"Rhinos could be extinct by 2026"

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Save the Rhino International says at the current rate that rhinos are being poached, at around three a day, rhinos could effectively be extinct in the wild by 2026.

The global animal rights group was commenting on the release of the latest rhino poaching statistics on Thursday which showed that the total number of rhinos poached so far this year stood at 1020, already more than the 1004 total of 2013.

Save the Rhino International's deputy director, Susan Offord, says rhinos are currently being driven to extinction as they are being poached in escalating numbers for their horn.

She says although there are increasing arrests being made, these are low level poachers..

"None of the higher level criminals involved have been caught or prosecuted. These are the couriers, the one's that are transporting them (horns) to Vietnam. South Africa has very good wildlife laws but we just not seeing the prosecutions coming in to play at the moment and you have to wonder why that is not happening," she said.

Speaking to Algoa FM New from London on Friday, she said there needs to be more urgent, high level, action to arrest the situation.

Offord says with these kind of staggering figures coming out, one really needs to see action being taken immediately.

"I think some fantastic work is being done by the people on the ground. All the programmes that we speak to are desperately trying to put in actions that will help with security and protect the rhinos. But, the high demand and the high prices that people are willing to pay we really need to see more action coming from the top and across borders," Offord added.

She says that Cites given both Vietnam and Mozambique "actions that they need to do and report on. "Vietnam has to report by next March and Mozambique again next year, but I believe Mozambique has been delayed in terms of meeting most of its deadlines so far. I think until we see real action at this top level, unfortunately these figures are going to be repeated again and probably worse next year."