It is heartening to find that meaninglful contribution is being made by organisations who have the avenues to make a difference in theis regartd.
Exctract from 09 Mon, Sep 2013 Mpumalanga Tourism newsletter – article by Tessa Reed
Campaign hopes to reduce rhino horn demand
“Humane Society International has partnered with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in a campaign to reduce the demand for rhino horn.
The awareness campaign, which was launched in Vietnam last month, will engage key stakeholders in an effort to reduce the demand for rhino horn. Stakeholders that will be engaged include women’s groups, business leaders, students and traditional and Western medical practitioners.”
Teresa Telecky, Director of the Wildlife Department of HSI says they are working with the Vietnam CITES Management Authority on this important issue,” said . “Reducing demand for rhino horn in Vietnam will cut off a marketplace for the criminal networks that run the illegal trade, and this is an essential part of the solution to save rhino lives.”
Jo Shaw, Rhino Co-ordinator: Biodiversity Unit, WWF-SA, said research had shown that regulatory action needed to be implemented alongside campaign activities to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products.
In South Africa, 618 rhinos have been killed this year, compared with 668 killed in 2012, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. HSI noted that conservationists have warned that SA’s black and white rhino could be extinct in the wild by 2026″
