ne s. Di ffic ult y o f o r c on str ain ts pr ev en tin g ap pr op ria te ly sp en din g of do no r m on ey o n m os t e ffe cti ve a nd ch ea pe st (e .g . if p ro cu re m en t re qu ire s u sin g an in ef fic ien t, su b sta nd ar d an d ex pe ns ive se rv ice pr ov ide r o ve r o th er b et te r c he ap er su pp lie rs o r d ue to in ap pr op ria te sta ff se lec tio n an d hir ing p ro ce du re s) .  Es ta bli sh m en t o f a p er m an en t Na tio na l W ild life C rim e Re ac tio n Un it ( NW CR U) ; DE A, N PA , J us tic e De pt , C us to m s, SA RS , S AP S, P riv at e se cto r. Na tio na l W ild life C rim e Re ac tio n Un it i n op er at ion . Im ple m en ta tio n pla n in pla ce ; Se co nd m en t o f s pe cia lis ed inv es tig at or s, pr os ec ut or s & m ag ist ra te s. In cr ea se d ar re sts & su cc es sfu l co nv ict ion s. Po liti ca l w ill, Su pp or t f ro m P ro vin ce s. Su pp or t a cr os s D ep ar tm en ts. Ne ed fo r a ll p lay er s t o be co ns ide re d as e qu al irr es pe cti ve o f ag en cy if co nt rib ut ing a nd fu lly p ar tic ipa tin g.  En ga ge w ith a nd su pp or t r eg ion al & int er na tio na l in itia tiv es to se cu re ar re sts a nd p ro se cu tio ns o f il leg al rh ino h or n tra ffic ke rs CI TE S, D EA , N W CR U, D ep t. Fo re ign Af fa irs , I NT ER PO L, S AD C Rh ino & El ep ha nt S ec ur ity G ro up /In te rp ol En vir on m en ta l C rim e W or kin g Gr ou p M OU s i n pla ce ; Al ign ed le gis lat ion ; In cr ea se d int er na tio na l a rre sts . Re du ce d inc ide nt s i n tra ffic kin g of ho rn . La ck o f in te rn at ion al su pp or t. No t r ec og niz ed a s p rio rit y c rim e. Ne ed fo r g re at er in te llig en ce fo cu s o ut sid e re se rv es a nd co un try – i.e . g re at er fo cu s o n wh ole cr im ina l p yr am id an d no t ju st lev el 1s an d 2s o n th e gr ou nd . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 38 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 35  Cr im e Sc en e M an ag em en t Re gio na l M an ag er s; In ve sti ga tin g Of fic er s, Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s/S tu dy G ro up L ea de rs In te llig en ce N et wo rk s i n pla ce & op er at ion al. Fe we r c as es lo st on te ch nic al gr ou nd s. In cr ea se d pr op or tio n of su cc es sfu l c on vic tio ns . Nu m be r o f S ce ne o f C rim e co ur se s h eld a nd n um be r o f at te nd ee s p as s. La ck o f f un ds . La ck o f s up po rt fro m S AP S & NP A. NP A ne ed in vo lve m en t. Ve ry g oo d an d int er na tio na lly re co gn ize d co ur se s a va ila ble b ut ne ed fo r m or e co ur se s. 3. Co lla tio n & an al ys es o f c rim e in te lli ge nc e da ta Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  De ve lop ing a fu nc tio na l, int eg ra te d an d co or din at ed na tio na l in fo rm at ion m an ag em en t sy ste m a nd d at ab as e th at is a n ea sy to u se , t ru ste d so ur ce w ith lin ks to re lev an t in te rn at ion al cr im e da ta ba se s. DE A, N PA , S AP S, S AN Pa rk s, SA ND F, P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion au th or itie s, pr iva te se cto r. Da ta ba se (i nc lus ive o f C IT ES pe rm its ) i n pla ce & fu nc tio na l. In cr ea se in ra te o f a rre sts & co nv ict ion s. Re du cti on in p se ud o hu nt s. In cr ea se d co m pli an ce . In cr ea se d us e of in te rn at ion al int ell ige nc e inf or m at ion in ar re sts /co nv ict ion Po or co m m un ica tio n/ fe ed ba ck . La ck o f s up po rt fro m p ro vin cia l a ut ho rit ies . No n pr ov isi on o f d at a. La ck o f d at a dis se m ina tio n to m an ag em en t le ve l. Ne ed p riv at e se cto r i np ut e .g . S AD C RM G So m e pr ov inc ial a ut ho rit ies in th e pa st fe el as if th ey h av e be en tre at ed a s s ec on d cla ss ci tiz en s. Ne ed to sh ar e inf or m at ion m or e wi de ly inc lud ing w ith ke y p eo ple in ot he r m ajo r r an ge st at es .  An aly se th e co ns oli da te d an d int er na tio na lly lin ke d cr im e int ell ige nc e da ta ba se s u sin g be st av ail ab le so ftw ar e to f ac ilit at e ar re sts & p ro se cu tio ns lo ca lly & int er na tio na lly a nd ta rg et st ra te gic ind ivi du als in tr an sn at ion al or ga nis ed cr im ina l n et wo rk s DE A, N PA , S AP S, S AN Pa rk s, SA ND F, P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion au th or itie s, pr iva te se cto r, SA RS , Cu sto m s & E xc ise , N GO s. Ke y i nt er na tio na l a rre sts Re du ce d ef fe cti ve ne ss o f c rim ina l sy nd ica te s La ck o f t ru st. La ck o f le ga l s up po rt. Un wi llin g to sh ar e inf or m at ion . Po or in te llig en ce d at a & ne tw or ks . Co rru pt ion . GE F 5 fu nd ed fo re ns ic & int ell ige nc e da ta ba se co op er at ion st ud y sh ou ld as sis t  De ve lop a nd m ain ta in an int ell ige nc e ga th er ing n et wo rk a nd an in fo rm er m an ag em en t s ys te m fo cu se d on p ro vid ing a cti on ab le int ell ige nc e DE A, S AN Pa rk s, Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n au th or itie s, SA PS , pr iva te se cto r. RE SG /In te rp ol EC W G, TR AF FI C, In te rp ol an d Pa th fin de r an d TR Ac cc . A na tio na l in fo rm at ion sy ste m a nd da ta ba se in p lac e & fu nc tio na l. In sig ht s g ain ed fr om a na lys is of da ta th at w er e no t p re vio us ly kn ow n/ ap pa re nt . La ck o f t ru st. La ck o f le ga l s up po rt. Un wi llin g to sh ar e inf or m at ion . Po or in te llig en ce n et wo rk s. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 39 36 Pr op or tio n of rh ino p oa ch ing ca se s w he re co nv ict ion s a re ob ta ine d as d ire ct re su lt o f ac tio na ble in te llig en ce . Bu dg et s f or in fo rm er n et wo rk s 4. Co o pe ra tiv e se cu rit y re la tio ns w ith n ei gh bo ur s Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  Im ple m en t c om m on co m m un ity ba se d se cu rit y a nd p oli cin g ini tia tiv es ; Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, C EO , GM , D ire cto rs ), Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n au th or itie s H OD , C EO , GM , D ire cto rs , P riv at e Se cto r Jo int o pe ra tio ns ; Se cu rit y n od es ; In cr ea se d ar re sts ; La ck o f c om m un ica tio n.  In ve sti ga te & im ple m en t v iab le alt er na tiv e ec on om ic op po rtu nit ies , e sp ec ial ly in co m m un itie s a dja ce nt to cr itic al rh ino p op ula tio ns cu rre nt ly wi th ou t go od e m plo ym en t o pp or tu nit ies Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s; De pa rtm en t of T ra de & In du str y; De pa rtm en t o f So cia l W elf ar e; D EA ; I nt er na tio na l re lat ion s o ffic e Fe as ibi lity st ud ies o f p ot en tia l ec on om ic ac tiv itie s Im ple m en ta tio n of vi ab le op tio ns wi th jo bs cr ea te d Re du cti on in lo ca l p oa ch ing La ck o f c om m un ity su pp or t. Or ga nis ed cr im e. La ck o f r es ou rc es . In ad eq ua te in ce nt ive s. Co ns tra int s t o em po we rm en t p os ed b y l ac k o f le ga l h or n tra de . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 40 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 37 5. 2 M ON IT OR IN G, P ER M IT TI NG & S TO CK C ON TR OL 5. 2. 1 Ob je ct iv e To : a) A de qu at el y m on ito r a ll rh in os a nd th ei r h or ns a nd th ei r m ov em en t a nd ; b) D ev el op a n in te gr at ed a nd c o or di na te d na tio na l i nf or m at io n m an ag em en t s ys te m fo r a ll da ta re la te d to w hi te rh in o m an ag em en t. 5. 2. 2 Ra tio na le To p ro vid e an in ve nt or y s ys te m a s a b as is fo r i nf or m ed se cu rit y a nd b iol og ica l m an ag em en t d ec isi on m ak ing . M on ito rin g of rh ino s a nd th eir d er iva tiv es (h or ns st oc ks ) i s an e ss en tia l a ud itin g to ol in go od c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t p ra ct ice . T he ‘a ud itin g’ pr oc ed ur e is im po rta nt in th at it all ow s th e co ns er va tio n ag en cy /o wn er s to tr ac k rh ino n um be rs , t he ir dis tri bu tio n, p er fo rm an ce , a nd th eir s ec ur ity (i nc lus ive o f h or n sto ck s) . T his re m ain s an e ss en tia l a nd jus tifi ab le ex pe ns e in th e fa ce o f r am pa nt rh ino p oa ch ing d riv en b y e sc ala tin g ille ga l b lac k m ar ke t p ric es fo r h or n. It p ro vid es o ne w ith th e m ea ns o f a ss es sin g th e ef fe cti ve ne ss of a nt i- p oa ch ing a cti vit ies a nd s ec ur ity s ys te m s. So ut h Af ric a co nt inu es to b e he av ily c rit ici ze d at th e In te rn at ion al lev el fo r i ts co nt inu ed fa ilu re to h av e an in te gr at ed n at ion al da ta ba se sy ste m a nd b et te r h an dle o n nu m be rs a nd d ist rib ut ion o f w hit e rh ino s a nd h or n sto ck s. W ith ou t m on ito rin g an nu al po pu lat ion e sti m at es , d em og ra ph ics , p er fo rm an ce , m or ta lity p at te rn s, an im al be ha vio ur a nd tr an slo ca tio ns , o ne is n ot a ble to a da pt ive ly m an ag e rh ino p op ula tio ns fo r m ax im um m et a po pu lat ion g ro wt h – cr itic al in pr ov idi ng a n im po rta nt b uf fe r t o po ac hin g. S ha rin g th is inf or m at ion a t t he n at ion al an d re gio na l l ev el is im po rta nt in a ss es sin g th e: d eli ve ry o n rh ino p op ula tio n ta rg et s; re as on s fo r v ar iat ion in p op ula tio n pe rfo rm an ce ; a nd le ss on s lea rn t. Th e m et ho d of m on ito rin g rh ino s is de te rm ine d by th e siz e of th e po pu lat ion , s ize o f a re a, h ab ita t, re so ur ce s (h um an & ca pit al) a nd o bje cti ve s fo r t he p ro te cte d ar ea in q ue sti on (d u To it. 20 06 ). Th es e ca n ra ng e fro m d et ail ed in div idu al ide nt ific at ion tr ac kin g th ro ug h to p op ula tio n es tim at ion te ch niq ue s f ro m g ro un d an d/ or a er ial b as ed p lat fo rm s. Cr itic al to m on ito rin g is th e da ta ba se m an ag em en t, sto ra ge a nd a na lys is of th e da ta to m ak e inf or m ed m ea nin gf ul de cis ion s/r ec om m en da tio ns . T his c an re lat e to p op ula tio n sta tu s, dis tri bu tio n, p er fo rm an ce , a nd s ec ur ity a t t he s ite a nd n at ion al lev els . In th e ca se o f S ou th A fri ca w ith rh ino s dis tri bu te d on s ta te , p riv at e an d co m m un al lan ds , b ut re gu lat ed a t t he P ro vin cia l le ve l, it re m ain s im po rta nt to c on so lid at e th is im po rta nt in fo rm at ion a t t he n at ion al lev el to e nh an ce d ec isi on m ak ing . T his re lat es to th e ne ed fo r a na tio na l, e lec tro nic p er m itti ng sy ste m fo r a ll r es tri cte d ac tiv itie s a ss oc iat ed w ith T oP S pe rm it m an ag em en t. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 41 38 At th e cu rre nt e sc ala tin g ille ga l p ric e fo r r hin o ho rn , it re m ain s a v er y v alu ab le re so ur ce th at n ee d be a de qu at ely se cu re d. R hin o ho rn ca n or igi na te fr om a n um be r o f s ou rc es , na m ely n at ur al m or ta lity , p lan ne d de ho rn ing , s eiz ur es o f i lle ga l h or n, b re ak o ffs th ro ug h fig ht ing a nd /o r t ra ns loc at ion , a nd tr op hy h un tin g. C on tro l o f t he h or n fro m th es e so ur ce s to th e str on g ro om s ne ed to h av e a we ll-m an ag ed d oc um en t t ra il (w eig ht s, dim en sio ns , m ar kin g, tr an sp on de r ins er tio n, a nd D NA s am pli ng ) fo llo wi ng n at ion al pr oc ed ur es th at a re in lin e wi th in te rn at ion al gu ide lin es (M ille dg e 20 05 ). M an ag ing a nd s ec ur ing th es e rh ino h or ns s to ck s re m ain s es se nt ial to p re ve nt s uc h ho rn e nt er ing th e ille ga l m ar ke t. In c om pli an ce w ith C IT ES R es olu tio n Co nf .9 .1 4 (R ev .) all p ar tie s ne ed to p ro vid e de ta ils o f h or n sto ck s to th e CI TE S Se cr et ar iat p rio r t o ev er y Co nf er en ce o f th e Pa rti es to C IT ES . 5. 2. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ic at or s, R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. Ce nt ra l d at ab as e & pe rm itt in g pr oc es s Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  De ve lop a nd im ple m en t a se cu re na tio na l c en tra lis ed w eb b as ed ele ctr on ic pe rm itti ng sy ste m to iss ue p er m its fo r t he re gu lat ion o f all re str ict ed a cti vit ies * DE A El ec tro nic all y i ss ue d pe rm its . Fi na nc ial co ns tra int s. *(a s d ef ine d in Se cti on 1 o f t he B iod ive rs ity A ct 10 o f 2 00 4 an d inc lud es p os se ss ion o f li ve rh ino / rh ino h or n, ca pt ur e, tr an sp or t, sa le, e xp or t/im po rt, d ar tin g, re lea se , h un tin g, d eh or nin g) . Pr ov inc ial p ar oc hia lis m a nd a n un wi llin gn es s t o giv e up ri gh ts an d re co gn ize th e ne ed fo r a n at ion al int eg ra te d sy ste m .  De ve lop m en t o f a se cu re liv e wh ite rh ino w eb b as ed d at ab as e an d inf or m at ion m an ag em en t sy ste m lin ke d to a n at ion al ele ctr on ic pe rm itti ng sy ste m DE A / T RA FF IC Fu nc tio na l d at ab as e an d su rv ey re po rts . Fe w co m pla int s. So ftw ar e av ail ab ilit y. Se cu rit y o f d at a to h ac kin g. La ck o f c on fid en ce a nd tr us t in so m e pr ov inc ial o ffic ial s b y p riv at e se cto r. La ck o f c oo pe ra tio n by so m e in th e pr iva te se cto r w ho m ay n ot wa nt to sh ar e da ta to c ov er cr im ina l a cti vit y o r h ide fr om S AR S.  Iss ue o f p er m its d ep en de nt u po n pr ov isi on o f w hit e rh ino su rv ey da ta DE A Da ta o n rh ino p op ula tio ns a va ila ble an nu all y Re qu ire s i nc lus ion w ith in th e No rm s a nd S ta nd ar ds / TO PS re gu lat ion s. 2. M on ito rin g of p op ul at io ns . Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 42 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 39  M on ito r w hit e rh ino p op ula tio n da ta b y r es er ve /fa rm e ve ry ye ar . (M ini m um d at a re qu ire d inc lud es nu m be r o f a nim als , de m og ra ph ics , a nd d at a on m or ta lity (n at ur al & po ac he d) , sa les , h un tin g, sp at ial u se , re m ov al/ int ro du cti on s) . Pa rk /R es er ve / F ar m m an ag er s. An nu al re lia ble su rv ey re po rt. Sp ec ific d at ab as e. SA DC R M G re po rt. La ck o f f un ds . La ck o f s up po rt fro m p riv at e rh ino o wn er s.  