RECOGNISING THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT WILDLIFE

“It’s not whether animals will survive, it’s whether man has the will to save them.”- Anthony Douglas Williams.

Africa’s wildlife is a vital part of the continent’s heritage. They are in many ways not a part of Africa, they are Africa. The increasing threats to Africa’s wildlife suggest that Africa could be in danger of losing a part of its identity. But there is hope. There are brave unsung heroes who devote their lives to mitigating these threats by conserving and protecting African wildlife.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: AFRICAN RHINO CONSERVATION LEADERS

“The fact that fewer rhinos have been lost in South Africa in 2018 is good news and merits credit for the hard work and commitment of all those involved. However, the overall status of our rhino populations remains a concern and we need continued commitment to address the systemic challenges for rhinos across the region.” - Dr Jo Shaw, African Rhino Lead for WWF International*.

The African ethos of Ubuntu promotes the power of a village, supporting one another to achieve common goals. For conservation efforts to be successful, many areas of vulnerability must be addressed. To be successful, this requires a collaborative approach with efforts being made by a variety of passionate contributors.

The CITES Parties, through Resolution Conf 9.14 (Rev. CoP15), have mandated IUCN SSC’s African Rhino Specialist Group (AfRSG), Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG) and TRAFFIC to prepare a comprehensive report for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) on the conservation status of African and Asian rhinoceros species, trade in specimens, stocks and stock management, illegal killing, enforcement issues, conservation actions and management strategies and measures by implicated States to end illegal use and consumption of rhino parts and derivatives. This report primarily deals with developments since CoP16.

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