Monday, 12th April 2010
IN THIS ISSUE
SUSPECTED RHINO POACHERS CAUGHT IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS WITHOUT FINE
'SOME BLOOD AND TORN CLOTHING WERE FOUND'
MESSAGE FROM DR IAN PLAYER
FIREARMS AMNESTY, RENEWALS AND THE 11 APRIL DEADLINE
AL BARAKA BANK AND EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE
Good Idea
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S FILM ON GORONGOSA PARK AIRS ON THE NEW NAT GEO WILD CHANNEL
POSITION(S) AVAILABLE
Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for the Cleft Stick, the Game Ranger magazine and to be posted on the web site. These are your magazines and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
Please let me have any changes to your physical address, phone no. or e-mail address to keep the database up to date. Remember this is the address we will send your Game Ranger Magazine to.
Thanks to all of you who have made the effort. Please will any of you who know of members who do not get this "electric" Cleft~Stick, & have access to e-mail, pass their address along to me.
Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534
Int. Tel & Fax (+2733) 343 1534 cell 082 377 7562, E-mail dyunnie@telkomsa.net
If you do not wish to receive this e-mail newsletter please send a blank e-mail to me at the above address with the word “Unsubscribe” as the message heading.
Please feel free to write to express your views on the content or the subject of any of the articles in this magazine – to the address above.
Suspected rhino poachers caught in Kruger National Park sentenced to 10 years without fine
SanParks MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 25 March 2010
Two suspected rhino poachers, Joao Mdlovu and Berlito Mdlovu who were arrested on the Nwanetsi section of Kruger National Park in January 2010 for rhino poaching activities were both found guilty for the possession of a illegal firearms namely a G3 fully automatic fire arm and a .375 hunting rifle.
Both accused offered a plea of guilty in the Nelspruit Regional Court for the possession of the illegal weapons. They were both sentenced to 10 years imprisonment without the option of a fine on Tuesday, 23rd March 2010.
Joao Mdlovu is still undergoing court proceedings, together with Phanuel Mnisi, for the illegal hunting of rhino in the KNP in 2009.
Dr David Mabunda, Chief Executive of South African National Parks said: "SANParks is leading the way against rhino poaching and has been mandated by the Minister of Environment to co-ordinate other conservation agencies throughout the country and to us the Minister’s gesture demonstrates a vote of confidence in our ability to fight this scourge."
This year alone Kruger has lost 13 rhinos for which we have arrested 11 poachers and dealers and the country has lost a total of 46 rhinos collectively.
"The kind of people we are arresting are also on the list of highly wanted criminals by the police and are involved in crimes such as human trafficking, drug-trafficking, vehicle hijacking, murder, bank robberies etc. It is a war out there," said Dr Mabunda.
Dr Mabunda said further that the problem with rhino poaching is that the surge in demand for rhino horn is driven by a combination of endemic poverty in many rhino habitats, the existence of a lucrative black market niche in South East Asia for medicinal purposes and the availability of sophisticated channels to ship the 'cargo' through the many ports of exit/entry in South Africa.
Syndicates are currently making use of military precision, automatic rifles, silencers, helicopters and prescription tranquilizers to kill rhino for their horn.
"No matter how hard we try to reduce or stamp out this inferno, the solution will not come from focusing on arresting foot-soldiers but taking the war to the “Armani-suits and silk tie” clad rhino dealers and reduce the demand in South East Asia through international interventions driven by CITES."
SANParks has increased its anti-poaching capability by increasing "rangers-on-the beat" to over 400 persons in Kruger alone, two helicopters, two fixed wing planes, two bantam micro-lite aircrafts and a sophisticated communication system. They work with closely with the SAPS’ organized crime division and the Prosecuting Authority and are on the verge of deploying the SANDF Army Reserve Volunteers to bolster their infantry. The equation will be completed with the return of the full-time SANDF Army to take charge of the borders of the Kruger Park during the latter part of 2010.
"A lot of work is underway to stabilize the situation and we are confident that the collective interventions by all law-enforcement local and international agencies will eventually curb or reduce, if not stop, rhino poaching altogether," concluded Dr Mabunda.