Es ta bli sh m en t o f a n on go ing an nu al na tio na l s ta tu s r ep or t o f a ll wh ite rh ino in S ou th A fri ca (s im ila r to cu rre nt S AD C RM G bla ck rh ino re po rti ng fr am ew or k) DE A / S AD C RM G Su rv ey re po rt. De ve lop m en t o f s ta nd ar diz ed re po rt fo rm at fo r w hit e rh ino st at us re po rti ng . ( Ne ed b e sim ple r a nd le ss de ta ile d th an th e cu rre nt S AD C RM G bla ck rh ino r ep or tin g) Re qu ire s i nc lus ion w ith in th e No rm s a nd S ta nd ar ds / TO PS re gu lat ion s. Co op er at ion o f p riv at e lan d ow ne rs . Qu ali ty of a nn ua l s ur ve ys o n lar ge st at e & pr iva te re se rv es .  M on ito rin g of rh ino s, ho rn sto ck pil es a nd rh ino m ov em en ts na tio na lly Co ns er va tio n au th or itie s ( HO D, CE O, G M , D ire cto rs ), DE A, P riv at e Se cto r ( e. g. P RO A) , W ild life Tr an slo ca tio n As so cia tio n. Ce nt ra lis ed d at a ba se in p lac e & fu nc tio na l. To PS co m pli an ce . Lis t o f r eg ist er ed rh ino p ro pe rti es . Ga p be tw ee n es tim at es o f w ha t ho rn st oc ks sh ou ld be th er e an d de cla re d sto ck s n ar ro ws , La ck o f P ro vin cia l s up po rt. M ist ru st by p riv at e se cto r. Un de r r ep or tin g. La ck o f c oo pe ra tio n by p riv at e se cto r. Ne ed a n at ion al SO P on st oc k p ile m an ag em en t 3. Se cu rit y & m an ag em en t o f r hi no h or ns s to ck s Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f S uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  Rh ino H or n St oc kp ile M an ag em en t, DN A sa m pli ng a nd Se cu rit y P ro to co ls in pla ce in re se rv es /p riv at e pr op er tie s Re gio na l M an ag er s; In ve sti ga tin g Of fic er s, Ra nc h/ Fa rm M an ag er s/S tu dy G ro up L ea de rs Pr op er ty rh ino h or n da ta ba se & pr ot oc ols in p lac e & fu nc tio na l. Le ss ill eg al ho rn o n m ar ke t. DN A pr of ilin g of h or n sto ck p ile s & en try o nt o na tio na l d at ab as e. La ck o f c oo pe ra tio n by p riv at e se cto r. Co nc er ns a bo ut se cu rit y o f d at a be ing g ive n to so m e pr ov inc es . La ck o f s ec ur e int eg ra te d na tio na l r ep or tin g sy ste m .  Es ta bli sh se cu re rh ino h or n da ta ba se s i n all p ro vin ce s a nd na tio na l c on se rv at ion a ut ho rit ies TR AF FI C / D EA / pr ov inc es /S AN Pa rk s Fu nc tio na l, c ur re nt d at ab as es In a cc or da nc e wi th rh ino N or m s a nd S ta nd ar ds (a s a m en de d) . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 43 40 (e .g . S AN Pa rk s)  Rh ino h or ns fr om a ll s ou rc es inc lud ing o rg an s o f s ta te a nd pr iva te o wn er s m us t b e re gis te re d & se cu re d on rh ino h or n da ta ba se s w ith D NA sa m ple s su bm itte d to R hO DI S lab Pr iva te o wn er s a nd o rg an s o f s ta te (a pp lic at ion ). DE A an d pr ov inc ial a ut ho rit ies (re gis tra tio n) . Al l r hin o ho rn s r eg ist er ed . Al l h or ns st or ed se cu re ly (lo ck ab le sa fe ). Le ss ill eg al ho rn o n m ar ke t. Nu m be r o f d iffe re nt h or ns fr om sto ck pil es o n Rh OD IS . Pr op or tio n of kn ow n sto ck pil e on Rh OD IS La ck o f c oo pe ra tio n by p riv at e se cto r. *(e .g . n at ur al an d ca pt ur e m or ta liti es , p ick u ps , s eiz ur es , h un tin g et c.) . ^ ( e. g. in clu din g m us eu m s, Un ive rs itie s e tc. ). In su ffic ien t V GL la b ca pa cit y a nd fu nd ing to p ro ce ss a ll r ou tin e sa m ple s a lth ou gh th is sit ua tio n ex pe cte d to im pr ov e wi th G EF , SA B Bo uc he r, W W F SA a nd o th er su pp or t.  Su pp or t r es ea rc h & de ve lop m en t of n ew D NA fo re ns ic inv es tig at ive te ch niq ue s t o im pr ov e th e pr os ec ut ion ra te & re du ce th e ille ga l tr af fic kin g of h or n. NR CC , N GO s, VG L, G EF . Rh OD IS D NA d at ab as e op er at ion al & pr of ilin g un de rta ke n fo r a ll r hin o m an ag em en t/p oa ch ing h or n/ an im al sa m ple s. . La ck o f r es ou rc es (f un din g, e qu ipm en t & ca pa cit y) . GE F 5 fu nd ed fo re ns ic & int ell ige nc e da ta ba se st ud y p ro jec t sh ou ld as sis t. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 44 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 41 5. 3 SU ST AI NA BI LI TY 5. 3. 1 Ob je ct iv e To m an ag e wh ite rh in os as a n at io na l a ss et , b y cr ea tin g an e nv iro nm en t i n wh ic h th ey a re a de qu at el y pr ot ec te d an d in w hi ch th e So ut h Af ric an m et a po pu la tio n ca n re ac h its fu ll bi ol og ic al a nd e co no m ic p ot en tia l. 5. 3. 2 Ra tio na le So ut h Af ric a’s w hit e rh ino p op ula tio n is cu rre nt ly th re at en ed b y a co m bin at ion o f e co no m ic fo rc es a nd in ap pr op ria te a nd /o r c on flic tin g po lic ies , la ws a nd re gu lat ion s. A lth ou gh wh ite rh ino p ro vid e sig nif ica nt e co no m ic be ne fits to so cie ty, th e cu rre nt a llo ca tio n of w hit e rh ino b en ef its a nd co sts d o no t f ull y s er ve th e int er es ts of S ou th A fri ca o r t he rh ino s. Su sta ina bil ity is d ef ine d he re a s t he o ng oin g via ble e xis te nc e of th e wh ite rh ino p op ula tio n an d its e co no m ic co nt rib ut ion to th e br oa de r w ild life in du str y a nd its b en ef ici ar ies . W hit e rh ino s g en er at e leg al an d ille ga l e co no m ic va lue in fiv e pr inc ipa l w ay s: th eir ‘e xis te nc e va lue ’; f or th e vie wi ng p lea su re o f t ou ris ts; liv e sa les ; t ro ph y h un tin g; a nd fo r t he ir bo dy p ar ts (e sp ec ial ly ho rn ) w hic h ar e pr ize d in ce rta in cu ltu re s fo r t he ir or na m en ta l, fo od , s ta tu s an d m ed ici na l p ur po se s; an d su pp or tin g en vir on m en ta l in fra str uc tu re . At pr es en t, So ut h Af ric an rh ino o wn er s an d cu sto dia ns (t ha t c on sis t o f p riv at e lan do wn er s, co m m un itie s an d pu bli c or ga niz at ion s, i.e . t he p eo ple o f S ou th A fri ca ) b ea r t he su bs ta nt ial c os ts of rh ino p ro te cti on b ut d er ive p er ce pt ive ly fe we r b en ef its . Th es e co sts m an ife st as b ot h dir ec t f ina nc ial c os ts of a nt i-p oa ch ing , l os s of rh ino s an d re gu lat or y co m pli an ce c os ts, a s we ll a s in ind ire ct op po rtu nit y co sts , s uc h as fo rg oin g po te nt ial in co m e fro m rh ino p ro du cts su ch a s ho rn a nd o n oc ca sio n lim itin g int er na tio na l li ve s ale s of s ur plu s an im als . At p re se nt , t he b en ef its o f r hin os fl ow m os tly to o th er in te re st gr ou ps . Fo r e xa m ple , e nv iro nm en ta l N GO s an d th e m ed ia ca pt ur e m uc h of th e ex ist en ce va lue , t he b ro ad er to ur ism in du str y a lso b en ef its , a nd th e sig nif ica nt va lue o f t he rh ino h or n tra de is c ur re nt ly ca pt ur ed e nt ire ly by o rg an ise d cr im e. Th e cu rre nt s itu at ion is u ns us ta ina ble . Ex ist ing fu nd ing s ou rc es n ee d to b e inc re as ed , b ut a re m or e lik ely to d ec lin e ov er th e ne xt fiv e ye ar s as c ur re nt le ve ls of d on or a nd sta te fu nd ing a re u nli ke ly to b e su sta ine d. At a ti m e of in cr ea se d po ac hin g ex tra re so ur ce s ar e als o ne ed ed to tr y to s to p th e po ac he rs b ef or e th ey k ill rh ino . H ow ev er , de cli nin g liv e sa le pr ice s an d inc en tiv es a re n eg at ive ly im pa cti ng o n bu dg et s fo r r hin o co ns er va tio n. It h as b ee n su gg es te d th at rh ino s ne ed to s ta rt pa yin g m or e fo r t he m if th eir n um be rs a nd ra ng e ar e to co nt inu e inc re as ing . So m e ha ve q ue sti on ed w he th er tr ad itio na l a pp ro ac he s o f in cr ea se d law e nf or ce m en t m ea su re s w ith d em an d re du cti on in itia tiv es ca n wo rk to re du ce p oa ch ing g ive n th at m an y en d us er s se em u nc on ce rn ed a bo ut th e fa te o f r hin o an d cr im ina l s yn dic at es a re c ur re nt ly m ak ing s ign ific an t a m ou nt s of m on ey . S om e ha ve s ug ge ste d th at w e m ay b e de ali ng w ith a s itu at ion lik e pr oh ibi tio n an d th e wa r a ga ins t d ru gs w he re si gn ific an t la w en fo rc em en t e ffo rts w ill ult im at ely n ot b e su cc es sfu l. So m e ha ve a rg ue d th at le ga liz ing tra de in h or n co uld h elp re du ce p oa ch ing a nd co nt rib ut e to e xp an din g ra ng e an d nu m be rs o f w hit e rh ino b y: This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 45 42  Su bs titu tin g ho rn c ur re nt ly ob ta ine d fo r t he S E As ian m ar ke ts th ro ug h th e k illi ng o f r hin os , wi th h or n fro m o th er s ou rc es th at d id no t r eq uir e an im als to b e kil led (e .g . sto ck pil es , n at ur al m or ta liti es a nd p os sib ly als o de ho rn ing in so m e po pu lat ion s) ;  G e ne ra tin g sig nif ica nt re ve nu e th at co uld b e us ed to si gn ific an tly e nh an ce la w en fo rc em en t e ffo rt;  F ur th er in ce nt ivi zin g an d en co ur ag ing e nd u se r m ar ke ts to se ek le ga l s up pli es o f h or n;  S e nd ing a m es sa ge to p ot en tia l a nd e xis tin g sp ec ula to rs th at rh ino s a re n ot g oin g ex tin ct; a nd  In cr ea sin g inc en tiv es to co ns er ve rh ino s a nd e sp ec ial ly by p ro vid ing a n op po rtu nit y t o ec on om ica lly e m po we r p oo r r ur al co m m un itie s w ith la nd su ita ble fo r r hin o. Th e ra tio na le wo uld b e to :  Jo int ly ad dr es s a ll t he ke y f ac to rs th at d et er m ine th e su sta ina bil ity o f S ou th A fri ca ’s wh ite rh ino p op ula tio n, n am ely e co log ica l, s oc io ec on om ic an d fin an cia l;  Ac hie ve m ax im um p op ula tio n gr ow th b y m an ag ing e xis tin g po pu lat ion s a t b elo w ec olo gic al ca rry ing c ap ac ity (t his im pli es tr an slo ca tio ns to n ew a re as to k ee p es ta bli sh ed po pu lat ion s p ro du cti ve );  En ga ge in in te ns e ca pt ive b re ed ing o pe ra tio ns in s ele cte d sit ua tio ns o nly . A t a ll c os ts th e typ ica l z oo ty pe g ro up s of a fe w an im als p lac ed in ve ry c on fin ed s itu at ion s wi th to ta l r eli an ce o n su pp lem en ta ry fe ed ing w hic h ha s be en s ho wn to b e as so cia te d wi th p oo r r ep ro du cti ve p er fo rm an ce a nd w hic h m igh t b e as so cia te d wi th s ele cti ve br ee din g cr ea tin g do m es tic at ed rh ino d iffe re nt fr om w ild rh ino sh ou ld be d isc ou ra ge d. H ow ev er th er e is a co nt inu um fr om sm all zo o pa dd oc ks to fr ee ra ng ing w ild sy ste m s an d th er e is a ne ed to b e gu ide d by e m pir ica l e vid en ce w hic h ca n sh ow w ha t t yp es o f m or e int en siv e m an ag em en t a re a ss oc iat ed w ith e nh an ce d re pr od uc tiv e pe rfo rm an ce a nd lo we r p oa ch ing . I de all y m or e int en siv e op er at ion s sh ou ld no t d isi nc en tiv ise c on se rv at ion o n th e br oa de r l an ds ca pe , n or e nc ou ra ge th e fra gm en ta tio n of th e lan ds ca pe in to s m all p oc ke ts ra th er th an ta kin g do wn o f f en ce s to c re at e big ge r a re as . I f d em an d fo r l ive rh ino s fro m m or e int en siv e op er at ion s an d pr ice s pa id re m ain s hig h, th is co uld h elp in ce nt ivi ze a nd b en ef it wi ld rh ino a re as . P ro vid ed th er e is no t s ele cti ve b re ed ing a nd re pr od uc tiv e pe rfo rm an ce is g oo d an d po ac hin g is low er , s om e m or e int en siv e op er at ion s m ay p ro vid e an in su ra nc e po lic y an d co uld p ot en tia lly b e a so ur ce o f f ou nd er rh ino to re sto ck w ild rh ino a re as o nc e th e po ac hin g cr isi s h as p as se d  Re du ce th e ex ist ing e co no m ic an d so cia l c os ts of th e cu rre nt rh ino c on se rv at ion re ali ty in So ut h Af ric a. Th es e co sts in clu de fi na nc ial c os ts of a nt i-p oa ch ing , l os s of hu m an a nd rh ino li ve s, en fo rc em en t, jud ici al an d im pr iso nm en t c os ts, re gu la to ry /b ur ea uc ra tic c os ts, lo st po te nt ial tr op hy fe es fr om th e tro ph y hu nt ing m ar ke t, et c.; T he fu nd ing th at c ou ld be ra ise d co uld m ak e se cu rit y pr ov isi on m or e af fo rd ab le an d all ow fo r g re at er p ro ac tiv e int ell ige nc e an d de te cti on e ffo rts a im ed a t c at ch ing m or e po ac he rs b ef or e th ey ki ll r hin o.  Cr ea te / en ha nc e po sit ive e co no m ic inc en tiv es to e nc ou ra ge fu rth er rh ino b re ed ing a nd ra ng e ex pa ns ion a nd to fi na nc e pr ot ec tio n. M or e int en siv e op er at ion s m ay b e be tte r s uit ed to h elp in cr ea se th e nu m be r o f p oo re r r ur al co m m un itie s ( inc lus ive o f t ho se w ith re lat ive ly sm all la nd h old ing s) th at b en ef it e co no m ica lly fr om w ild life .  Re dis tri bu te rh ino b en ef its a nd c os ts in a m or e eq uit ab le an d ef fe cti ve m an ne r – i. e. th at b en ef its fl ow to rh ino o wn er s (p riv at e, c om m un al an d sta te ) s o as to c ov er th eir co sts a nd p ro vid e po sit ive co ns er va tio n inc en tiv es a nd ;  Pr ov ide so m e tim e fo r d em an d re du cti on e ffo rts to w or k. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 46 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 43 As st at ed e ar lie r, th e De pa rtm en t o f E nv iro nm en ta l A ffa irs w as m an da te d by C ab ine t t o inv es tig at e th e fe as ibi lity o f a p ro po sa l fo r t he le ga liz at ion o f tra de in rh ino h or n at th e 17 th C on fe re nc e of P ar tie s (C oP 17 ) o f t he C on ve nt ion o n In te rn at ion al Tr ad e in En da ng er ed S pe cie s of W ild F au na a nd F lor a (C IT ES ). If it is co nc lud ed th at S ou th A fri ca sh ou ld tra de , t his w ill be ta ble d at C OP 17 . T o as sis t t he D ep ar tm en t in it s ta sk , t he M ini ste r a pp oin te d a Co m m itte e of In qu iry to e va lua te th e po ss ibi lity o f t ra de a nd to m ak e re co m m en da tio ns to th e In te r-M ini ste ria l C om m itte e (IM C) a pp oin te d by C ab ine t. 5. 3. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ica to rs , R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. To e nh an ce th e ec on om ic c on tri bu tio n of w hi te rh in os to th e na tio na l e co no m y. Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  Th e pr om ot ion o f e co log ica lly lin ke d, la rg er w hit e rh ino po pu lat ion s f or e co to ur ism & ec olo gic al int eg rit y o n sta te , pr iva te a nd co m m un ity la nd Go ve rn m en t, pr iva te & co m m un al ro le pla ye rs M ea su ra ble in cr ea se in ra ng e of rh ino s In cr ea se d av er ag e siz e of in div idu al fre e ra ng e po pu lat ion s o f w hit e rh ino In cr ea se d nu m be r & d ive rs ity o f rh ino o wn er s Nu m be r o f c as es w he re fe nc es h av e be en d ro pp ed to d ev elo p lar ge r co nt igu ou s c on se rv at ion a re as w ith rh ino s. Ille ga l h un tin g & po ac hin g. Ra m pa nt ca pt ive & se lec tiv e br ee din g of rh ino s.  