Index

On a Tough matter

Tuffstuff 4x4 Insurance proudly sponsors our Green Pages, bringing the plight of our environment into focus. But that's not all the company sponsors, and it's not scared to put its money where its mouth is.

Raymond du Plessis, an ardent environmentalist, is the man behind Tuffstuff 4x4 Insurance. He may drive a 4x4 (and has done for years) but he's one of the environmentally friendly, "tread lightly" brigade. And he is doing his utmost to preserve our wilderness for future generations. Let's help Raymond make a difference.

The Rhino in South Africa

Text: Douglas Norval

According to reports, rhino horn is now more valuable than gold, trading on the black market for about US$60 000 (about R442 000) per kilogram.

Despite years of conservation and educational programmes, rhino horns are still seen as the magical ingredient in Asian and African medicine and as aphrodisiacs across the world. They are also sought as handles for daggers made in Yemen and Oman.

Since January 1 this year, 55 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South African game reserves. This is according to a recent report on The Times Live, quoting environmental affairs minister Buyelwa Sonjica.

She is reported as saying that many of "these butcheries are a result of rhino conservationists and game reserve staff feeding poachers with information", implying that, at times, inside information is used by well-organised poaching syndicates.

This could lead to about 163 rhino being poached by the end of this year, she said.

The rhino is an apex herbivore and like all apex species has a slow reproduction cycle. Usually only one calf is born per female in the breeding cycle. In general, female rhino reach sexual maturity at around seven years and males at around 10 years. The gestation period is 16 months and, depending on climatic and environmental conditions, the period between calves for the average rhino female is between two and a half and three and a half years.

Unfortunately, more males than females are born, restricting the growth of the rhino population. This is why the loss of so many rhinos to poaching is such a threat to the long-term survival of the species.

In South Africa, we are graced by the southern white rhino and to a much lesser degree, the south-western black rhino. The black rhino is smaller than its cousin, and is a browser that eats leafy plants, some branches, vegetation shoots and thorny woody bushes.

There are four sub-species of black rhino: the south-central black rhino (D. b. minor), The south-western black rhino (D. b. bicornis), the East African black rhino (D. b. michaeli) and the western black rhino (D. b. longipes), which is now extinct.

The white rhino is second only to the elephant in size among land mammals, and is also a grazer, feeding on grassland and savannah grasses.

There are two sub-species of white rhino -- the southern white rhino (C. s. simum) and the northern white rhino (C. s. cottoni) which is virtually extinct. There are a few animals in a European zoo and a theoretical breeding group of four animals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

There were about 65 000 black rhinos in 1970, but chronic poaching reduced numbers by about 95% to 2 300 in just a few years. Intensive anti-poaching efforts since 1996 boosted numbers to around 4 200, the African Rhino Specialist Group reported in 2008.

The southern white rhino is the least endangered of all rhino species, but it wasn't always so. In the mid-1880s there were just 85 of them left after they had been targeted by farmers and hunters alike. Today they number close to 16 000 - a true conservation success story.

But the sad part of the saga is that this one sub-species now outnumbers all the other sub-species put together.

South Africa has a three-pronged approach to rhino poaching. The first is law enforcement through the newly initiated Poaching Investigators' Forum, which is run and funded by provincial authorities.

Second is the control of trade in rhino horn. This is being addressed through a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) global species programme called Traffic.

Third is the security of rhino populations addressed through a partnership managed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) with, among others, the Game Rangers Association of Africa.

These organisations, especially the EWT Rhino Security project, should be given as much support and funding as is possible by individuals and corporate South Africa. Other reserves, including private reserves, are dealing with the problem in their own way.

At Rietvlei, just outside Pretoria, the remaining rhino have been dehorned in an attempt to discourage poachers, but the step is by no means a guaranteed protection.

Even de-horned rhino have been killed by poachers intent on retrieving the last few centimetres of horn.

Some reserves have stepped up patrols, others have started or are increasing volunteer groups, while others are tagging or radio-chipping their rhino.

The Kruger National Park has pledged R5,2-million and has a microlight and fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and some 400 foot soldiers in the anti-poaching arsenal. The South African National Defence Force will be joining the battle later in 2010.

Lots of arrests of low level people in the poaching syndicates have been made - more than 50 in the last year or so.

