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Mpumalanga MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr Norman Mokoena has commended the efforts of the South African National Parks and the Ichikowits Family Foundation to combat rhino poaching through the launch of the state-of-the-art aerial surveillance solution. This follows today’s launch (Tuesday, 04 December 2012) of the unique specialist reconnaissance aircraft, named, the Seeker Seabird, which boost highly sophisticated surveillance technology to help in the search for suspected rhino poachers throughout the Kruger National Park.

“We commend the partnership of the private sector by joining hands with government, as we strive to save our endangered rhino species. The involvement of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation will go a long way in detecting these selfish and greedy people in their tracks – long before they maim our rhino. We congratulate the two parties for their unwavering efforts to save our rhino for posterity,” said MEC Mokoena.

The aircraft was unveiled at the Skukuza airport at the KNP on Tuesday, 04 December 2012. The Seeker Seabird will have advanced visual reconnaissance and surveillance which will provide game reserve rangers with robust intelligence in their tireless mission to confront poachers. It will be equipped with a FLIR Ball infrared detector, which will deliver more enhanced and powerful observation capability to the KNP’s rangers, making it very difficult for poachers to hide. It is said that the plane is capable of flying at high altitude and at slow speeds with 270 degrees visibility.

Since the beginning of the year, a total of 598 rhinos were killed across South Africa, with the hardest hit being the Kruger National Park (KNP) at 364 (60.8%). In Mpumalanga, a total of 27 (4.5%) rhinos have been killed so far. By the end of December last year, 252 rhinos lost their lives on the hands of the poachers at the KNP and 31 in Mpumalanga.

In terms of arrests, a total of 246 people were arrested for rhino poaching across the country since the beginning of the year, with 66 arrested in Mpumalanga (27%) and 61 (25%) at the KNP.

Meanwhile MEC Mokoena says he believes that the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on co-operation in the field of bio-diversity conservation and protection by South Africa and Vietnam, scheduled for next week, will have an effect in reducing the number of rhino poaching in the country.

“I believe that the MoU between both countries will address the issue of illegal trade in rhino horn and in turn contribute towards reducing the alarming scourge in rhino poaching. We hope that Vietnam will further intensify its education and awareness programmes to de-mystify the notion held by other people that the rhino horn has some form of medicinal benefits,” said MEC Mokoena. 

The MOU will be signed on behalf of South Africa, by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Ms Edna Molewa and her Vietnamese counterpart, Dr Cao Duc Phat in Hanoi, Vietnam. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, this intervention on the international front, is intended to promote co-operation between the two countries and compliance with CITES. Government is convinced that for South Africa to effectively deal with the current scourge of poaching, and with illegal hunting largely driven by international demand for the rhino horn, these international engagements and agreements are crucial.

MEC Mokoena encourages people to report any incidents of rhino poaching or tip-offs that can prevent illegal killings, or lead to arrests by calling the dedicated toll-free number of 0800 205 005.