Ex plo rin g ne w an d inn ov at ive m ec ha nis m s i nc lud ing in ce nt ive s fo r c on se rv ing w hit e rh ino o n co m m un al lan d St at e, p riv at e & co m m un al ro le pla ye rs , N GO s ( e. g. W RS A, P HA SA et c.) In cr ea se d wi ld rh ino o n co m m un al lan d In cr ea se d nu m be r o f c om m un al lan d ow ne rs w ith rh ino s In cr ea se d fin an cia l r et ur n sp ec ific all y f ro m rh ino s Ille ga l h un tin g. Co lla ps e of rh ino m ar ke t. Ca pa cit y s ho rtf all s. Co rru pt ion .  El ev at ing th e pr of ile & p ub lic aw ar en es s ( inc lud ing to po liti cia ns ) o f t he p os itiv e co nt rib ut ion o f w hit e rh ino s t o th e lan d ow ne r a nd n at ion al ec on om y DE A, N GO s, Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n ag en cie s, PR OA , In cr ea se d pu bli c a wa re ne ss o f rh ino s & th eir va lue Av ail ab ilit y o f e co no m ic sta tis tic s o n rh ino va lue s In cr ea sin g ra ng e of w ild rh ino In cr ea se d bu dg et s f or rh ino co ns er va tio n M ixe d m es sa gin g. Co nf lic tin g ad vo ca cy fr om a nim al rig ht s g ro up s. La ck o f w ild life (e sp ec ial ly th os e of rh ino s) . E co no m ic sta tis tic s. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 47 44  En co ur ag ing n ew in no va tiv e m ec ha nis m s ( co ns um pt ive & n on co ns um pt ive ) f or su sta ina ble fin an cin g of w hit e rh ino po pu lat ion s o n all rh ino ra ng e lan ds . St at e, p riv at e & co m m un al ro le pla ye rs , e co no m ist s, NG Os Ne w rh ino co ns er va tio n m od els su cc es sfu lly im ple m en te d wi th m or e rh ino s o n m or e ra ng e Pr op os al fo r t ra din g in ho rn su bm itte d to C OP 17 Or ga nis ed cr im e. Co rru pt ion . La ck o f c ap ac ity & p ro fe ss ion ali sm . In su ffic ien t q ua lity o f s tra te gic lo bb yin g. Co nc er ns a bo ut th e po ss ibi lity o f s elf ish p oli tic ian s a nd o th er pe rs on s o f p ow er re ce ivi ng fin an cia l b en ef its w ith ou t r ein ve sti ng ba ck in to th e ind us try . 2. Po ss ib le le ga lis at io n of tr ad e as a m ec ha ni sm to re du ce p oa ch in g an d in cr ea se fu nd in g av ai la bl e fo r c on se rv at io n an d pr ot ec tio n1 Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  In ve sti ga te th e fe as ibi lity o f a leg ali se d tra de in rh ino h or n (T his wo uld n ee d to d em on str at e ho w af te r a th or ou gh co ns ide ra tio n of all th e pr os a nd co ns o f a ll po ss ibl e op tio ns th at th is is a wo rk ab le & go od o pt ion a nd th at it ca n be e ffe cti ve ly m an ag ed fr om so ur ce to e nd u se r m ar ke ts) Re so ur ce e co no m ist s, m ar ke t an aly sts , t ra de sp ec ial ist s, W RS A. Co m m iss ion o f I nq uir y ( Co I) re po rt Co m ple te d do cu m en t a cc ep te d by pe er g ro up w ith b ac kin g fro m S ou th Af ric an p rim ar y s ta ke ho lde rs (N at ion al an d Pr ov inc ial co ns er va tio n ag en cie s a nd p riv at e & co m m un ity rh ino o wn er s) Nu m be r o f f ilm s m ad e an d/ or pr es en ta tio ns g ive n an d or pa pe rs /a rti cle s w rit te n. Ta rd ine ss in d ev elo pin g de ta ils o f a ny p ro po sa l a nd lo bb yin g fo r i t all ow ing a nt i-t ra de g ro up s t o at ta ck th e co nc ep t o f t ra de . An in te rn at ion al “m or e of th e sa m e – en ha nc ed la w en fo rc em en t an d de m an d re du cti on a pp ro ac h” b ein g pr om ot ed w ith lit tle co ns ide ra tio n fo r s us ta ina ble u se a nd liv eli ho od s. In ab ilit y t o ef fe cti ve ly ar gu e th e ca se . Si gn ific an t f un din g re qu ire d Di ffic ult y i n ge ttin g 2/ 3rd o f C IT ES P ar tie s t o su pp or t s uc h a m ov e. Si m pli cit y o f v iew s f ro m so m e de ve lop ed co un tri es su gg es tin g th at m or e pr ot ec tio n an d de m an d re du cti on is a ll t ha t is n ee de d. No tr ad ing p ar tn er s i de nt ifie d. Co nc er ns a s t o ho w th e tra de co uld b e po lic ed in e nd u se r m ar ke ts to th e pr ev en t d ev elo pm en t o f p ar all el ille ga l b lac k m ar ke t f or la un de re d ho rn s. 1 A cti vit ies to b e gu ide d by th e re co m m en da tio ns e m an at ing fr om th e Co m m itte e of In qu iry p ro ce ss a nd a pp ro ve d by th e In te r-M ini ste ria l C om m itte e an d Ca bin et This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 48 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 45  Id en tify a co re g ro up o f m ed ia fri en dly sp ok es pe rs on s t o pr es en t th e su sta ina bil ity a rg um en t t o th e pu bli c a nd st ar t p re se nt ing it (fi rs t to S ou th A fri ca ns , t he n int er na tio na lly ) M em be rs , D EA M ed ia Sp ok es pe rs on Ag re ed u po n lis t; M ed ia m at er ial s. Lim ite d fu nd s. Fi rs t h as to b e ap pr ov ed a s a st ra te gy b y t he M ini ste r.  In th e ev en t t he a bo ve fe as ibi lity stu dy fin din g in fa vo ur o f pr op os ing t ra de in rh ino h or n, wo rk to wa rd s d ev elo pin g a pr op os al to tr ad e in rh ino h or n fo r CI TE S. DE A Su bm iss ion o f p ro po sa l to C IT ES b y de ad lin e fo r d isc us sio n at C oP 17 o r Co P 18 , w ha te ve r r ec om m en de d. De pe nd en t o n go ve rn m en t a cc ep ta nc e. Lo bb yin g an d pr of es sio na lly e xp lai nin g an d se llin g pr op os al to CI TE S m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies w or ldw ide w ou ld be e xp en siv e Ob ta ini ng th e ne ce ss ar y 2 /3 rd s m ajo rit y w ill no t b e ea sy . W ou ld ne ed to cl ea rly d em on str at e to th e int er na tio na l c om m un ity th at th e pr im ar y m ot ive o f a ny p ro po sa l w as to re du ce p oa ch ing an d to h elp m ee t s ta te d co ns er va tio n ob jec tiv es a nd n ot p ur ely to m ak e m on ey ; a nd th at su ch a tr ad e co uld b e ad eq ua te ly co nt ro lle d at a ll s ta ge s o f t he tr ad e ch ain to e ns ur e th at ill eg al lau nd er ing d oe sn ’t o cc ur a nd a la rg e pa ra lle l il leg al tra de de ve lop s w hic h th re at en s r hin os in o th er ra ng e sta te s.  Ad dr es s t he p ot en tia l a dv er se im pa ct of e xis tin g re gu lat ion s a nd re gu lat or y s tru ctu re s ( TO PS , pe rm itti ng ) o n th e su sta ina ble u se of w hit e rh ino (e .g . o n th e hu nt ing ind us try , d eh or nin g fo r p ro te cti on ) DE A, W RS A/ P RO A, P HA SA , R M G St re am lin ed e na bli ng re gu lat or y sy ste m In te gr at ed se cu re n at ion al on lin e pe rm itti ng sy ste m se t u p an d op er at ion al. Re m ain o pe n to re vie w im pa cts (p os itiv e & ne ga tiv e) to e xis tin g leg isl at ion . Re sis ta nc e to st re am lin ing b ur ea uc ra tic le gis lat ive re gu lat ion s.  In th e ev en t t he a bo ve fe as ibi lity stu dy fin din g in fa vo ur o f t ra de in rh ino h or n, d ev elo p a we ll ar tic ula te d str at eg ic & te ch nic al pr op os al on h ow th e tra de sh ou ld be m an ag ed , m on ito re d an d de liv er ed o n in th e na tio na l a nd int er na tio na l c on te xt. DE A/ RM G/ o th er re lev an t go ve rn m en t d ep ar tm en ts (S AR S, Cu sto m s & E xc ise ); Re lev an t fo re ign tr ad ing co un try , W RS A, Ac ce pt ed st ra te gy /te ch nic al do cu m en t De pe nd en t o n SA G ov er nm en t s up po rt. La ck o f c lar ity o f d et ail s o f t ra din g m ec ha nis m & m on ito rin g do wn th e en tir e su pp ly ch ain . Co nc er ns th at d isc us sin g an d m ot iva tin g fo r a le ga l tr ad e se nd s “th e wr on g m es sa ge ” t o ke y c on su m er co un tri es a nd m ay h am pe r de m an d re du cti on e ffo rts . 3. St ra te gi ca lly e ng ag e in in te rn at io na l d em an d re du ct io n pr og ra m m es This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 49 46 Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to rs o f s uc ce ss Th re at s to d el iv er & /o r c om m en ts  De ve lop a nd su pp or t a d em an d re du cti on st ra te gy . DE A. Co m m iss ion o f I nq uir y r ep or t Ac ce pt ed st ra te gy /te ch nic al do cu m en t Ba se lin e m ea su re s o f d em an d ag ain st wh ich fu tu re re du cti on ca n be m ea su re d. In te rn at ion al m isu nd er sta nd ing & p ot en tia l c on flic t o f d em an d re du cti on & tr ad e str at eg ies . En su re th at d em an d re du cti on d oe s n ot co m pr om ise th e str at eg ic go al of su sta ina ble u se .  En ga ge in a nd su pp or t int er na tio na l e ffo rts to u nd er sta nd th e dy na m ics , e co no m ics a nd u se of rh ino h or n an d rh ino de riv at ive s. DE A, o th er re lev an t g ov er nm en t de pa rtm en ts (S AR S, C us to m s & Ex cis e) . Te ch nic al do cu m en ts an d ec on om ic m od els w hic h ar e re lia ble a nd br oa dly a cc ep te d C on flic tin g m es sa gin g of tr ad e in ho rn a nd d em an d re du cti on .  En ga ge in id en tifi ed in te rn at ion al de m an d re du cti on a cti vit ies DE A, o th er re lev an t g ov er nm en t de pa rtm en ts (S AR S, C us to m s & Ex cis e) . Re du cti on in d em an d in co ns um er sta te s. Re du cti on in p oa ch ing . Dr op in b lac k m ar ke t p ric e. Co nf lic tin g m es sa gin g of tr ad e in ho rn a nd d em an d re du cti on . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 50 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 47 5. 4 BI OL OG IC AL M AN AG EM EN T 5. 4. 1 Ob je ct iv e 5. 4. 2 Ra tio na le It is no t s uf fic ien t o nly to p ro te ct rh ino s in or de r t o co ns er ve th em . T he y als o ne ed a pp ro pr iat e bio log ica l m an ag em en t, to p re ve nt o ve rs to ck ing , t o pr ev en t i nb re ed ing , t o m ax im ize g en et ic div er sit y, an d to m ee t o th er a nim al hu sb an dr y ne ed s; an d es pe cia lly to m ain ta i n ra pid m et a po pu lat ion g ro wt h ra te s an d in so d oin g inc re as e th e ab ilit y of th e m et a po pu lat ion to w ith sta nd a g ive n am ou nt o f p oa ch ing . B iol og ica l m an ag em en t o f r hin os h as im pr ov ed th ro ug h re gu lar a nd ri go ro us m on ito rin g of in div idu al rh ino s an d po pu lat ion p er fo rm an ce s (m ea su re d in m an y wa ys s uc h as b irt h an d de at h ra te s, int er c alv ing in te rv als , a ge a t f irs t b re ed ing e tc. ). M on ito rin g of p op ula tio ns /in div idu als w as ad dr es se d in th e pr ev iou s s ec tio n. Cu rre nt p op ula tio n th eo ry s ug ge sts th at u nle ss th e ze ro g ro wt h po pu lat ion d en sit y (o r w ha t m ay b e te rm ed a n ec olo gic al ca rry ing c ap ac ity ) i s de cli nin g, o r r em ov als e xc ee d m ax im um p ot en tia l g ro wt h ra te s by h ar ve sti ng a t a fi xe d ra te p er a nn um , t he p op ula tio n sh ou ld re sp on d by g ro wi ng a t le as t a t t ha t r at e (s ee A pp en dix 2 fo r d et ail s) . T hu s, by re m ov ing a t a co ns ta nt ra te o f a t le as t 5 % a nd n ot m or e th an 8 % a nn ua lly (b ut in clu din g po ac he d an im als w he n ca lcu lat ing to ta l % re m ov ed ) f ro m e sta bli sh ed p op ula tio ns w e ar e at te m pt ing to e ns ur e th at re m ain ing a nim als in th es e po pu lat ion s c on tin ue to g ro w at le as t a t t his p re de te rm ine d ta rg et ra te (a ll e lse b ein g eq ua l). T hu s i f y ou lo st 1% o f t he po pu lat ion to p oa ch ing in th e ye ar , on e sh ou ld re m ov e an ot he r 4 % o f t he p op ula tio n if un de rta kin g se t % h ar ve sti ng a t t he m ini m um re co m m en de d 5% le ve l. Al te rn at ive ly, an d es pe cia lly in s m all p op ula tio ns it m ay b e m or e pr ac tic al to re m ov e sa y 15 % e ve ry th re e ye ar s wh ich w ou ld be e qu iva len t t o an a nn ua l 5 % re m ov al. H ar ve sti ng a lso pr ov ide s fo un de r r hin os th at c an b e us ed to s et u p ne w po pu lat ion s wi th th e po te nt ial fo r r ap id po pu lat ion g ro wt h, e sp ec ial ly im po rta nt to b uf fe r t he in cr ea sin g th re at fr om po ac hin g. In a dd itio n, to e xp an d th e sp ec ies ra ng e sa les a lso h av e his to ric all y ge ne ra te d sig nif ica nt re ve nu e fo r c on se rv at ion a ge nc ies a nd o wn er s, ho we ve r, if th er e ar e ins uf fic ien t n um be rs o f s uit ab le bu ye rs w ith s uit ab le ar ea s wa nt ing to e sta bli sh n ew b re ed ing p op ula tio ns th is m ay lim it th e nu m be r o f a nim al s th at c an b e re m ov ed . T hu s se t % h ar ve sti ng is a w in wi n str at eg y, wh ich sh ou ld bo th m ain ta in or e nh an ce p op ula tio n vig ou r i n th e ha rv es te d po pu lat ion w hil st als o en ha nc ing o ve ra ll m et a po pu lat ion g ro wt h. Sh ou ld rh ino c ar ry ing c ap ac ity (z er o gr ow th d en sit y) c ha ng e in po pu lat ion s be ing m an ag ed u sin g se t % h ar ve sti ng , r hin o de ns itie s sh ou ld sim ply a dju st to a n ew h igh er o r low er le ve l t ha t c an s up po rt th e giv en % re m ov al. T his a pp ro ac h is als o les s de pe nd en t u po n ge ttin g es tim at es o f z er o gr ow th o r m ax im um p ro du cti vit y ca rry ing c ap ac itie s co rre ct. O n th e ot he r h an d, a fa ilu re to re du ce d en sit ies o f p op ula tio ns a pp ro ac hin g or a bo ve z er o gr ow th d en sit ies b y at le as t 5 % /a nn um is li ke ly to n eg at ive ly im pa ct on ha bit at a nd u ltim at ely re du ce p op ula tio n gr ow th ra te s t o be low m ini m um ta rg et le ve ls. To m an ag e wh ite rh in o po pu la tio ns in o rd er to a ch ie ve a s us ta in ed u nd er ly in g gr ow th ra te o f a t l ea st 5% p er a nn um (a fte r t ak in g po ac hi ng & in te rn at io na l t ra ns lo ca tio ns in to a cc ou nt ), pr om ot e lo ng te rm g en et ic v ia bi lit y, p re ve nt th e im pa ct o f s el ec tiv e br ee di ng , w hi le m ai nt ai ni ng th e ex is tin g ra ng e an d es ta bl is hi ng n ew v ia bl e po pu la tio ns in a dd iti on al s ui ta bl e ha bi ta t. