The World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) has launched a five-point strategic framework ahead of World Rhino Day on September 22, to curb the drastically increasing number of illegal rhino killings in the country.

WWF-SA rhino coordinator Jo Shaw said the plan, which had been running since September 1, was aimed at advancing rhino conservation by focusing on five key areas.

These included the creation of resilient rhino populations, forming community buffers, the improvement of investigation and prosecution procedures, bilateral cooperation and a better understanding of rhino horn trading, which remained the primary threat to rhino conservation.

Shaw said rhino poaching in South Africa had taken a significant upward turn in 2008 to 122, up from about 20 killings a year previously. In 2010, the number rose to 333, while about 388 rhino had been killed in 2012 thus far.

“Although the number of killings over the past few years have increased at a slower rate, it could reach nearly 550 by the end of the year,” she warned.

Historically used in Asia to treat fever, Shaw said new medicinal uses for rhino horn were behind the increased poaching. She added that Vietnam had been identified as a particular area of concern.

New uses for rhino horn are believed to include the treating of cancer and detoxification of the body.

“The WWF-SA therefore needs to look at this issue more broadly and work from the root of the problem. This forms the basis of the five-point framework,” Shaw noted.

She added that within the five key areas outlined in the plan, a range of inter-related activities had been identified to find a long-term solution to rhino poaching.

Shaw said cooperation with adjacent communities was critical in improving rhino conservation.

“It is, therefore, very important that they are afforded tangible benefits for their safeguarding efforts. WWF-SA is developing new projects to engage local communities in rhino conservation.”

Also central in the fight against rhino poaching was a partnership between the WWF-SA and law-enforcement agencies to enable more efficient investigation and prosecution.

“Although [poaching-related] arrests have increased, we need to get to those at the top of these criminal networks. We need to support law-enforcement agencies with the required software and training.

“WWF-SA will provide backing to enhance tools available to those fighting rhino crimes; in particular, to proactively arrest poachers before they commit a wildlife crime,” Shaw stated.

Further, bilateral cooperation between South Africa and the end-users of rhino horn would have to be fostered to break the illegal trade chain.

Shaw said WWF-SA was “pushing” for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between South Africa and Vietnam at the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will be held in India, in October.

The imposed MoU is aimed at enhancing high-level law enforcement efforts between the countries and promoting joint operations.

Meanwhile, to better understand the trading of rhino horn, WWF-SA had prioritised detailed research in Vietnam. Shaw put forward that the information collected would be important in developing tactics to lessen the threat to rhinos from this new demand.

Shaw added that the Rhino DNA Index System had been identified as a key tool in protecting rhinos and that the organisation would continue to support its further development.

“Rhinos have ranged far and wide across Africa and formed a magnificent part of our cultural and natural heritage for thousands of years; we urge all South Africans to play a part in their protection at this pivotal point in their future,” she insisted.