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  1. #1
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    Default Zim Conservationist Wins Prize of R1 Million

    News from POT-SHOT

    http://www.pacificbreeze353.com/news...ion=50&langu=1

    Zim Conservationist Wins Prize of R1 Million 12 Apr 2011

    A Zimbabwean who heads a rhino conservation project in southern Zimbabwe, Raoul du Toit, was named among six recipients of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize of more than R1 millikon, the most prestigious international award for environmental activists.

    The recipients were cited as "fearless emerging leaders working against all odds to protect the environment and their communities."

    Du Toit says the endangered African rhinoceros isn't like a prehistoric dinosaur on the verge of extinction. It is robust in its natural habitat; it is disease resistant and breeds well when protected from poachers.

    Years of political and economic turmoil and a breakdown in law and order has seen a surge in poaching, not only of rhino but of all species of Zimbabwe's wildlife, but in the southern district where du Toit's Lowveldt Rhino Trust operates, headway is being made — 21 rhinos
    were killed for their horn there last year, compared to 71 in 2009.

    He believes that the demand for rhino horn in Eastern countries will not decline, although tests have shown that rhino horn has no medicinal value. It has the same qualities as powder from finger nails.

    But at R280 000 per kg it will continue to lure poachers. One of the methods to stop poaching would be injecting poison into the horns of live rhino, but it raises ethical questions. Also poison in rhino horn would not be fatal it the poison was diluted.

    The Lowveldt Rhino Trust encourages villagers to report suspicious movements of strangers. In return, teaching aids are given to local schools that include conservation themes in geography, English and infants' math class.

    The trust will use the R1 050 000 Goldman prize money to build "protective community screens" around rhino habitats that will encourage natural breeding. Impoverished community schools are rewarded for every calf born in the wild nearby with additional materials, funding and even scholarships for deserving pupils.

    Du Toit does not believe that captive breeding of rhino will yield good results. Poachers often deal with international syndicates, mainly through South Africa, and are well-armed and equipped, with mobile phones, vehicles and sometimes even air reconnaissance.

    Penalties for poaching have to be made more severe. Presently poaching is rewarding as poachers get up to R21 000 per kg for rhino horn, only about a tenth of the price in Asia. They count bribes as part of their overheads.

    Penalties and fines are too lenient and some of those caught go back and shoot more rhinos to pay legal fees and bribes. Du Toit believes investment in rhino conservancies and wildlife preserves is the longer term cure to protect the animals and give their very existence economic value.

    But Zimbabwe's chaotic and often violent seizures of white-owned farms — with some white-owned nature conservancies targeted for occupation by black Zimbabweans — still pose a threat to the iconic rhino. Political disorder also has paralysed Zimbabwe’s once thriving tourist industry over the past decade.

    Left unthreatened, rhinos can breed to increase their numbers by 10 percent as females calve every two years. Nor do they require large amounts of water in arid areas.

    Left to itself, the rhino will survive, but then poaching has to be stopped.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Zim Conservationist Wins Prize of R1 Million

    Great that he got some funds! Reminds me of Richard Leaky and his struggle to stop Elephant pouching in Kenya years ago. Some might remember it was Richard who burnt that huge amount of elephant tusks before the world media.

    Hope Do Toit goes from strength to strength.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Zim Conservationist Wins Prize of R1 Million

    should burn some poachers on a pile... that ought to send a loud&clear message.

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