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 51 48 La rg er fr ee ra ng ing p op ula tio ns in su ita ble h ab ita t g en er all y p er fo rm b et te r t ha n sm all er o ne s giv en th e lar ge ly un inh ibi te d ec olo gic al pr oc es s b et we en h ab ita t, ind ivi du als a nd po pu lat ion s. Th er e is a ne ed to in ce nt ivi se th e dr op pin g of fe nc es to p re ve nt fr ag m en ta tio n of th e lan ds ca pe . Fo llo wi ng IU CN S SC A fR SG a nd S AD C RP RC re co m m en de d be st pr ac tic es (s ee d u To it 20 07 – d ow nlo ad ab le lin k be low a nd IU CN S SC A fri ca n an d As ian R hin o Re int ro du ct ion a nd T ra ns loc at ion G uid eli ne s, av ail ab le fro m th e Af RS G we bp ag e (w ww .rh ino s irf .o rg /a frs g) & R hin o Re so ur ce C en tre ), ev er y e ffo rt sh ou ld be m ad e to e sta bli sh la rg er p op ula tio ns (i de all y >5 0 an im als ), in su ita ble h ab ita t w ith in th e su bs pe cie s f or m er ra ng e, u sin g as b ro ad a d ive rs ity o f y ou ng a du lt f ou nd er s a s p os sib le. S ke wi ng th e ad ult se x r at ios in fa vo ur o f a du lt f em ale s g en er all y e nh an ce s p op ula tio n pe rfo rm an ce . Th er e is a str at eg ic ne ed to in cr ea se th e nu m be r o f e m er gin g pr iva te la nd o wn er s an d co m m un itie s co ns er vin g rh ino s. T his s ho uld im pr ov e th e su sta ina bil ity a nd s pr ea d of wh ite rh ino s on p riv at e an d co m m un ity la nd . H ow ev er a n um be r o f c on se rv at ion a ge nc ies h av e ra ise d co nc er ns a bo ut th e nu m be r o f a pp lic at ion s fo r i nt en siv e rh ino fa rm ing op er at ion s. W e ne ed to a vo id ve ry in te ns ive z oo ty pe c ap tiv e br ee din g wh ich h as b ee n sh ow n to b e as so cia te d wi th p oo r r ep ro du cti ve p er fo rm an ce in w hit e rh ino (a nd es pe cia lly a lo w pr op or tio n of p re gn an t f em ale s ult im at ely g ivi ng b irt h to c alv es ; a nd a pp ar en t p oo re r pe rfo rm an ce o f f ut ur e ge ne ra tio ns o f a nim als b or n in int en siv e co nd itio ns ). Ho we ve r t he re m ay b e int en siv e op tio ns w he re rh ino b re ed ing is g oo d an d rh ino s m ay su ffe r l es s p oa ch ing th us p ot en tia lly p ro vid ing a n ins ur an ce o pt ion to e na ble fu tu re r es to ck ing o f w ild a re as if th is we re to b e ne ed ed . C on ce rn s ha ve a lso b ee n ex pr es se d th at in te ns ive r hin o fa rm ing c ou ld fo ste r se lec tiv e br ee din g cr ea tin g do m es tic at ed w hit e rh ino th at a re g en et ica lly d iffe re nt fr om w ild rh ino a s ha s ha pp en ed w ith G uin ea fo wl in S ou th A fri ca a nd A m er ica n bis on . T his p ot en tia lly co uld re du ce th e wi ld rh ino m et a po pu lat ion a nd p os sib ly pr ec lud e int en siv e fa rm s in fu tu re fr om re sto ck ing w ild a re as . I nt en siv e rh ino fa rm ing a lso m igh t d isi nc en tiv ise c on se rv at ion b y en co ur ag ing fr ag m en ta tio n of th e lan ds ca pe in to s m all p oc ke ts ra th er th an e nc ou ra gin g th e ta kin g do wn o f f en ce s t o cr ea te b ig ge r c on se rv at ion a re as (w hic h th e Bl ac k Rh ino Ra ng e Ex pa ns ion P ro jec t ( BR RE P) h as d on e) . H or n pr od uc ed u nd er s uc h ve ry in te ns ive c on dit ion s m ay a lso e nd u p fe tch ing lo we r p ric es in S E As ia sh ou ld th er e ev er b e a leg al tra de . Ho we ve r, we c ur re nt ly do n ot k no w un de r w ha t c on dit ion s re pr od uc tiv e pe rfo rm an ce u nd er m or e int en siv e m an ag em en t i s no t c om pr om ise d. It m ay a lso p ro ve ea sie r, ch ea pe r a nd m or e ef fe cti ve to p ro te ct rh ino u nd er s uc h co nd itio ns a nd p ro vid ed c on dit ion s ar e co nd uc ive to n um be rs g ro wi ng ra pid ly un de r i nt en siv e m an ag em en t , gr ea te r h or n pr od uc tio n sh ou ld ho pe fu lly ta ke s om e pr es su re o ff wi ld po pu lat ion s sh ou ld a tra de e ve r b e ap pr ov ed b y CI TE S. C ur re nt ly da ta a re re qu ire d to e va lua te a nd as se ss th e pr os a nd c on s of in te ns ive rh ino fa rm ing o pt ion s wi th a v iew to d ev elo pin g ap pr op ria te p oli cie s to s up po rt wh at is p os itiv e an d ac t a ga ins t w ha t i s sh ow n to b e or lik ely to b e ne ga tiv e to rh ino co ns er va tio n. T hu s t he re is a n ee d to in ve sti ga te th is iss ue th or ou gh ly to d et er m ine w ha t s ho ul d an d wh at sh ou ld no t b e all ow ed . Co ns er va tio n of w hit e rh ino in S ou th A fri ca w ill on ly be o f t he in dig en ou s S ou th er n W hit e rh ino C . s . s im um (u nle ss so m e tim e in th e fu tu re S ou th A fri ca is ca lle d up on to a ss ist wi th a tte m pt s to in te r-c ro ss s ou th er n wi th th e alm os t e xti nc t n or th er n wh ite rh ino in a la st dit ch a tte m pt to c on se rv e at le as t s om e ad ap tiv e no rth er n wh ite rh ino g en es fo r ev en tu al re in tro du cti on in to fo rm er ra ng e. T he la tte r i s cu rre nt ly be ing a tte m pt ed in K en ya a nd it is u nli ke ly th er e wi ll b e an y ne ed fo r S ou th A fri ca to a lso p ar tic ipa te in s uc h br ee din g ef fo rts ). To m ax im ise g en et ic div er sit y an d re du ce th e po ss ibi lity o f i nb re ed ing w ith in th e fra gm en te d rh ino p op ula tio ns , e ve ry e ffo rt sh ou ld be m ad e to o bt ain a s div er se a rra y of fo un de r a nim als a s po ss ibl e in ne wl y es ta bli sh ed p op ula tio ns , a s we ll a s int ro du cin g un re lat ed a nim als o nc e ev er y ge ne ra tio n (1 4 ye ar s) p er e sta bli sh ed p op ula tio ns . T his is de pe nd en t u po n th e po pu lat ion s ize a nd it s de m og ra ph ics . A du lt m ale s wa ps w ou ld pr ov ide th e be st re tu rn o n inv es tm en t. In s m all er p op ula tio ns w ith a fe w br ee din g bu lls , This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 52 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 49 th es e an im als sh ou ld ide all y b e ex ch an ge d as fr eq ue nt ly as p os sib le (ie n ot > e ve ry 1 5 ye ar s ( ge ne ra tio n) ) t o m ini m ise in br ee din g po ss ibi liti es . F oc us ing o n lar ge r p op ula tio ns of > 10 0 an im als w ou ld pr ov ide th e be st op tio n wi th re ga rd s m ain ta ini ng g en et ic div er sit y ( Co ut ts 20 09 ). 5. 4. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ic at or s, R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. Ha rv es t e st ab lis he d rh in o po pu la tio ns to c on tin uo us ly s tim ul at e gr ow th . Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r o f S uc ce ss Th re at s/ co m m en ts  W he n po pu lat ion s e xc ee d 50 % o f an a cc ep te d ze ro g ro wt h de ns ity (s om et im e re fe rre d to a s Ec olo gic al Ca rry ing C ap ac ity (E CC )), im ple m en t t he S et % Ha rv es tin g St ra te gy w ith m ini m um av er ag e re m ov als o f a t le as t 5% /a nn um (a nd n ot m or e th an 8% ); or in sm all er p op ula tio ns 15 % e ve ry 3 ye ar s e tc. to m ini m ize th e ne ed fo r r ep ea te d an d co stl y m an ipu lat ion s i n th e po pu lat ion .  Re m ov als sh ou ld ac co un t f or th e se x a nd a ge st ru ctu re o f t he po pu lat ion to m ain ta in th e via bil ity of th e re m ain ing h er d.  W he re p os sib le, co ns oli da te sm all an d les s v iab le gr ou ps . St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies a nd pr iva te /co m m un ity rh ino o wn er s Al l p op ula tio ns g ro wi ng a t a m ini m um ra te o f 5 % /a nn um (f ro m re po rti ng ). Pr op or tio n of e sta bli sh ed K ey a nd Im po rta nt p op ula tio ns w he re ha rv es tin g is in th e ra ng e of 5 8 % pe r a nn um o n av er ag e ov er th e pr ev iou s 5 ye ar s. If po ac hin g es ca lat es o ut o f c on tro l, g ro wt h ta rg et s w ill no t b e ac hie ve d. A nim als p oa ch ed a nd h un te d sh ou ld be in clu de d wh en ca lcu lat ing tr an slo ca tio n of f-t ak es . F or e xa m ple if 4% o f t he po pu lat ion is p oa ch ed a nd h un te d th is wo uld le av e 1% o f t he po pu lat ion th at co uld b e re m ov ed liv e un de r a 5 % se t p er ce nt ag e ha rv es tin g str at eg y? Ov er h ar ve sti ng (e .g . a t > 9% a ve ra ge re m ov als ) m ay le ad to po pu lat ion d ec lin es , f or e xa m ple if fin an cia l p re ss ur es o ve rri de so un d m an ag em en t p ra cti ce s. A lac k o f p ro pe r p op ula tio n m on ito rin g wi ll i nh ibi t g oo d de cis ion m ak ing . Th er e m ay b e pr es su re to fr ag m en t la rg e po pu lat ion s i nt o sm all er , int en siv ely m an ag ed u nit s, pe rc eiv ed to e nh an ce p ro du cti vit y f or pr of it. Un de r-h ar ve sti ng m ay le ad to p op ula tio n sta gn at ion a nd h ab ita t de cli ne . D o no t o nly re m ov e yo un ge r ( su b ad ult s) a nim als a s t his ult im at ely ca n ne ga tiv ely a ffe ct th e do no r p op ula tio n’s a ge dis tri bu tio n La ck o f s uit ab le bu ye rs se ek ing rh ino s t o ex pa nd n um be rs a nd ra ng e m ay co ns tra in th e nu m be r o f li ve sa les . In cr ea sin g co sts a nd ri sk s a nd d ec lin ing in ce nt ive s ( e. g. d ec lin ing This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 53 50 liv e sa le pr ice s) a re le ad ing to so m e ow ne rs g et tin g rid o f t he ir rh ino . T o re ve rs e th is ne ga tiv e tre nd ; w hic h th re at en s c on tin ue d go od b iol og ica l m an ag em en t o f t he sp ec ies re qu ire s a n en ab lin g en vir on m en t w ith su ffic ien t in ce nt ive s t o en co ur ag e th e co nt inu ed inc re as e in nu m be rs a nd ra ng e is ne ed ed .  De pe nd ing u po n re se rv e m an ag em en t o bje cti ve s, co ns ide r m an ag ing co m pe tin g sp ec ies to pr ev en t h ab ita t d eg ra da tio n in wh ite rh ino a re as St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies , c om m un al an d pr iva te rh ino o wn er s St oc kin g ra te s o f o th er g ra ze rs an aly ze d fo r m et ab oli c b iom as s pe r K m 2 Co m pe tin g gr az er s m ay b e sto ck ed fo r a p ro tra cte d pe rio d at de ns itie s w hic h lea d to d eg ra da tio n of rh ino h ab ita t, af fe cti ng th eir gr ow th . Co ns ide ra tio n ne ed b e giv en a h oli sti c a pp ro ac h to co ns er va tio n th at d oe s n ot d ea l s ole ly wi th th e ne ed s o f a si ng le sp ec ies . 2. Es ta bl is h ne w po pu la tio ns Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r o f S uc ce ss Th re at s/ co m m en ts  Co m pil e an d m ak e av ail ab le na tio na l g uid eli ne s f or th e ev alu at ion o f s uit ab le ha bit at fo r wh ite rh ino SA DC R M G Gu ide lin es d oc um en t Po ss ibl e lim ite d inf or m at ion o n wh ite rh ino fe ed ing h ab its .  Se t u p ne w po pu lat ion s, ide all y i n wi ld fre e ra ng e co nd itio ns , w he re po ss ibl e wi th u nr ela te d fo un de rs , an d at st ar tin g de ns itie s b elo w 50 % o f z er o gr ow th d en sit y ( i.e . ec olo gic al ca rry ing ca pa cit ies ) t o all ow fo r g ro wt h. St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies , c om m un al an d pr iva te rh ino o wn er s Al l n ew p op ula tio ns a re e sta bli sh ed in su ita ble h ab ita t, in ad eq ua te ly se cu re d sit es , a nd a re g ro wi ng Lim ite d ra ng e ex pa ns ion p os sib ilit ies m ay a ris e du e to la ck o f inc en tiv es to in ve st in rh ino . F i na nc ial /se cu rit y c on str ain ts.  Un de rta ke re se ar ch to e sta bli sh pr os a nd co ns o f li ke ly im pa cts o f va rio us in te ns ive m an ag em en t m od els fo r w hit e rh ino s. De pe nd ing o n re su lts p os sib ly co ns ide r w he th er o r n ot g uid eli ne s or p er ha ps le ga l p oli cie s a re ne ed ed to e sta bli sh m ini m um re co m m en de d pr op er ty siz es p er Pr ov inc e su ita ble to su pp or t f re e St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies a nd S AD C RM G, P RO A Fa ct fin din g un de rta ke n to se t o ut pr os a nd co ns o f a lte rn at ive ap pr oa ch es . W or ks ho p he ld to co ns ide r n ee d fo r p oli cy a nd p os sib le re str ict ion s (if a pp ro pr iat e) No “c ap tiv e / in te ns ive b re ed ing – sty le fa rm ing o pe ra tio ns a ris e th at Th er e m ay b e a pr oli fe ra tio n of in te ns ive b re ed ing fa cil itie s i n th e co un try th at co uld th re at en co ns er va tio n go als d ue to la ck o f co m pli an ce , la ck o f s ur ve illa nc e of p ro pe rti es a nd la ck o f co ns ide ra tio n of im pa cts o f d iffe re nt m an ag em en t m od els . Gu ide lin es n ee d to b e de ve lop ed b ut th es e ne ed to ca re fu lly we igh u p pr os a nd co ns o f o pt ion s a nd co ns ide r v iew s o f v ar iou s sta ke ho lde rs a s w ell a s p os sib le ne ga tiv e an d po sit ive im pa cts /p re ss ur e on w ild p op ula tio ns . Th e se lec tiv e br ee din g of g en et ica lly d iffe re nt d om es tic at ed rh ino s This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 54 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 51 ra ng ing b re ed ing h er ds o f w hit e rh ino s w ith o r w ith ou t su pp lem en ta ry fo od b ut w he re pe rfo rm an ce w ill no t b e ad ve rs ely af fe cte d by in te ns ive m an ag em en t an d en su rin g th at th e nu m be rs o f wi ld rh ino d o no t d ec lin e as a re su lt Th is is lik ely to n ee d a sp ec ific w or ks ho p fo llo wi ng a fa ct fin din g re se ar ch p ha se to as ce rta in cu rre nt b re ed ing pe rfo rm an ce in m or e int en siv e se t up s. ha ve p oo r b re ed ing p er fo rm an ce an d wh ich w ill re su lt i n cr ea tio n of ge ne tic all y d iffe re nt se lec tiv ely br ed d om es tic at ed w hit e rh ino s. Gu ide lin es p ro du ce d on m ini m um EC C fo r e sta bli sh ing fr ee ra ng ing br ee din g he rd s o f w hit e rh ino s w ith or w ith ou t f oo d su pp lem en ta tio n. In de pe nd en t a na lys is (b y S AD C RM G or IU CN S SC A fR SG ) t o as se ss p er fo rm an ce a nd ri sk s o f dif fe re nt fo rm s o f m or e int en siv e rh ino fa rm ing o pe ra tio ns . Gu ide lin es p ro du ce d sh ow ing w ha t fo rm s o f in te ns ive o pe ra tio ns sh ou ld be p er m itte d an d wh at n ot . Gu ide lin es fo r g en et ic m an ag em en t o f m or e int en siv e op er at ion s t o pr ev en t s ele cti ve br ee din g. ne ed s t o be a vo ide d an d br ee din g of w ild rh ino s s ho uld b e en co ur ag ed . Sh ou ld a leg al tra de e ve r b e ap pr ov ed b y C IT ES h or n fro m ca pt ive o r s em i-c ap tiv e “d om es tic at ed ” r hin os m ay b e se en a s inf er ior b y S E As ian co ns um er s. La ck o f in de pe nd en t a ss es sm en t o f p er fo rm an ce o f e xis tin g m or e int en siv e op er at ion s Ri sk th at se lec tiv e br ee din g co uld p ot en tia lly o cc ur in ve ry int en siv e op er at ion s – im pa cti ng o n na tu ra l s ele cti on a nd ri sk o f cr ea tin g ge ne tic all y d iffe re nt fa rm ed a nd w ild w hit e rh ino . I f t he lat te r h ap pe ne d th en th is wo uld re du ce th e po te nt ial o f f ar m ed rh ino to re sto ck w ild a re as sh ou ld th is be n ec es sa ry . In te ns ive b re ed ing h as p ot en tia l a nim al hu sb an dr y r isk s e g, ex po su re to d ise as e, in cr ea se d str es s l ev els  Ai m to se t u p at le as t t wo ad dit ion al sig nif ica nt ly siz ed po pu lat ion s w ith > 20 fo un de rs a nd po te nt ial fo r > 50 a nim als . RM G to e nc ou ra ge & su pp or t cr ea tio n of n ew si gn ific an t po pu lat ion s, Al l s ta ke ho lde rs , S ta te , c om m un al, pr iva te a nd N GO ’s At le as t t wo p op ula tio ns a re cr ea te d an d gr ow ing W hit e rh ino in zo o ca pt ivi ty br ee d po or ly. Ca pt ive b re ed ing si te s w ith p oo r p er fo rm an ce p ro life ra te (a lth ou gh re co gn izi ng th at th er e m ay b e va ria nt s o f m or e int en siv e m an ag em en t t ha t d o pe rfo rm w ell a nd su ffe r l ow er p oa ch ing ).  