Issued by SANParks Corporate Communications
'Some blood and torn clothing were found'
March 23 2010 at 08:22PM
Two suspected poachers have been arrested and a third is believed to have been killed by a lion in the Kruger National Park (KNP) last week.
According to the two that got caught, the trio went into the park on the night of March 12 to set up snares to catch animals, KNP spokesman William Mabasa said in a statement on Tuesday.
"They returned on the night of the 13th to see if they caught anything. On their way back they came across some hippos, which charged them and they ran in different directions."
Two of them got out of the park safely, but got worried when their friend didn't return by Tuesday.
"One of the poachers was the nephew of the third man and he told his mother that he did not return from the park, and she reported the matter to the police."
The two men were arrested in Mkhuhlu village, where they lived, near Hazyview. They took the police to the spot where they had last seen their accomplice.
"Some blood and torn clothing were found."
Rangers found a human skull in the Pretoriuskop section of the park on Saturday. It was believed the third man had been caught and eaten by a lion.
The arrested pair was being held at the Skukuza police station. They were known and wanted by the police for poaching.
Mpumalanga police could not immediately confirm the incident. – Sapa
From the Daily Telegraph Message from Dr Ian Player
My Dear Don,
I would be grateful if in the next issue you would please send this message from me.
"I want to thank the staff of the Kruger National Park and Hon. Rangers for their many kindnesses to me personally, and their warm reception of the GRAA AGM. I want to thank Andre the Chairman of the GRAA and the committee, and all those that organised the AGM. I was treated with great kindness and I would like everyone to know how deeply I appreciate it".
I felt that it was a really worthwhile AGM and the resolutions that came out of it of great importance. We have to realise that we are going to endure a long and bitter struggle for what we hold dear in our conservation world. I would beg too that we do continue to lobby for the Green Helmut Brigade it is up to us who know what a desperate struggle it is looking after parks, it needs little imagination to appreciate what our fellow rangers are going through in different parts of the world, where their is chaos and civil disorder, and we owe it to all other rangers in the world who like us have to struggle. I am sure I do not have to spell out any more of the importance and would just finally say that the Northern White Rhino would not have gone had we had the Green Helmut Brigade under the auspices of the United Nations and men like Jack Greef and Johan Oelofse in command. Can we please have a sub-committee formed so we can keep this alive.
My thanks to you again and to Muriel for the wonderful job of work you have done for such a long time.
Warm personal regards
Ian Player
Wilderness Foundation
FIREARMS AMNESTY, RENEWALS AND THE 11 APRIL DEADLINE TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Dear Everybody
This e-mail is going to everybody who is in my address book. I apologize if you receive this e-mail and you are not a firearm owner or if you are not interested in its contents. If you are interested in its contents I appeal to you to pass on this e-mail to as many people in your address book that you think might have an interest in its contents.
The South African Police Services appears to have embarked upon a deliberate campaign to mislead the firearm owning public into believing that the amnesty which expires on the 11th April 2010 is the last opportunity that the public has to re-licence firearms for which they hold old Arms and Ammunition Act licences and which have not been renewed. This is patently untrue and misleading. In terms of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation decision all old Arms and Ammunition Act licences in the form of green cards or those pasted into your identity document are valid indefinitely. The amnesty is only in respect of firearms that are illegal. The South African Police Services are telling the public that you have until the 11th April 2010 to lodge an application for a new licence for your old Act licence and the feedback that I am receiving is that the public are being misled into believing that after the 11th April 2010 their old Arms and Ammunitions Act licences will become invalid and they will be in illegal possession of that firearm.
Nothing is further from the truth. If you have an old Act licence, it remains valid. If you have not applied to renew that licence, it still remains valid. Your possession of the firearm is legal and you can continue to use the firearm for any lawful purpose. Do not believe the South African Police Services if they say that your firearm will become illegal, or that you will be arrested, or that you have to apply for a new licence for that firearm. This is part of a political strategy to force people to comply with the Firearms Control Act where it is not necessary, or to force people to hand in firearms where it is not necessary.
