Czech and Slovak Republics reunite to fight poaching

© lienkie – za.fotolia.com

On Sunday, September 21, at 11am at Dvur Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic and Bratislava Zoo in Slovakia, Ministers for Environment for both countries set alight seized illegal and stockpiled rhino horns in a gesture symbolising the world has reached the eleventh hour to save rhinos.

In the Czech Republic, Minister of Environment, Richard Brabec, set alight approximately 70kg of rhino horns at the burning ceremony at Dvur Králové.

At the same time, the Slovakian Minister of the Environment, Peter Žiga, held a similar event in Bratislava where they destroyed eight rhino horns seized in a joint operation with the Czech authorities. Both called out to other European governments and zoos across the continent to destroy their ivory horns, to symbolise the common sentiment.

"Europol estimates global wildlife trafficking to be worth between €18bn and €26bn per year," Azzedine Downes, IFAW president and CEO, said. "Europe has to play its part to stop the organised criminal gangs involved in the brutal business of wildlife trafficking. The EU needs to do more to build law enforcement capacity and public awareness both in Europe and in the countries where these endangered species live and are at risk."

Powerful message

One of the guest speakers for the event, secretary-general of CITES, John E. Scanlon, said the destruction of confiscated rhino horn will not put an end to the illegal trade. "However, coupled with the seizure of rhino horn and the prosecution and conviction of offenders, it sends a powerful public message that the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic do not accept and will not tolerate this illegal trade or the devastating impact it is having on the rhino and on the livelihoods of local communities."

The burn comes at a time of unprecedented poaching for and trafficking of rhino horn. In South Africa, where poaching of rhinoceros is at its worst, 769 rhinos have already been killed for their horns since January 2014. Last year 1,004 rhino in South Africa lost their lives to poachers, up from 333 in 2010. The world famous Kruger National Park (KNP) is worst hit by poachers - this year 489 rhinos have been killed in the KNP. Nationally 227 rhino poachers have been arrested in 2014.

Worldwide, South Africa is the only country which declares regular, monthly figures for poaching of its rhinos. Rhinos are known to have been poached in other African and Asian countries, but accurate information for these countries is not available.