In itia te p lan s f or th e cr ea tio n of a t lea st 1 m or e po pu lat ion o f > 20 0 Al l s ta ke ho lde rs , S ta te , p riv at e, co m m un al a nd N GO ’s Pl an s a re in p lac e fo r a n ew la rg e po pu lat ion si te . Si te s m ay n ot b e av ail ab le fo r e xp an sio n/ a m alg am at ion , o r n o ne w sit es m ay b e av ail ab le, n o fu nd ing a va ila ble , la ck o f This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 55 52 rh ino , v ia am alg am at ion s o f sm all er si te s, lan d ex pa ns ion s o f es ta bli sh ed a re a, o r s et tin g up a ne w ar ea . An im als a re d eli ve re d Po pu lat ion ta rg et m et co op er at ion , c oo rd ina tio n an d co m m itm en t. Th er e m ay b e lac k o f c ap ac ity in P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion au th or itie s. Co nf lic tin g lan d us e po lic ies .  Ne w ar ea s m us t m ee t w ith ap pr ov ed m ini m um cr ite ria (t o be de ve lop ed ) i n or de r t o int ro du ce rh ino . St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies a nd p riv at e rh ino o wn er s Ap pr ov ed m ini m um cr ite ria a re m et As a bo ve  Us e re co m m en de d be st re int ro du cti on p ra cti ce s ( e. g. a s ou tlin ed in IU CN R hin o Re int ro du cti on a nd T ra ns loc at ion Gu ide lin es ) St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies a nd p riv at e rh ino o wn er s Gu ide lin es n ot vi ola te d  En co ur ag e ne w inn ov at ive sc he m es fo r b lac k/c om m un al so ut h Af ric an p riv at e se cto r r hin o fa rm er s/o wn er s i nt o ra ng e ex pa ns ion ta rg et s St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies In cr ea se in b lac k p riv at e lan d ow ne rs & co m m un itie s w ith rh ino s. Va lue o f w ild life se en to b e les s t ha n ot he r c om m od itie s s uc h as ca ttle . 3. M an ag em en t o f G en et ic D iv er si ty Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r o f S uc ce ss Th re at s/ co m m en ts  W he re p os sib le un de rta ke g en et ic pr of ilin g in po pu lat ion s t o m on ito r ge ne tic d ive rs ity st at us , a nd a ss ist wi th m ini m izi ng in br ee din g in sm all po pu lat ion s. St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies , c om m un al an d pr iva te rh ino o wn er s . La ck o f f un din g fo r g en et ic pr of ilin g an d fo r t im ely tr an sfe r o f an im als fo r g en et ic re as on s. Lo we r p rio rit y t o DN A pr of ilin g fo r p oa ch ing ca se s La ck o f c on ce rn / int er es t in g en et ic m an ag em en t o f r hin o by ow ne rs / co ns er va tio n au th or itie s.  As a m ini m um p re ca ut ion ar y m ea su re in p op s o f < 10 0 ind ivi du als in tro du ce a t le as t 1 br ee din g an im al pe r 2 0 rh ino e ve ry As a bo ve An im al tra ns fe rs a re m ad e pe rio dic all y Ne ed re se ar ch to co nf irm o r r ef ine th es e re co m m en da tio ns . Fi na nc ial co ns tra int s This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 56 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 53 ge ne ra tio n (1 4 ye ar s) to in tro du ce ne w blo od . Gu ide lin es to b e up da te d in th e lig ht o f a ny n ew re se ar ch o r m od eli ng .  M an ag e po pu lat ion s f or g ro wt h as de sc rib ed a bo ve (m ini m ize s l os s o f ge ne tic d ive rs ity d ue to g en et ic dr ift) . As a bo ve Po pu lat ion s g ro w at a m ini m um o f 5% p er a nn um .  In sm all er p op ula tio ns , t o m ini m ize inb re ed ing , r em ov e eit he r th e of fsp rin g if t he y m ay b eg in br ee din g wi th th eir p ar en ts / sib lin gs , o r u nd er ta ke a n ex ch an ge of b re ed ing b ull s As a bo ve Po pu lat ion in div idu al his to ry d at a sh ow s t ha t t ra ns fe rs o f r ela te d rh ino o cc ur w he re n ee de d. Fi na nc ial co ns tra int s 4. M an ag e Su rp lu s Bu lls Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r o f S uc ce ss Th re at s/ co m m en ts  M ain ta in leg al av en ue s t o m an ag e su rp lus b ull s. Th is inc lud es hu nt ing , b ull o nly ca m ps , tra ns loc at ion to a re as n ee din g bu lls fo r d em og ra ph ic or fo r g en et ic ex ch an ge . DE A, P ro vin cia l a ut ho rit ies . Hu nt ing co nt inu es , b ull s a re u se d fo r g en et ic ex ch an ge w he re po ss ibl e, a nd b ull ca m ps a re u se d wh en n ec es sa ry to h old su rp lus an im als w hic h ca nn ot b e dis po se d of b y t he se o th er m ea ns A na tio na l p ro fe ss ion al hu nt er (P H) re gis te r w hic h ha s p ro vis ion s t o ba n un sc ru pu lou s o pe ra to rs Pr os ec ut ion a nd co nv ict ion s o f pr ov inc ial o ffic ial s a ss oc iat ed w ith th e sp at e of p se ud oh un tin g an d ille ga l is su ing o f p er m it Th e ba nn ing o f r hin o hu nt ing w ou ld lim it i nc om e fo r m an ag em en t an d av en ue s f or d isp os al of e xc es s m ale s. A to ta l b an o f h un tin g wo uld m os t li ke ly se e sh rin ka ge o f r hin o ra ng e an d nu m be rs , e sp ec ial ly on p riv at e lan d. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 57 54  Un de rta ke tim ely o r p re e m pt ive re m ov als o f m ale s w he n int er fe re nc e wi th p op ula tio n gr ow th m ay a ris e. St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies , p riv at e & co m m un al rh ino o wn er s. M ini m um lo ss o f f em ale s a nd ca lve s d ue to m ale a gg re ss ion . Fi na nc ial re so ur ce s 5. Di se as e M an ag em en t Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r o f S uc ce ss Th re at s/ co m m en ts  W hit e rh ino d ise as e su rv eil lan ce an d re po rti ng m ay b e re qu ire d in all rh ino p op ula tio ns . St at ut or y & P ro vin cia l c on se rv at ion m an ag em en t a ut ho rit ies , p riv at e & co m m un al rh ino o wn er s, Ve te rin ar y Se rv ice s Di se as e su rv eil lan ce re po rts W hit e rh ino d ise as e an d m or ta lity m ay in cr ea se  In a dd itio n, ce rta in no tifi ab le dis ea se s ( su ch a s T B) o n ot he r sp ec ies (e .g . B uf fa lo) n ee d re po rti ng a nd co nt ro l, b ec au se th es e af fe ct th e ab ilit y t o m ak e ne ed ed tr an slo ca tio ns o f r hin o fro m dis ea se d ar ea s. As a bo ve Rh ino tr an slo ca tio n no t a ffe cte d. Ve te rin ar y r es ea rc h th at de m on str at es th at w hit e rh ino s d o no t p os e a TB ri sk . Di se as e in ot he r s pe cie s m ay p re ve nt th e pr op er m an ag em en t an d us e of rh ino . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 58 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 55 5. 5 EF FE CT IV E CO M M UN IC AT IO N AN D CO LL AB OR AT IO N 5. 5. 1 Ob je ct iv e To c oo rd in at e an d pr om ot e ef fe ct iv e co lla bo ra tio n an d co m m un ic at io n be tw ee n al l w hi te rh in o st ak eh ol de rs in S ou th A fri ca a nd in te rn at io na lly . 5. 5. 2 Ra tio na le Th e cu rre nt s ta te o f a ffa irs is n ot c on du civ e to e ffe cti ve c oll ab or at ion b et we en s ta ke ho lde rs . T he re is a la ck o f t ru st be tw ee n th e sta te in sti tu tio ns re sp on sib le fo r r hin o m an ag em en t a nd th e pr iva te s ec to r r hin o ow ne rs . T he re is a n ee d to in itia te m ec ha nis m s th at im pr ov e co or din at ion a nd c oll ab or at ion b et we en ro le pla ye rs , n at ion all y an d int er na tio na lly , t ha t u ltim at ely b uil ds la sti ng re lat ion sh ips a nd tr us t. Th er e is an u rg en t n ee d to e nh an ce c om m un ica tio ns w ith ru ra l c om m un itie s, es pe cia lly th os e ad jac en t rh ino p ar ks /re se rv es /ra nc he rs , t o inc lud e th em a s pa rt of th e so lut ion to th e rh ino c ris is by e xp lor ing p ot en tia l b en ef it sh ar ing a nd e m po we rm en t o pt ion s. Co m m un ica tio n an d th e sh ar ing o f i nf or m at ion o n bio log ica l m an ag em en t a nd p ro te cti on o f r hin os h as b ee n th e co rn er sto ne o f t he s uc ce ss o f t he S AD C RM G an d th e IU CN A fri ca n Rh ino Sp ec ial ist G ro up . 5. 5. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ic at or s, R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. Co m m un ic at io n & co lla bo ra tio n Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r Th re at s/ co m m en ts  En su re th at re gu lar co ns ult at ive fo ru m m ee tin gs o cc ur th at b uil ds tru st an d m or e ef fe cti ve w or kin g re lat ion sh ips b et we en th e pr iva te /co m m un al rh ino o wn er se cto r , co m m un itie s a dja ce nt rh ino re se rv es a nd ke y s ta te ro le pla ye rs in th e rh ino se cto r. (In clu din g DE A, p ro vin cia l a nd sta te a ut ho rit ies , a ll r hin o cu sto dia ns (s ta te /p riv at e/ co m m un al) , la w en fo rc em en t a ge nc ies a nd N PA ). SA DC R M G PR OA DE A SA PS NW CR U M ee tin gs a re h eld a nd m inu te s re co rd ed a nd d iss em ina te d. La ck o f r es ou rc es . La ck o f in fo rm at ion sh ar ing le ad s t o a los s i n tru st an d co op er at ion .  De ve lop a nd im ple m en t a n at ion al rh ino co m m un ica tio n str at eg y. DE A/ RM G S ha re d re sp on sib ilit y (c om m un ica tio n ta sk te am ). 1. Ta sk te am e sta bli sh ed 2. K ey m es sa ge s f or d iss em ina tio n Fa cil ita te a cc es s t o ac cu ra te a nd ve rif ied in fo rm at ion fo r m ed ia us e. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 59 56 PR OA ide nt ifie d. (R ole o f w hit e rh ino in to ur ism , t ra de , hu nt ing , c on se rv at ion a nd h er ita ge .) ( T he im po rta nc e of co nt ro lle d su sta ina ble h un tin g an d in th e ev en t th e fe as ibi lity st ud y s up po rts a tr ad e in ho rn 5 , po te nt ial p os itiv e ro le of es ta bli sh ing a le ga l tr ad e, in rh ino co ns er va tio n) 3. S tra te gy a pp ro ve d an d im ple m en te d. An ti su sta ina ble u se g ro up s i nt er fe re nc e. De ve lop in fo rm at ion p ac ka ge s f or u se in in te rn at ion al lob by ing . Ta rg et a ud ien ce s s ho uld in clu de , a m on gs t o th er s, CI TE S m an ag em en t a nd sc ien tifi c a ut ho rit ies , C hin es e, T ha is an d Vi et na m es e.  So ut h Af ric a to co nt inu e to p lay an a cti ve ro le on In te rn at ion al an d Re gio na l G ro up s s uc h as IU CN SS C’ s A fri ca n Rh ino S pe cia lis t Gr ou p, R ES G/ In te rp ol EC W G an d SA DC R M G So ut h Af ric an co un try re p ele cte d by S AD C RM G So ut h Af ric an m em be rs (D EA , S AN Pa rk s, Pr ov inc ial Ag en cie s, Pr iva te O wn er re pr es en ta tiv es a nd E xp er ts) So ut h Af ric a co nt inu es to b e re pr es en te d at A fR SG , R ES G/ In te rp ol an d SA DC R M G m ee tin gs . Co un try re po rts a nd d at a pr ov ide d to th e Af RS G as m an da te d by C IT ES Re so lut ion 9 .1 4 Re v( 15 ) La ck o f s up po rt fo r s uc h int er na tio na l fo ru m s. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 60 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 57 5. 6 HU NT IN G OF R HI NO S 5. 6. 1 Ob je ct iv e To re co gn is e th at s us ta in ab le h un tin g wi ll co nt in ue to p la y a pi vo ta l r ol e in s up po rti ng c on se rv at io n of th e sp ec ie s th ro ug h in cr ea si ng it s nu m be rs an d its s pa tia l d is tri bu tio n in S ou th A fri ca 5. 6. 2 Ra tio na le Th e pr ov isi on o f a n um be r s ur plu s m ale a nn ua lly to th e tro ph y hu nt ing in du str y ha s pla ye d a piv ot al ro le in th e wh ite rh ino p op ula tio n ex pa ns ion o nt o pr iva te la nd . T og et he r wi th e co to ur ism a nd li ve s ale s, hu nt ing h as g ive n wh ite r hin os a s ign ific an t e co no m ic va lue , a s we ll as in ce nt ivi sin g its c on se rv at ion a nd r ew ar din g th os e th at h av e su cc es sfu lly b re d up w hit e rh ino . T his h as b ee n re co gn ise d in rh ino m ot ion (2 6) a pp ro ve d at th e 20 12 IU CN W or ld Co ns er va tio n Co ng re ss in Je ju, S ou th K or ea . In th e ea rly d ay s of s ell ing rh ino to p riv at e ow ne rs , t he w ait ing li st fo r h un ta ble b ull s ou tst rip pe d th e av ail ab ilit y of th es e an im als , a nd B uy s & An de rs on (1 98 9) fo un d th at pe rv er se e co no m ic inc en tiv es a t t he tim e en co ur ag ed p riv at e ow ne rs to h un t t he ir rh ino . I n ot he r w or ds tr op hy h un tin g ra th er th an b re ed ing a t t ha t t im e wa s t he d riv ing fo rc e of th e ini tia l e xp an sio n of rh ino in to p riv at e lan d. H ow ev er th is ch an ge d in 19 89 w he n wh ite rh ino s we re a llo we d to fe tch a m ar ke t v alu e on a uc tio ns . F ro m th en th e br ee din g of wh ite rh ino p op ula tio ns b ec am e th e dr ivi ng fo rc e an d liv e sa le pr ice s co nt inu ed to g ro w. S inc e sp or t h un tin g of w hit e rh ino s ta rte d in 19 68 , n um be rs o f w hit e rh ino in S ou th Af ric a ha ve in cr ea se d ov er te n fo ld, cl ea rly d em on str at ing th at tr op hy h un tin g of rh ino s i s s us ta ina ble . Th e his to ric al de m an d fo r t ro ph y an im als (f ro m 1 97 1 20 04 it av er ag ed b et we en 3 0 3 5, in cr ea sin g to 7 0 pe r y ea r) re pr es en ts jus t u nd er 0 .4 % o f t ot al wh ite rh ino p op ula tio n or ab ou t 1 .4 % o f t he rh ino p op ula tio n on p riv at e lan d, a nd w ill no t n eg at ive ly af fe ct th e de m og ra ph ics o f th e po pu lat ion . T he se o ff ta ke le ve ls ha ve b ee n su sta ina ble a nd h av e be en la rg ely d riv en b y t he in te rn at ion al tro ph y h un tin g