A syndicate in the Eastern Cape was uncovered after a Vietnamese national was arrested for trying to buy 14 rhino horns for R1,3-million in an undercover operation. Surprisingly low bail conditions have been given to a number of suspected poachers or people suspected of dealing in rhino products, both in SA and in Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, conservationists are continuing in their efforts to gain public support for their campaign to protect the rhino.

Did you know?

• Rhino horn is made almost entirely of keratin, the same substance as hair and nails are made of, with a little calcium and melanin (The Journal of Morphology, October 2006). The calcium makes the horn stronger and the melanin protects it against UV rays. Horns are shaped by horn clashing and being rubbed on the ground, vegetation, fences, and so on.
• Both black and white rhinos tend to have bad eyesight but very good hearing and sense of smell.
• Dominant males will mark their home ranges and territories by spraying bushes and trees with urine and defecating in an area called a midden. They then kick the dung around and pummel the ground with their hind legs to spread the smell.
• Rhinos enjoy a good wallow in water. This cools them off and removes parasites.
• Calves are able to stand within a few hours of birth. The black rhino seems to get mobile a bit quicker than its square-lipped cousin, but both start eating solids from two to three months and are fully weaned in about a year.
• White rhino are more even-tempered than the hook-lipped black rhino, which are known for their bad tempers. Since they can reach speeds of 50km/h in a charge, it's best not to get on the wrong side of them.

FOPS are giving it horns

While the guys from FOPS (Friends of the Pilanesberg) were packing rocks to repair the rain-eroded causeway in Borakalalo, they suddenly realised they were not alone. Two local inspectorhinos were scrutinising the efforts from just 100m away.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Show us your green side

Would you like to be involved in the tree-planting project, buying plants from communities and spending time in a beautiful and remote area planting them?

Or would trips looking for particular rare species be more enjoyable?

How does tagging along on a cheetah-collaring trip sound, learning more about these beautiful animals and doing your bit? Or how about encouraging people to grow spekbooms of their own (maybe even as bonsais (every little bit helps)? Or should we run a competition for pictures of rare species?

We would also welcome contributions for the green pages, on environmental news, projects and tips.

Please send your thoughts to editorial@leisurewheels.com.

LAST MONTH'S ROUND-UP/PROGRESS REPORT

Tree project

We are proud to report that Tuffstuff Insurance are sticking to their promise of planting 10 000 spekbooms over the next two years.

A thousand teeny-weeny spekboom seedlings have already been planted in bags in the Klein Karoo to start the war on carbon dioxide and ground erosion. Research has shown that the spekboom has an amazing ability to absorb the gas responsible for global warming.

Spekboom is also hardy, drought-resistant and able to tolerate diverse weather conditions, making it a perfect choice for anyone who wants to do their bit, even though they may not be green-fingered.

Whaddup, Dog?

In last month's Environmental Matters, we focused on wild dogs, the most endangered carnivores in South Africa. Just as we went to print, Vaughn de la Harpe was on his way to climb Mount Everest in a fund-raising attempt to buy tracking collars for a project on wild dogs.

In a separate conservation venture, Rhodes University, Land Rover and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) are urging visitors to the Kruger National Park to send photos and information of sightings of wild dogs to census@ewt.org.za.

This project will start around the western boundaries of the park, before expanding to other regions.

Every five years a photographic census is conducted to monitor the trends in population size and structure in wild dogs. This is part of a long-term programme that has been going on for 20 years.

TUFFSTUFF 4X4 INSURANCE

Tuffstuff are the original 4x4 and lifestyle insurance specialists, but that doesn't mean they only insure 4x4s! While Tuffstuff will insure all classes of four-wheel-drive vehicles, they also cover quad bikes, off-road motorcycles, sedans and executive vehicles. And other lifestyle vehicles, such as boats, jetskis, hang gliders, Harleys and Hondas.

Tuffstuff also offer associated insurance, such as household, all risks and emergency evacuations.

For more information, call 0861 44-4400 or visit www.tuffstuff.co.za.

Contact Details:

Tuffstuff 4x4 Insurance: Raymond Du Plessis: raymond@tuffstuff.co.za; www.tuffstuff.co.za

Vulpro: Kerri Wolter; Kerri.wolter@gmail.com; www.vultureconservation.co.za

Endangered Wildlife Trust: 011 486-1102; ewt@ewt.org.za; www.ewt.org.za

Friends of the Pilansberg (FOPS): secretary@fops.org.za; www.fops.org.za

4x4 Community Conservation Crew: Douglas Norval: conservation@4x4community.com; www.4x4community.co.za.