I am collecting a body of evidence to try and show that the SAPS have embarked upon a deliberate campaign to mislead the public. I have my suspicions where this misleading information comes from and it is my intention to hold those officers in the SAPS accountable in law. If people have handed in firearms for destruction (and in the process have not been told that they can apply for compensation) as a result of false or misleading statements by the SAPS, I want to know. You can e-mail this information to me at info@mjhood.co.za or you can e-mail it to the South African Gun Owners Association at saga@saga.org.za.
The SAPS have already been ordered in principle that they will have to pay compensation to the public for firearms that have been surrendered. It is time that firearm owners take a principle stand and do not bow to unlawful SAPS pressures or actions.
Once again, I request that you circulate this e-mail as widely and quickly as possible as the amnesty cut-off date is the 11th April 2010 and it is my desire to ensure that as few as possible people hand in their firearms for destruction as a result of the misleading and dishonest campaign embarked upon by the SAPS.
Yours faithfully
Martin Hood
Partner
MJ Hood & Associates
Tel: (011) 234 7520
Fax: (011) 803 7828
AL BARAKA BANK AND EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE -
Al Baraka Bank And Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Sign Corporate Social Investment Agreement
In Socio-Economic Upliftment Drive
Embargo - 15.30 01 April 2010
Needy rural communities and operations in KwaZulu-Natal are set to benefit significantly in the wake of a joint social investment initiative designed to take socio-economic upliftment to a new level in the Province.
Al Baraka Bank, South Africa’s only fully-fledged Islamic bank, and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, an agency mandated to perform biodiversity conservation and associated activities in Kwa Zulu-Natal, today (Friday 1 April 2010) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The move formally establishes a valuable alliance committed to the common goal of creating a better life for the people of KwaZulu-Natal through support for vital development projects - particularly schools - within disadvantaged rural communities adjacent the province’s natural areas for which Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is responsible.
Al Baraka Bank’s Chief Executive, Mr Shabir Chohan, and Dr Bandile Mkhize, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Chief Executive, signed the MOU opening the door to the greatly improved and ongoing facilitation of and value-adding support for identified social projects.
Dr Mkhize said: "Our organisation regards community upliftment as a top priority. We constantly work to improve our relationships with rural communities, while simultaneously ensuring that we clearly reflect the important value-add conservation provides society."
For his part, Mr Chohan said: "The private sector has a clear and defining role to play in contributing towards the eradication of the many socio-economic challenges facing South Africa, an unfortunate legacy of our country’s apartheid past. Al Baraka Bank recognises this and takes an active interest in contributing towards providing the tools to allow both individuals and organisations to reach new heights, so achieving their true potential as meaningful players within KwaZulu-Natal’s economy."
He added: "By partnering with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, we believe that our social investment impact will be better concentrated and more greatly and directly felt by those we aim to assist."
Dr Mkhize stressed: "We set out to respond to diverse community needs through our Social Responsibility Programme, known as the Community Levy Fund. We constantly seek to generate funding to assist in the support of worthy development initiatives, although, regrettably, the fund is now unable to adequately meet the rapidly growing needs of all the community upliftment projects it assists. We believe our efforts may be enhanced through strategic alliances with companies and development and service agencies, providing consultative partnerships which are inclusive, transparent and accountable. We are confident that with this new partnership with Al Baraka Bank, identified community projects will now reach new and exciting levels, while ensuring the effective channeling of funds and resources directly to the most needy."
He added: "Our partnership with Al Baraka Bank will go a long way towards ensuring that we develop sustainable infrastructure within rural communities, providing value for money and benefiting the people of KwaZulu-Natal."
Al Baraka Bank’s long-standing Corporate Social Investment Programme targets five key areas of operation, including education, health, poverty alleviation, security and humanitarianism. The bank injected no less than R2,9 million into education-related initiatives last year, including R82 000 for c omputers and furniture for Thibane Secondary School in the Drakensberg foothills, a project undertaken in conjunction with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and which led to the decision to formalise the organisations’ involvement in community upliftment projects through a MOU going forward.