m ar ke t f ro m th os e co un tri es w ith a tr ad itio na l b ig g am e hu nt ing h ist or y su ch a s t he U SA w hic h his to ric all y h as p ro vid ed th e m ajo rit y of w hit e rh ino h un te rs . A s a re su lt th er e ha s be en n o ne ed to s et a n at ion al hu nt ing q uo ta fo r w hit e rh ino . H ow ev er , a fte r 2 00 4 th e nu m be r o f h un ts inc re as ed to av er ag e jus t o ve r 1 00 a y ea r w ith a s ur ge in h un ts fro m h un te rs fr om p re vio us ly no n tra dit ion al hu nt ing c ou nt rie s (a nd e sp ec ial ly Vi et N am ). H un t p ric es in cr ea se d, p ric ing m an y of th e hu nt er s fro m tr ad itio na l h un tin g co un tri es o ut o f t he m ar ke t. It wa s su sp ec te d th at th e int en tio n of m an y of th es e hu nt er s fro m S E As ia wa s to o bt ain h or n leg all y an d pa ss it o nt o th e ille ga l m ar ke t o nc e it h ad b ee n im po rte d (in c on tra ve nt ion o f C IT ES p er m its w hic h re qu ire tr op hie s to re m ain n on c om m er cia l m em en to es o f a h un t). T his ps eu do h un tin g ha s b ee n a ca us e fo r c on ce rn b ot h wi th in an d ou tsi de S ou th A fri ca a nd h as to so m e ex te nt ta rn ish ed th e re pu ta tio n of S ou th A fri ca a nd u nd ou bt ed ly ha s b ee n th e so ur ce o f s ign ific an t a m ou nt s o f r hin o ho rn e nt er ing th e ille ga l m ar ke t. Th e ris e in ps eu do h un tin g to ge th er w ith th e su rg e in po ac hin g ha s l ed to th e po ss ibl e co nt em pla tio n of a n ee d fo r a h un tin g qu ot a giv en th es e re m ov als e xc ee din g th e re co m m en de d 1% le ve l. E nc ou ra gin gly a n um be r o f in itia tiv es in tro du ce d in Fe br ua ry a nd A pr il 2 01 2 ap pe ar to h av e su cc es sfu lly cl am pe d do wn o n ps eu do h un tin g by S E As ian s, an d if t his su cc es s i s m ain ta ine d, th en o nc e ag ain it is lik ely th at lim ite d de m an d fro m tr ad itio na l h un te rs This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 61 58 wi ll a ct to lim it hu nt ing to w ell b elo w su sta ina ble le ve ls an d a qu ot a is un lik ely to b e ne ce ss ar y. Ho we ve r, inn ov at ive m ea ns o f u sin g pr ox y hu nt er s fro m m or e tra dit ion al an d ot he r b ig ga m e hu nt ing co un tri es (e .g . C ze ch R ep ub lic ) h av e be en n ot ed a nd n ee d to b e ch ec ke d. In A pr il 20 12 th e De pa rtm en t o f E nv iro nm en ta l A ffa irs im ple m en te d re vis ed n or m s an d sta nd ar ds fo r t he m ar kin g of rh ino ce ro s an d rh ino ce ro s ho rn a nd fo r t he h un tin g of rh ino ce ro s fo r t ro ph y hu nt ing p ur po se s (s ee A pp en dix 4 fo r d et ail s) . T his sa w th e int ro du cti on o f s tri cte r c on tro ls fo r t he g ra nt ing o f t ro ph y hu nt ing p er m its in S ou th A fri ca a nd illu str at ed th e se rio us lig ht in w hic h th e de pa rtm en t v iew s th e po ss ibl e ab us e of th e pe rm it sy ste m . T he re vis ed n or m s an d sta nd ar ds c lea rly s tip ula te th at h un tin g ap pli ca nt s m us t, am on gs t o th er s, su bm it pr oo f o f m em be rs hip to a re co gn ize d hu nt ing a ss oc iat ion , m ay o nly h un t o ne w hit e rh ino ce ro s wi th in a tw elv e m on th p er iod a nd th e hu nt m us t be a cc om pa nie d by a n en vir on m en ta l m an ag em en t i ns pe cto r o r a n of fic ial o f t he is su ing a ut ho rit y. Th e of fic ial a cc om pa ny ing th e hu nt m us t a lso ta ke D NA s am ple s of th e rh ino h or n an d fit it wi th a m icr o ch ip. It s ho uld b e no te d th at s ho uld th er e be a c lea r a bu se o r a bs olu te c oll ap se in a ny o f t he se c on tro ls or o f p ro vin cia l p er m itti ng s ys te m s, th en th e re sp on sib le M ini ste r f or E nv iro nm en ta l A ffa irs re se rv es th e rig ht to in sti tu te a m or at or ium o n hu nt ing o f r hin oc er os . T he M ini ste r h as m ad e it cle ar th at in div idu als fo un d gu ilty o f a bu sin g th e hu nt ing p er m it s ys te m w ill be d ea lt w ith in a se rio us m an ne r, as re fle cte d in th e m ax im um p ris on te rm o f 4 0 ye ar s ( eq uiv ale nt to lif e in pr iso n) b ein g giv en to o ffe nd er s. Fo llo wi ng th e su cc es sfu l c lam p do wn o n ps eu do h un tin g af te r A pr il 2 01 2, co nc er ns h av e be en ra ise d ab ou t a n inc re as e in pr ox y h un tin g wh er eb y p oo r b ut g en uin e hu nt er s i n so m e co un tri es a re b ein g pe rs ua de d to a pp ly to h un t a w hit e rh ino b ut w ith th e ult im at e int en tio n of m ak ing m on ey fo r t he m se lve s by p ro vid ing th e tro ph ies w hic h ar e th en sh ipp ed to u se r m ar ke ts. T hu s ch ec kin g wh et he r o r n ot a n ap pli ca nt is a h un te r m ay n ot b e en ou gh a nd th er e is a ne ed fo r g re at er co op er at ion w ith c ou nt rie s wh os e cit ize ns ar e ap ply ing to h un t w hit e rh ino s no t o nly to e ns ur e th ey ca n af fo rd to h un t a rh ino b ut a lso to e nc ou ra ge th em to a cti ve ly m on ito r p os se ss ion o f t ro ph ies a fte r h un ts to e ns ur e th ey re m ain n on c om m er cia l m em en to es o f a h un t. Fo r a p er iod n on le th al “g re en h un tin g” o f w hit e rh ino s wa s all ow ed in S ou th A fri ca . I t w as la te r d ec lar ed u ne th ica l b y th e So ut h Af ric an V et er ina ry C ou nc il, pr ev en tin g ve te rin ar ian s t o pa rti cip at e in th is pr ac tic e. P ut a nd ta ke h un tin g of ca pt ive b re d rh ino s i s p ro hib ite d in te rm s o f t he T OP S re gu lat ion s. Th e on ly hu nt ing cu rre nt ly sa nc tio ne d is let ha l h un tin g of rh ino s in ex te ns ive w ild life s ys te m s. T he re h as b ee n a re ce nt e m er ge nc e of a n ac tiv ity re fe rre d to a s ‘ vit a hu nt s’ wh er eb y a hu nt er (u nd er th e gu ide o f a P H) da rts th e an im al wi th vi ta m ins si m ult an eo us ly wi th th e ve te rin ar ian , w ho se in te nt ion is to im m ob iliz e th e an im al fo r m an ag em en t r ea so ns . This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 62 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 59 5. 6. 3 Ac tiv iti es , I nd ic at or s, R es po ns ib ili tie s & Th re at s/ Co m m en ts 1. Su st ai na bl e hu nt in g Ac tiv ity Re sp on si bi lit y In di ca to r Th re at s/ co m m en ts  Dr aw u p a co de o f p ra cti ce fo r hu nt ing rh ino PH AS A, W RS A, P RO A, D EA & co ns er va tio n NG Os Ac ce pt ed co de o f c on du ct Ad he re to fa ir ch as e pr inc ipl es Le ga l r eq uir em en ts m us t b e ad he re d to (l oc al an d fo re ign h un te rs ) S ta te sh ou ld no t b e pr es cr ipt ive o n th e en d us e of rh ino h or n as lo ng a s t he o ff ta ke m ee ts th e ag re ed u po n fig ur es fo r a nn ua l ta ke o ff. H ow ev er fo r i nt er na tio na lly e xp or te d hu nt ing tr op hie s t o be u se d fo r a ny th ing m or e th an n on c om m er cia l m em en to es o f a h un t, CI TE S wo uld n ee d to a pp ro ve a p ro po sa l ( tw o th ird s m ajo rit y o f p ar ty vo te s r eq uir ed ) t o all ow a le ga l tr ad e in rh ino ho rn . N ee ds su pp or t f ro m C oI & IM C . S om e ha ve su gg es te d inc re as ing th e tim e int er va l b et we en h un ts by cl ien ts sh ou ld be inc re as ed fr om cu rre nt 1 2 m on th s t o 36 m on th s.  Sh ou ld a leg al tra de e ve r b e ap pr ov ed b y C IT ES , t he is su e of gr ee n hu nt s c ou ld be re inv es tig at ed a s a m ea ns o f pr ov idi ng h or n an d fu rth er inc re as e inc en tiv es to co ns er ve rh ino .) (W ou ld ne ed su pp or t f ro m th e Co I & IM C) PH AS A & SA VC W ell co nt ro lle d an d m an ag ed g re en hu nt s, inc lud ing n ot ch ing a nd co lle cti on o f DN A sa m ple s An e xp en se ite m fo r g am e ra nc he rs w ill be co m e an in co m e. P ur po se of h un t t o be in dic at ed o n pe rm it a pp lic at ion Cu rre nt ly gr ee n hu nt ing is n ot a llo we d un de r T oP S re gu lat ion s a nd is no t s up po rte d by th e Ve te rin ar y c ou nc il. Un ce rta in ab ou t r isk s.  In ve sti ga te th e et hic al an d an im al we lfa re a sp ec ts as so cia te d wi th vit a hu nt ing . PH AS A & SA VC W ell co nt ro lle d an d m an ag ed vi ta hu nt s, inc lud ing n ot ch ing a nd co lle cti on o f DN A sa m ple s Un ce rta in ab ou t r isk s t o th e an im al an d re pu ta tio ns o f P HA SA & SA VC . An e xp en se ite m fo r g am e ra nc he rs w ill be co m e an in co m e. P ur po se of h un t t o be in dic at ed o n pe rm it a pp lic at ion This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 63 60  Ce nt ra lis e pe rm itti ng sy ste m in pla ce & fu nc tio na l DE A (p er m it o n lin e) Im ple m en te d an d ea sy a cc es sib ilit y wi th b et te r c on tro l a nd re al tim e da ta Ul tim at ely m or e co st ef fe cti ve a nd le ss ch an ce fo r c or ru pt ion a nd co nf ide nt ial ity o f in fo rm at ion ca n be b et te r m ain ta ine d Pr ob lem p ro vin ce s i m pli ca te d in th e iss ue o f q ue sti on ab le pe rm its in th e pa st. Fa ilu re to d at e to e ffe cti ve ly pr os ec ut e an d co nv ict co rru pt p ro vin cia l of fic ial s a ss oc iat ed w ith p se ud o hu nt ing in th e pa st.  Ac co un ta ble re po rti ng sy ste m (d at ab as e) in p lac e & fu nc tio na l DE A & VG L & PH AS A Im ple m en te d an d ea sy a cc es sib ilit y wi th b et te r c on tro l a nd re al tim e da ta Qu ali fie d sta ff.  De ve lop a n ef fe cti ve n at ion al re gis tra tio n pr oc es s t ha t h old s ou tfit te rs & P Hs a cc ou nt ab le fo r th eir a cti on s Pr ov inc es & D EA De cli ne in n um be r o f u ns cr up ulo us inc ide nt s A sy ste m in p lac e wh er e a PH /o ut fitt er ca n be b ar re d fro m p ra cti cin g in So ut h Af ric a Re gu lat ing a ut ho rit y m us t t ak e re sp on sib ilit y f or is su ing , r en ew ing a nd wi th dr aw al of p er m its fo r O ut fitt er s & P Hs  St at e & Pr ov inc es to co nt rib ut e to ex pa nd ing d ist rib ut ion o f a nim als ac ro ss p ro vin ce s a nd in cr ea se o f hu nt ing a re as Pr ov inc ial N at ur e Co ns er va tio n & SA NP ar ks Ac ce pt an ce o f c on tro lle d hu nt ing in m or e pr ot ec te d ar ea s In co m e to st at e an d pr ov inc e wi ll i nc re as e an d it w ill cr ea te a re as wh er e tru e fa ir ch as e an d tru e tro ph y h un tin g wi ll b e po ss ibl e ag ain Po te nt ial co nf lic t w ith p ro te cte d ar ea s o bje cti ve s  In ve sti ga te th e ne ed fo r a q uo ta on ly as a la st re so rt if t he rh ino po pu lat ion fa lls b elo w a pr ed et er m ine d su sta ina ble le ve l. DE A Fr ee do m o f p riv at e ow ne rs to de te rm ine o wn m an ag em en t Th e cu rre nt p op ula tio n he ld by st at e an d pr ov inc es is la rg e en ou gh to su sta in th e po pu lat ion n um be rs . Q uo ta s a nd o ff ta ke lim its re str ict ed to m an ag em en t in p ro te cte d ar ea s w hil st pr iva te ly ow ne d rh ino s m an ag ed b y l an do wn er s W ill inc re as e bu re au cr ac y.  Ra ise p ub lic a wa re ne ss th at hu nt ing o f r hin o co nt rib ut es po sit ive ly to th e lon g te rm co ns er va tio n of th e sp ec ies PH AS A, C HA SA , D EA Pu bli c a ck no wl ed ge m en t a nd in cr ea se in aw ar en es s Th e hu nt ing in du str y i s u nd er co ns ide ra ble p re ss ur e fro m un sc ru pu lou s a nd u ne th ica l b eh av iou r b y s om e PH s a nd o ut fitt er s. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 64 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 61 REFERENCES (these include those cited and others of possible interest) Anon. 2000. A Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wild Populations of Southern White Rhino Ceratotherium simum simum in South Africa. RMG, Approved by MinMec Rhino Management Group, Pietermaritzburg. Adcock K. &R.H. Emslie. 2004. Monitoring African Rhino – Trainee’s Guide – Part of AfRSG’s 5th Edition of Sandwith’s Training Course for Field Rangers downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/11930555638.pdf (2.4 mb) Adcock K. & R.H. Emslie. (Compilers). 2009. AfRSG ID Training Course and manuals (available free from AfRSG and training course modules all available in .pdf form available). Buys, D. & J. Anderson. 1989. White rhinos on private land in South Africa. REF Journal 2: 26-31. Brett R., R. Emslie, P. Goodman, P. Hartley & G. van Dyk. 2001. Report of Working Group 3: Approaches to Harvesting. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper and a related paper by RF du Toit downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Cumming D.H, R.F du Toit & S.N. Stuart. 1990. African Elephants and Rhinos: Status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland. Daconto G. & R. Du Toit. . 2006. Developing awareness of rhino conservation issues. In Du Toit R.F (editor and compiler) with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) Whole manual downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402386.pdf (2.3 mb) with Awareness chapter downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402149.pdf DEA. 2011. National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria. 9 pp. https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalstrategy rhinopopulation safetysecurity.p df DEA. 2013. Rhino Issues Management Report. Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria. 46 pp. https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/rhinoissue managementreport.pdf Du Toit R. & R. Emslie. 2006. Maximizing the incentives for rhino meta-population management in Du Toit R.F (editor and compiler) with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) with Incentives chapter downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402292.pdf Du Toit R. & G. Daconto. 2006. Retaining and Enhancing Human Resources for Rhino Conservation. In Du Toit R.F (editor and compiler) with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) Whole manual downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402386.pdf (2.3 mb) with specific human resources chapter above downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402183.pdf Du Toit R., P.M. Brooks & R.H Emslie. 2006. Strategic Planning. In Du Toit R.F (editor and compiler) with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) Whole manual downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402386.pdf (2.3 mb) with Strategic Planning chapter downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402314.pdf This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 65 62 Du Toit R., L. Mungwashu & R. Emslie. 