Poaching

A BLOODY BUSINESS

Poaching is big business. It is also a bloody business and not just for the exotic animals slain.

Death in the African bush can come to villagers, park rangers and tourists who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, while official corruption allows the crime to flourish.

In the Sebungwe region of North Eastern Zimbabwe elephant herds have dropped by 74 percent from 2007-14.

The mandatory nine year imprisonment in Zimbabwe, for poachers, is no deterrent when buyers are prepared to pay from $1000-$2100 per kilogram for the white gold that is ivory. 

The Rhino faces a similar persecution as the horn is considered to be valuable for medicinal purposes and as an aphrodisiac.

In 1970 there were 65,000 of the animals in Africa but only 3000, a quarter of a century later.

Some 125 rhinos perished in Namibia in 2015, due to poachers, while in the neighbouring regional powerhouse, South Africa, the situation is worse in the dramatic kill rate of the rhino.

Of negligible concern during the white government era, (1910-94), the figures were still in single figures in the RSA  at the start of the 21^st century; and from 2002 to 2007 the most killed in a year was 25, in the former year, with 13 in the latter one.

From there the figures increased dramatically, rising from 83 (2008) and escalating each year subseqently, - 333, 448,668,1004 and 1215 over the next five years.

South Africa’s Koos Moorcroft has some worthwhile knowledge in helping to train those fighting this pernicious scourge in Namibia, formerly South West Africa until independence, in 1990.

Moorcroft’s army life is worth a separate story but includes active service in the Border War; parachuting from 35,000 feet and representing the RSA in World Parachuting competition; undergoing nuclear and biological warfare course, attack diver; dining with former PM Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles (an interesting republican-royal mix); and, for the last eight years of his military career, was Sergeant Major of the South African Army, retiring in 2001.

Post-army, this legendary action man was initially employed by Nokia, as a security director, leading tours in Angola, including bush survival training. Since 2009 he has been with Chute Systems, a company that offers expert military training to African countries.

The training of park rangers for the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in small patrol teams with the ability to be pro-active in anti-poaching tactics became part of his brief, from 2014-16, after he had some four years of providing commando style training for the Namibian Defence Ministry.

Poachers are not confined to the subsistence level bandits. The militarisation of poaching by former service personnel, crime syndicates and professional hunters has necessitated that former seasoned military men are needed to train a counter force.

“Special Forces patrol tactics are the only way to proactively prevent poachers getting to the animals,” Moorcoft said, while in Perth, for family reasons.

“Centralisation is not the answer; local training is preferred, selecting suitable candidates to be trained in specific parks with a seven day selection process, including psychological testing and police clearances.”

“In Namibia we only kill poachers in self defence but in Botswana they shoot-to-kill them, seeing them as a threat not only to the animals but also to the tourist industry and to individual tourists.”

“Poachers work in seven man teams, consisting of trackers, hunters, cutters and one protection man with a machine gun, prepared to fire on park rangers. Therefore, well trained men on the ground are needed with rapid reaction time. Sound intelligence with support systems such as surveillance cameras and drones can also assist with early warnings,” he said.

Moorcroft is part of an increasing number of ex-military men using their skills in assisting others to protect wildlife. Vetpaw (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife),based in NYC, gives training in South Africa while charity groups like ISAW ( International Fund for Animal Welfare) are tapping into those with battlefield and intelligence experience.

With rhino horn fetching as much as $65,000 a kilo on the black market the soaring demand for it in China and Vietnam continues, creating the ruthless determination of poachers to use automatic weapons, helicopters and to ‘buy-off’ corrupt politicians.

If at times it seems that only the power of prayer can turn this slaughter of the innocents around then perhaps the softly spoken determined Moorcroft has the credentials to help there too.

Not only has he jumped from 35,000 feet but he has prayed successfully from that height too, while returning from Windhoek to Pretoria, in March 2015, when his wife, Isobelle, was not expected to see the night out.

Perhaps her recovery to full strength maybe a portent of things to come for the African endangered species, if men, like Koos Moorcroft, can prevail.