The bank is a subsidiary of one of the world’s leading Islamic banking groups, the Bahrain-based Al Baraka Banking Group B.S.C.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Bahrain:
Corporate Communications Department
Al Baraka Banking Group B.S.C.
Tel: +973-17-541122 - Ext 227
Fax: +973-17-536533
Web: www.albaraka.com
Good Idea
Subject: Alien Invasive Plant of the month - Pereskia Aculeata - April 2010
Dear Conservancy Member/Supporter
People hear about Alien Invasive Plants, but are not sure of what they look like. So from the beginning of March 2010 the MTUNZINI CONSERVANCY is embarking on a program to inform residents about these plants. This program will be known as the: ALIEN INVASIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH.
A stand has been placed on the pavement at the MTUNZINI SPAR entrance. A live example of the ALIEN INVASIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH will be displayed for a month at a time on the stand. We hope that this will make residents aware of these plants and give an understanding of the threat that they pose to our environment. Information on the particular ALIEN INVASIVE PLANT of the month will be placed on The Conservancy notice board at the entrance to MTUNZINI SPAR.
The MTUNZINI CONSERVANCY would like to thank Graeme Marnewick of MTUNZINI SPAR for his co-operation in allowing us to position the stand in front of SPAR.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Chedzey
(Chairperson of The Mtunzini Conservancy)
National Geographic's Film on Gorongosa Park Airs on the New Nat Geo Wild Channel Watch "Africa's Lost Eden" on the New Nat Geo Wild Channel, April 12, 10 PM ET/PT Thank you for supporting the Gorongosa Restoration Project!
To learn more, visit our Web site at www.gorongosa.net.
Your generous donations will help restore the Park's biodiversity.
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
Dear all,
Attached post going with FFI (Fauna & Flora International) in western Cambodia`s Cardamom mountains, please pass on to possible interested parties, I suggest not for the faint hearted, quite a tough post this but great challenge! This would more likely suite young energetic rangers and should have environmental law enforcement experience and diplomacy to deal with Military, police and local populations... These posts are a good stepping stone to more senior posts and international conservation exposure... if you work hard!
Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary Technical Advisor
Location: Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary Head Quarters, Veal Veng District, Pursat Province, Cambodia. Field patrolling within Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary and the Cardamom Landscape.
Technical Advice and Support for Law Enforcement Operations
The closing date for applications is 16th April 2010
(Let me know if you want the attachment – ed)
Best regards
David Bradfield
---
EWT - THREATENED GRASSLAND SPECIES PROGRAMME (TGSP) MANAGER VACANCY
Position title: Threatened Grasslands Species Manager
Qualification: Minimum M.Sc in Zoology, Conservation Biology or a related, relevant field and at
least 5 years postgraduate experience in a working environment.
This post is based out of the EWT’s offices in Johannesburg or another appropriate location relevant
to this post. The Endangered Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunity employer.
Closing date: 16h30 on 23 April 2010
(Let me know if you want the attachment - ed)
---
EWT - PROJECT EXECUTANT VACANCY
Position title: Project Executant
Department: Healthy Rivers Programme (HRP)
Purpose of the position: To implement regional scale mitigation measures to address the impacts
from agriculture, mining and urban activities on rivers in the Crocodile (West) and Marico Catchment
and establish a sustainable river protection, use and management model. Additional responsibilities
will include ensuring the financial sustainability of the project in the longer-term and expanding on
activities as appropriate over time.
Qualification: Minimum B.Sc in Conservation Biology, Freshwater ecology or a related, relevant field
and at least 5 years postgraduate experience implementing conservation projects in a working
environment.
This post is based out of the EWT’s offices in Johannesburg or strategically within the Croc/Marico
Catchment. The Endangered Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunity employer.
Closing date: 16h30 on 18 April 2010.
(Let me know if you want the attachment - ed)
Tailpiece
Never Argue with a Woman
One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.
Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?'
'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking , 'Isn't that obvious ? ')
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
'For reading a book,' she replies ,
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again,
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading'
'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman.
'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden.
'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'
'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.
MORAL : Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.