2006 Ensuring Security of rhino populations. In Du Toit R.F (editor and compiler) 2006 with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) Whole manual downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402386.pdf (2.3 mb) with Security chapter downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402204.pdf Du Toit R.F. (editor and compiler). 2006. with contributions from R.H.Emslie, M Brooks, G Daconto and L Mungwashu. Guidelines for implementing SADC Rhino Conservation Strategies – Available from SADC Regional Programme for Regional Conservation, WWF SARPO (Harare) and whole manual downloadable at ttp://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402386.pdf (2.3 mb) Chapters 3 on Ensuring optimal biological management (Emslie & du Toit 2006) is also downloadable separately at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402258.pdf , as is Chapter 4 Reintroducing rhinos biological and management considerations (du Toit 2006) which is downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1190402204.pdf and from www.rhinos-irf.org/afrsg Selected non-confidential reports on biological management and property/park/habitat assessments from Confidential Biennial Proceedings of the AfRSG if made available in due course on the Rhino Resource Centre website or from AfRSG web page Emslie R.H. (compiler). 2001. Proceedings of the RMG black rhino biological management symposium held at Giant’s Castle - available in .pdf form from RMG and AfRSG downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Emslie R.H. 2001. Strategic achievement of meta-population goals – Why rapid population growth is so important. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper and a related paper by RF du Toit downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Emslie R.H. 2003. Block count spreadsheet data analysis and count stratification planning tool (available free from AfRSG) Emslie. R.H. 2008. Rhino population sizes and trends. Pachyderm 44 (January-June), 2008, p 88-95. Emslie, R. H. 2012. Ceratotherium simum. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 01 May 2012. Emslie R.H. & Brooks P.M. 1999. IUCN SSC African Rhino Status Summary and Conservation Action Plan downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175863242.pdf Emslie R.H. & M.H. Knight. 2011. Update on African Rhino Status and Trends from African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) 4pp Report printed by IUCN Gland and distributed at the 61st CITES Standing Committee Meeting. Emslie R.H. & M.H. Knight. 2012. Update on African Rhino Status and Trends from African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) 4pp Report printed by IUCN Gland and distributed at the 62nd t CITES Standing Committee Meeting. Emslie R.H., R. Amin & K. Davey. 2001. Rhino 2.1. A Bayesian mark-recapture based population estimation analysis software package, designed specifically for rhinoceros in particular, but applicable to other species. Software (Emslie RH, R Amin and K Davey), User manual (Emslie RH), Reference Guide (Emslie RH) with context sensitive help/training videos (Emslie RH) Emslie R.H., R. Amin & R. Kock (editors). 2009. Guidelines for the in-situ Re-introduction and Translocation of African and Asian Rhinoceros Gland, Switzerland, IUCN vi + 115pp downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf files/123/1236876187.pdf Emslie R.H., Amin R. & Kock R. (editors). 2009. Guidelines for the in situ Re-introduction and This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 66 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 63 Translocation of African and Asian Rhinoceros. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. vi+115p.http://data.iucn.org/dbtw wpd/edocs/SSC-OP-039.pdf Friedmann Y. & B. Daly. 2004. Red Data Book of the Mammals of South Africa: A conservation Assessment: CBSG Southern Africa, Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (SSC/IUCN), Endangered Wildlife Trust. South Africa. Goodman P.S. 2001. Black rhino harvesting strategies to improve and maintain productivity and minimize risk. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper and a related paper by RF du Toit downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Groves, C. P., P. Fernando, & J. Robovsky. 2010. The Sixth Rhino: A Taxonomic Re-Assessment of the Critically Endangered Northern White Rhinoceros. PLoS ONE 5(4): e9703. Heller, E. 1913. The white rhinoceros. Smithson Misc Coll 61: 1–77. Kingdon, J., & M. Hoffmann (eds) 2013. Mammals of Africa: Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Boomsbury Publishers, London. Knight M.H. 2001. Current & possible population performance indicators for black rhinos. In R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper and a related paper by RF du Toit downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Levins R. 1969. Some demographic and genetic consequences of environmental heterogeneity for biological control. Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America 15: 237–240 Milledge S. 2005. Rhino horn stockpile management: minimum standards and best practices from east and southern Africa Dar es Salaam TRAFFIC East/Southern Africa downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175857457.pdf Milledge S. 2007. Rhino related crimes in Africa: an overview of poaching, seizure and stockpile data for the period 2000-20005. Report to CITES 14th meeting The Hague CoP14 Inf 41 downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1181373723.pdf Morkel P. & A. Kennedy-Benson. 2007. Translocating Black Rhino – Current techniques for capture, transport, boma care, release and post-release monitoring – Report to IUCN SSC AfRSG and SADC RMG Mucina L. & M.C. Rutherford. 2006. The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Strelitzia 19. South African Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria. Rookmaaker, L. C. & P.O. Antoine. 2012. New maps representing the historical and recent distribution of the African species of rhinoceros: Diceros bicornis,Ceratotherium simum and Ceratotherium cottoni. Pachyderm 52: 91-96. Schulze R.E. 1997. South African Atlas of Agrohydrology and Climatology - Water Research Commission, Pretoria, Report TT82/96 Spenceley A. & J. Barnes. 2005. Economic analysis of rhino conservation ina land use context within the SADC region. SADC RPRC Task 6.3-1.2 (Phase II), SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, report to IUCN-ROSA. Springett C. 2006 WILDb database software (available free from AfRSG and SADC RPRC) Taylor A, K. Brebner, R. Coetzee, H. Davies-Mostert, P. Lindsey, J. Shaw, M. ‘t Sas-Rolfes. 2014. The Viability of Legalising Trade in Rhino Horn in South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Pretoria, South Africa. 108 pp. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 67 64 APPENDIX 1: SADC RMG AND OTHER RHINO CONSERVATION GROUPS SADC RMG The Rhino Management Group (RMG) was founded in 1989 by South Africa and Namibia. Since then Swaziland and Zimbabwe have also joined. Since 2001 The Rhino Management Group (SADC RMG) has fallen under the SADC political umbrella and comprises representatives from each of the following bodies: State conservation agencies in South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe: South Africa: (Founder member)  Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA)  Eastern Cape Parks  Ezemvelo-KZN-Wildlife  Free State Department of Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs,  Gauteng - Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Environment - Directorate of Nature Conservation  Limpopo Department Economic Development, Environment and Tourism– Chief Directorate – Environment  Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency,  Northern Cape Department of Environment & Nature Conservation,  North West Parks and Tourism Board;  South African National Parks (SANParks)  Cape Nature Namibia: (Founder member)  Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism including National Rhino Coordinator and manager of Custodianship Programme Swaziland:  Big Game Parks of the Kingdom of Swaziland Zimbabwe:  Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Botswana:  Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Private owners of free-ranging rhinos in South Africa:  Until recently one member represented the joint interests of private owners, but at the last RMG meeting in November 2010 a number attended as observers. Representation on the RMG is to be increased with regional representatives being appointed. Community black rhino custodians are also to be invited to be represented on the RMG. Elected rhino experts The Chair of the Rhino and Elephant Security Group of Southern Africa/Interpol Environmental Crime Working Group (RESG/Interpol ECWG) The SADC RMG’s role is to further regional cooperation amongst rhino range states in the region dealing with similar issues of meta-population management, and to assist the various conservation agencies and private landowners in achieving the conservation goals for black rhino. As all the Provincial State Conservation Agencies in South Africa, SANParks and the South African private black rhino owners each have a representative on the SADC RMG – the RMG is ideally suited to manage and update the South African black rhino plan, which it has done since 1989. The first RMG black rhino conservation plan was released in 1989 and a revised second edition was produced in 1997. This version represents an extensively update and revised third edition of the plan. The SADC RMG’s strategies include the following. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 68 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 65  Evaluate the performance and management of each black rhino population in the region at regular intervals based on the annual RMG status-reporting programme.  Identify problems or information needs affecting the achievement of the goals for black rhino in each country.  Initiate, develop and coordinate appropriate programmes (meetings, workshops, projects) necessary to provide management advice and to develop appropriate conservation strategies to achieve the goals.  Evaluate project proposals and make recommendations to relevant bodies.  Provide advice on request to conservation agencies.  Liaise closely with all relevant conservation authorities and funding agencies  Manage the Conservation Plan for the Black Rhinoceros in South Africa (SA membership of RMG only), by collecting, analysing and interpreting the information it requires, by keeping it updated and ensuring its continued relevance, and by publicising the results of these activities in appropriate ways. Other Rhino Conservation Groups IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG) This was reconstituted in 1991, with a continental scope, following a period during which it was amalgamated with the African Elephant Specialist Group. As one of more than 100 specialist groups within IUCN’s Species Survival Commission, the mission of the AfRSG is: “To promote the long-term conservation and maintenance of viable populations of the six subspecies of Africa’s rhinos in the wild”. The AfRSG comprises a Chairman, a partially-funded part-time Scientific Officer, representatives of most African rhino range states and a variety of rhino experts who operate as a network to address both strategic (e.g. government rhino policy) and implementation challenges for rhino conservation, ensuring that the best scientific knowledge is used as the basis for decision-making and field conservation programmes. To achieve this, meetings attended by the 30-40 members are held every two years, and in addition individuals or groups of members are assigned to contribute to important international, regional and national initiatives where their expertise is required. The value of the face-to-face nature of the exchanges helps establish a sense of belonging to a serious and relevant professional peer group, which strengthens the confidence and influence of government rhino conservation managers in particular. The AfRSG Chairman or individual members may be approached by any range state wishing technical support or advice. Further details of the AfRSG’s role are provided on the AfRSG’s web page www.rhinos-irf.org/afrsg. The AfRSG, together IUCN’s Asian Rhino Specialist Group and TRAFFIC currently has a mandate under CITES Resolution 9.14(rev), to on behalf of Range States, prepare and submit a summary report on rhino conservation for consideration at CITES CoP’s. