Increasing demand in Asia fuels rhino poaching boom

Agence France-Presse

"Illegal rhino horn trade to destinations in Asia is driving the killing, with growing evidence of involvement of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai nationals in the illegal procurement and transport of rhino horn out of Africa," conservation groups told a meeting of CITES, the U.N. convention against endangered species trade.

The World Wildlife Fund, or WWF, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and affiliated wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC said that an average of 3.5 rhinos were poached every month across Africa between 2000 and 2005.

But over three times as many, or 12.4 rhinos on average, are now being killed illegally in South Africa and Zimbabwe each month, they added."This is the worst rhino poaching we have seen in many years and it is critical for governments to stand up and take action to stop this deadly threat to rhinos worldwide," Susan Lieberman, director of WWF's Species Program, said in a statement.

In 2008, at least 162 rhinos were killed in the two southern African countries, and another 62 have been poached during the first half of 2009, said the groups. The toll could still increase as more evidence was uncovered, they noted.

"2008 will probably represent the highest level of illegal rhinoceros killing in at least 15 years," the conservation agencies said in their report. The largest markets for illegally procured horns are traditionally in the Middle East, especially Yemen, where they are prized as dagger handles.

However, CITES spokesman Vasquez said that there is now a worrying trend that the illegal trade is turning increasingly to Asia where there is demand for usage in traditional medicine.

"There has been a sudden strong demand in Asia," he told AFP, warning that poaching is "undermining at least 20 years of conservation efforts in southern Africa."

In South Africa, where a quota of rhino hunting is allowed, poachers are posing as trophy hunters, he said.

"We have seen some evidence that organised crime is now involved in this trade, and this is very worrying," Vasquez explained, noting that "sophisticated techniques, corruption and abuse of diplomatic immunity" have been used in this illegal trade.