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The number of rhino illegally slaughtered in South Africa reached an all - time high in 2013 , with an average of three rhino killed each day , according to novel figures released this calendar month by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs .
Government officials expose that a phonograph recording 1,004 rhino were shoot down last yr , which is more than double the number slaughtered in 2011 and 1.5 times the act ofrhinos wipe out for their hornsin 2012.Kruger National Park , which is home to South Africa ’s largest population of black rhinos and lily-white rhinoceros , was hard hit , with sea poker killing 606 rhinos within the famous safari destination last year .
A black rhino carcass with the horn hacked off.
Black rhinos are considered " critically peril " by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) , and wildlife experts reckon that only 4,240 black rhinos remain in the wild . White rhinos are classified as " most - threatened , " and there are an estimated 20,150 white rhino in the wild , according to the IUCN . [ Black Market Horns : Images from a Rhino Bust ]
Rhino poaching on the rise
Over the past few long time , rhino poaching has uprise across Africa , and the illegal killings are being carry out by sophisticated , transnational criminal electronic connection , harmonise to TRAFFIC , an organization that tracks wildlife trade . The animals are slaughtered to satisfy a turn market for rhino horns , which has long been acoveted constituent in traditional Asian medicament . While there is no medical ground , some believe the horns can bring around cancer .
Criminal networkssmuggle the rhino horn to consumer marketsin Vietnam andChina , concord to TRAFFIC , but there is evidence of ties to other illicit activities , including the trafficking of masses , drug and weapons .
Mozambique , which abut South Africa , is regarded as a hub for the illegal smuggling activity , and likely functions as a seaport for poachers who cross into South Africa to killrhinos , TRAFFIC representatives said .
" South Africa and Mozambique must decisively up their secret plan if they desire to turn back this blazing looting of southern Africa ’s natural inheritance , " Tom Milliken , TRAFFIC ’s rhino expert , say in a statement . " 2014 must check off the turning power point where the public collectively order ' enough is enough ' and bring these criminal meshing down . "
Growing arrangement
In March 2013 , the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna urged certain country heavily implicated in the rhino trade to take natural process against the growing crisis . By the end of this month , the Vietnamese administration must report to CITES on its progress in addressingrhino - horn trafficking , including seizures , arrests , prosecutions and judgment of conviction pertain to the trade .
Last workweek , Singapore Customs seized eight pieces of fatal - rhinoceros saddle horn , worth more than $ 1.5 million , from a passenger assay to travel through the nation ’s Changi Airport , according to the World Wildlife Fund . The traveler accuse of smuggling the rhino horn was in theodolite to his aboriginal Vietnam when customs federal agent seized the illegal hoard , WWF interpreter said .
Conservation experts say action must fall before long , as rhinos are already inch toward the tipping point , when populations suffer serious declines and rhino expiry begin to outnumber births .
" The world ’s rhinos are facing a literal crisis , and high - grade agreement and statement have to understand into meaningful conservation activity , both in rhino mountain range states and in key consumer countries , such as Vietnam and China , " Naomi Doak , coordinator of TRAFFIC ’s Greater Mekong Programme in Vietnam , said in a statement . " We are still waiting to see the rhetoric result in meaning arrests and prosecution of those orchestrating the rhino - hooter trafficking . "
Next calendar month , heads of state and foreign ministers from about 50 countries will convene in London , England , to talk about return surround the illegal patronage of queer animate being . The summit will look for commitments from central administration to combat the raise global menace posed by the illegal wildlife trade .