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation (RPRC) From 1999-2005 Phase I of the SADC RPRC was funded by the Italian Government and has now come to an end. Phase I of this programme was run by a consortium of SADC FANR, WWF SARPO, IUCN SSC AfRSG, CESVI (an Italian NGO) and IUCN ROSA. The programme provided expertise, specialized logistical support, training and catalytic funding for a wide range of projects of a regional nature or importance. The SADC RPRC Phase I helped bridge the gap between the high level umbrella strategy provided by the AfRSG and programme implementation by range states, by providing technical and financial support for a variety of regional projects. A Phase II concentrating on promoting a regional strategy for rhino conservation that is orientated towards SADC development policies with a specific focus on cross boundary translocations and rhino re-establishment in minor and former Range States within SADC was proposed. However no funding has been forthcoming for this initiative and at the time of writing the SADC RPRC is not operational. . SADC Rhino Recovery Group (RRG) A SADC Rhino Recovery Group was established by the SADC RPRC in 2001 (as a sister group to the SADC RMG) to place particular emphasis on the management needs of 1% of Africa’s rhinos that are in the minor range states and where there is considerable scope for re-introduction projects and population expansion (Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Angola). The RRG’s aim was: “To coordinate and facilitate the application of regional This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 69 66 resources in establishing re-introduced rhino populations and managing remnant rhino populations, and ensuring their future viability”. However, to date the RRG has achieved little and been largely ineffective. It had been proposed that its role would be taken on by a refocused SADC Regional Programme, but this has not happened and at the time of writing the RRG is not operational. It had been proposed that a SADC RPRC Phase II could focus on cross boundary support and translocations into RRG countries. Suggested terms of reference for a Phase II of the SADC RPRC were designed to be complimentary to and not duplicate the work of longer established bodies such as IUCN’s AfRSG, SADC RMG and SADC RESG/Interpol ECWG. It also would make sense for anybody focusing on regional translocations to also include the major SADC RMG countries with extensive rhino conservation experience and capacity (including South Africa) and which would be the source of founder rhino for re-establishment projects in other countries. Rhino and Elephant Security Group/Interpol Environmental Crime Working Group (RESG/Interpol WCWG) The Rhino and Elephant Security Group grew out of a Security Sub-committee of the SADC RMG. It was formed in 1989 and met regularly till 1998 when it became dormant. The group was re-launched in 2001 with new, more focused terms of reference. It also came under the SADC framework. Since 2001, to save on costs and increase sharing of information, the RESG held back to back meetings with Interpol’s sub-regional Environmental Crime Working Group. The two groups recently decided to merge to form the RESG/Interpol ECWG. The overall objectives of the group are to develop guidelines, strategies and databases for the effective and efficient protection of African rhino and elephant populations, to assist the various conservation agencies, communities and private landowners to minimise rhino and elephant poaching and the illegal trade in rhino horn and ivory, and to provide advice, training and coordination. The group also promotes procedures for effective investigation and prosecution of rhino and elephant crimes. Membership comprises representatives (usually wildlife investigators or managers) of rhino conservation management agencies, specialist police units, including Interpol Environmental Crime NCB representatives, and co-opted specialist technical members as required (e.g. from TRAFFIC, AfRSG, etc.). To save on costs and increase sharing of information, RESG meetings since the group’s re-launch were held back-to-back with regional Interpol ECWG meetings and in 2009 the two groups formally combined to form the RESG/Interpol ECWG with revised joint terms of reference. Provincial Rhino Committees Ezemvelo-KZN-Wildlife has a long established Rhino Management Group that meets regularly. Its Chair is also a specialist member of the AfRSG and he is also a member of the SADC RMG. SANParks also has its own Rhino Management Committee which since 2007 has been chaired SANParks’ General Manager: Park Planning & Development who is currently also the Chair of both the SADC RMG and IUCN SSC AfRSG. This committee meets twice a year. SANParks also has a rhino committee operational for Kruger National Park issues alone. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 70 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 67 APPENDIX 2: CONSTANT HARVESTING STRATEGY In the absence of significant levels of poaching South Africa will reach its carrying capacity for white rhino and this is likely to be determined by economic incentives for the private sector and communities. As the country’s white rhino numbers approach the country’s carrying capacity the importance of managing for growth will become less and less important. However given the current high levels of poaching persist for the period of this 5 year plan it will be essential to continue to manage populations for rapid population growth in order to increase the buffer against the effects of heavy poaching and high levels of threat. For example given a population of 18,000 white rhinos, a 7% net meta-population growth rate is equivalent to a net growth of 1,260 rhino before poaching, compared to only 540 if the underlying growth is only 3%. The loss of a 1,000 rhinos would be sustainable with a 7% underlying growth but not if growth was only 3%. This is in the absence of any understanding of any impact that hunting may have on the breeding behaviour of the species. It has been postulated that populations of large slow growing species such as rhinos with ramp shaped production curves should be maintained about 75%-80% (at the maximum sustainable yield level) of the zero growth density (sometimes termed ecological carrying capacity (ECC)) to maintain rapid population growth (McCullough 1992, Emslie 2001ab). While the “manage at or below 7% of EEC” approach can still be used in very small populations, accurately estimating ECC is difficult. Inaccuracies in ECC estimation can result in off-takes that may not be effective. For example if the ECC of a reserve is incorrectly overestimated by a third at 100 rhino when in fact its actual ECC is closer to 75 rhino, attempts to manage this population at 75 rhino (75% of estimated ECC of 100) will simply end up managing the population at its zero growth density rather than at an intended more productive density. Habitats are dynamic and ECC can change over time requiring ECC estimates to be regularly and accurately revised under the management at or below 7% of ECC approach. This is both difficult and is more costly in the long-term. At a RMG workshop on rhino biological management, Goodman (2001) proposed that the “manage at or below 75% ECC” approach be replaced with an easier to implement constant or set % harvest strategy. For a number of reasons, the RMG workshop went on to recommended that except for very small populations a set % harvesting strategy should become the recommended approach for keeping black rhino populations productive (Brett et al. 2001). This strategy forms part of the current South African Black Rhino BMP. Although primarily developed for black rhinos this recommended constant harvesting strategy also can be applied to management of white rhinos. With Set % harvesting one simply needs to obtain reasonably accurate population estimates and to translocate (remove) a set % of the population each year or every few years for small populations. If densities are below 50% of estimated ECC the population can be left alone to continue growing and no rhino need be removed. The theory behind Set % harvesting is that provided a population is not harvested above its potential intrinsic rate of increase (rmax) (which for rhinos in a naturally structured population is estimated at around 8-9% (Owen-Smith 2001)), the population’s density should eventually adjust to a level which can sustain that particular level of off-take. Under this strategy, assuming a constant ECC rhino density should eventually adjust to a constant level where annual removals are cancelled out by net underlying population growth rates. The beauty of this strategy is that reliance on getting accurate estimates of EEC and regularly updating them is reduced, and the animals themselves set their productive density. If EEC (zero growth density) for rhinos changes for any reason (e.g. following vegetation succession, drought, changing competitor densities etc.) then the population should re-adjust to a new density that can sustain the given set % harvest level. Empirical support for Set % harvesting comes from the observed reduction in underlying growth in a number of populations which have been harvested at less than 5% of the population. According to the theory, all else being equal, if one only removes 1% annually ultimately one cannot expect better underlying growth than 1%. The corollary is that to achieve at least 5% growth in well-established populations, one need to remove at least 5% of the population annually. Goodman (2001) demonstrated that off-takes under the set % harvesting strategy are also likely to be more consistent from year to year which is of practical benefit to managers and game capture teams. The strategy also has built-in safeguards to protect against over-removal and incorrect estimates of ECC and automatically can deal with changing ECC over time. Should rhino carrying capacity (zero growth density) change in an area being managed using set % harvesting, then one simply can expect rhino densities to adjust themselves to a new higher or lower level that can still support the given % removal, providing some flux to the method. This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39469 71 68 By removing at least 5% annually from established populations we are attempting to ensure that remaining animals in these populations continue to grow at least at this predetermined target rate. The RMG biological management workshop recommendation that removals should start when the population hits 50% of estimated ECC also allows some leeway for error in initial ECC estimation. If initial EEC estimates are correct (and all else being equal); given the hypothesised ramp shape production function proposed by McCullough (1992) we could expect initial underlying population growth rates to initially exceed the 5% removal rate for the first few years (as population performance can still be expected to be on the steep part of the growth curve at this stage). For example if a 9% underlying growth rate is achieved in the first year of 5% harvesting from a population just above 50% of ECC, the net result is that overall the population size would increase by a net 4% that year (i.e. 9% net underlying growth – 5% removals). However as densities increase, eventually density dependence can be expected to start to kick in and the population should stabilise at a density whereby the removals are matched by lower underlying growth rates at the same % level. The bottom line is that, as long as one is above 50% of ECC the set % harvesting strategy can allow for equilibrium to be approached from the top and the bottom. Managers seeking to achieve underlying growth rates in excess of 5% can consider removing more rhino (e.g. 6-7%). However, set % removals should never exceed the potential intrinsic rate of increase of 8-9%. The density at which a population can sustain a regular 7% annual harvest is likely to be a little lower than the density that could sustain a regular 5% annual harvest. One unknown in this approach is the impact of regular harvesting on the social and thus reproductive potential of the harvested population and this requires additional research. In addition to helping keep existing populations productive, harvesting also provides rhinos that can be used as founder animals to set up new populations with the potential for rapid population growth. This of course depends upon there being sufficient suitable new homes for surplus rhinos. If due to increasing costs and risks and decreasing incentives there are insufficient suitable places to move surplus rhino, then off-take levels will have to be reconsidered. Numbers lost to poaching should also be factored in to prevent over-removal. Harvesting is a win-win strategy, which should both maintain or enhance population vigour in the harvested population whilst also enhancing overall meta-population growth by providing surplus rhinos that can be reinvested in other new areas with potential for rapid population growth. In summary, the main advantages of set % harvesting rate over the manage at or below 75% of ECC approach are that: • It does not require such an accurate estimate of the ecological capacity for rhinos, removing any controversy around this idea and possible concerns about the accuracy of carrying capacity estimates. • ECC in reality may change over time and set % harvesting automatically allows for such changes. • Estimates of ECC no longer need to be regularly revised. • It does not require knowledge of the density at which maximum sustained yield can be achieved for a population. • It is a simple and applicable concept for management. • Off-takes are likely to be more consistent from year to year making planning by management and game capture teams easier To minimise social disruption, or in very small populations consideration can be given to taking a bigger percentage removal once every few years such as 20% every 4 years (equivalent to averaging 5%/year). Another option for managing very small populations for growth is to continue to keep these populations at or below 75% of ECC and monitoring performance in case ECC may have been over or under estimated. The manage at or below 75% of ECC approach to harvesting for population growth is no longer recommended for larger populations where set % harvesting should be applied. References Brett R., R. Emslie, P. Goodman, P. Hartley & G. van Dyk. 2001. Report of Working Group 3: Approaches to Harvesting. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 72 No. 39469 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 69 continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper are downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Emslie R. H. 2001a. Strategic achievement of meta-population goals – Why rapid population growth is so important. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this are downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Emslie R.H. 2001b. Current Recommended Strategy For Maximising Growth . In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper and a related paper by RF du Toit downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf Goodman P.S. 2001. Black rhino harvesting strategies to improve and maintain productivity and minimize risk. In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop are downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf McCullough D.R. 1992. Concepts of large herbivore population dynamics. In: McCullough, D.R. & Barratt, R.H. Wildlife 2001: Populations. pp 967 – 984. Elseiver, Applied Science, London. Owen-Smith R.N. 2001. Overview of the population dynamics of large mammals In: R Emslie (ed) Proceedings of a SADC Rhino Management Group (RMG) workshop on biological management to meet continental and national black rhino conservation targets. SADC Regional Programme for Rhino Conservation, Harare. Proceedings of this workshop including this paper are downloadable at http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/ref files/1175860813.pdf