Tanzania: Concern as Poachers Kill Rare Black Rhino

Serengeti — One of the ten rare black rhinos brought to the country from South Africa has been killed by poachers.

This is likely to shock conservationists in and the government that pledged a 24-hour surveillance when the animals were flown in in May 21 and received by President Jakaya Kikwete. Reports from Serengeti National Park (Senapa) have revealed that the ill-fated rhino, named George, was found dead with his horns missing.

George's killing is said to have taken place at Nyabeho area within the Serengeti National Park on December 10. Further reports which are attributed to Senapa officials indicate that George lost communication with game guards on December 10, and a three-day search using a plane owned by park authorities was futile.

However, on Tuesday, the guards changed their strategy and used vehicles with which they finally managed to locate its carcass in an area near Ikoma Robanda Village. Reached for comment by The Citizen, Senapa director John Kishe said he had planned to talk about the issue today at noon.

"I will be at Seronera tomorrow (today) noon, let's meet there and I will tell you how the rhino died," he said over the phone. Upon finding George's body, the game wardens at Senapa are reported to have taken investigative measures, including taking finger prints.

They also increased security around where the animal's body was found, hoping that the poachers would return at the scene. The incident occurred at a time when one of the Senapa senior officials, Mr Seti Mihayo, reported that his radio call was stolen at a hotel in Mugumu District during a party on the night of October 30.

The loss of the radio which was reported at Mugumu Police Station has worried Senapa wardens that it might have fallen in the hands of poachers who might have intercepted their communications.

The rhinos' transportation bill, amounting to $300,000, was footed by Guruneti Game Reserve while Frankfurt Zoological Society provided vehicles for security, as well as training to the SNP Game Reserve guards on how to guard them.

The public should be made aware of the entire waste of money this repatriation project has been. Like lambs to the slaughter the rest will end up the same way.........

total incapacity and lack of passion by the very same people chosen to protect them.

I was under the impression they were under 24hr surveillance, helicopter facilities included to locate their whereabouts?

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Reports from Serengeti National Park (Senapa) have revealed that the ill-fated rhino, named George, was found dead with his horns missing.

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They also increased security around where the animal's body was found, hoping that the poachers would return at the scene.

In case the poachers return for the rhino's valuable skin and meat?


And we wonder why they couldn't keep the rhino safe?! Unbelievable.........

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
I was under the impression they were under 24hr surveillance, helicopter facilities included to locate their whereabouts?

That is correct but its the "caliber" of the individuals carrying out the surveillance which is the problem. Doesn't help if you sleep on the job

Thursday December 23, 2010
Local News

Eight arrested over Serengeti black rhino kill


By Ashery Mkama, 23rd December 2010 @ 07:00,

Eight suspected poachers have so far been arrested in connection of the killing of one of the five Eastern Black rhinos, whose carcass was found without his horns on December 14 2010.

The Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Ladislaus Komba, told reporters in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that the suspects were all arrested within a week of the rhino’s kill.

He said that the arrest follows a joint effort between the local police, the Serengeti National Park and the Grumeti Reserves Company authorities to find the poachers who killed the highly endangered rhinos, who was named George.

“In investigating the weapon that was used to kill the rhino, the carcass was inspected using a metal detector which helped to get a bullet, which will be used in further investigation,” explained Dr Komba.

He added that various stakeholders have been involved in the exercise to find all people in the poacher’s network involved with the killing of the rhino, both inside and outside the country.

“The police, the Tanzania National Parks Authority and Mara region authorities are all working together to trace all the involved poachers and the stolen horns,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr Komba said that TANAPA has strengthen the security of the remaining four rhinos by providing game rangers with more advanced equipments, vehicles and urged the local people around Serengeti to report any suspicious people to the authorities.

The five rhinos were flown in to Serengeti from South Africa in May 21, 2010, as part of a group of 32 black rhinos who will be reintroduced to Tanzania. The rhinos were taken to South Africa in early 1960’s following a huge drop of the population of the animals due to poaching. They are sought after for their horns, used as an ingredient in natural medicine in some parts of Middle and Far East.

Good news on the arrest. Hopefully they will be able to arrest more of the scum connected with this criminal syndicate!