NP: Zoological Society of London funds elephant-mounted armed patrols to protect Nepal rhinos

[Guest guest]

*Bloody battle to save endangered species

 

22-03-2010 The Australian, Australia

 

 

THE battle to save some of the world's most endangered species is turning

bloody, with wildlife charities deploying guns and military vehicles to

protect elephants, rhinos and tigers from a surge in poaching.

 

At least one organisation, Care for the Wild International, is buying

military-style field equipment and supporting the deployment of armed

guards, while the US-based International Fund for Animal Welfare has bought

ammunition, night-vision supplies and light aircraft*

*

*

*WWF, formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund, has hired former SAS

soldiers to train African wildlife wardens, and the Zoological Society of

London is funding elephant-mounted armed patrols to protect rhinos in Nepal.

*

 

The trend towards militarisation follows an estimated 150 deaths among game

wardens in Africa in gunfights with poachers.

 

The disclosures coincide with a meeting of the Convention on International

Trade in Endangered Species in Qatar, which has angered activists by

dismissing proposals to protect bluefin tuna. This week, their fury could

increase with the likely approval of plans to restart sales of ivory.

 

" We have to keep talking but so far, against a backdrop of catastrophic

population declines of key species, there is little to show for it, " said

CWI chairman Dominic Dyer. " These animals are being wiped out by poachers

with automatic weapons, GPS satellites, night-vision kit and heat-seeking

telescopes to spot animals at night.

 

" That means we also need a more robust approach to enforcement, so we are

supplying kit, ranging from boots and clothing to night-vision goggles and

military-style vehicles. We are also deploying armed escorts. "

 

The tough approach follows a sharp rise in poaching in Africa and Asia. In

1979, 1.3 million African elephants were in the wild, but recent counts

suggest just 400,000 have survived.

 

Only a few hundred Siberian tigers remain in the wild.

 

In Nepal, where two national parks house 370 of the few hundred one-horned

rhinos left, WWF has been working with the army to train soldiers.

 

The slaughter of about 80 rhinos in South Africa since the start of last

year has prompted a decision to deploy the first army patrols in the

world-famous Kruger National Park.

 

Many conservationists believe the long-term answer lies in educating people

not to buy these materials and in bringing in serious fines and jail

sentences.

 

(Bron: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/)

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Nepal - Netherlands