Dear FGASA member

       

FGASA has decided to support the Rhino Stamp project and will be selling the bracelets mentioned below in the FGASA bookshop, if you are interested in a bracelet please contact the office and speak to Nadia at exams.

The initiater, James Suter explained how this project came about:  

At the last Cape Town design Indaba the Rhino Stamp was launched. Initially it was just a facebook page where we planned to create awareness around the world in terms the crisis we are facing regarding the poaching of rhino. We then produced a bracelet that we sold, we carefully selected an organization we wanted to affiliate with. We decided on the Sanparks counter poaching unit, mostly because we felt working with this unit we could make a real difference. My point of contact was Mr John Turner. AT the indaba we met with the Holmes Brothers who liked both the concept and look of the bracelet and proposed to us that they would like to design a t shirt. We agreed. The t shirts are being sold at all three outlets based in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban as well as on their online store. They also do stock our bracelets.They donate R10 of every t shirt sold towards our cause. 

Our cause aims to raise both awareness and funds for the Sanparks counter poaching unit, which is involved in the training and facilitating field rangers in Kruger Park. We have put aside funds raised and I have personally spent time at the training facility. Currently we are looking to improve the facilities at the training camp as this area needs attention. The R50 made on each bracelet are our running costs and design/production of bracelet. R30 of each bracelet will go to the SanParks Anti-poaching unit.

We asked experts what should guides do if they come across a poaching scene and the following was indicated:  

As far as Crime Scene Procedures, the best advice is as few people as possible even approach the crime scene, nothing is touched or picked up e.g. axes, panga's. cartridge cases, or weapons. It is vital that any tracks found are not 'trampled over by guides, if tracks lead over sand roads, they can be marked, or cordoned off, or covered with a cardboard box, if it looks like rain storms are approaching. The best option if vultures are in the area that lead to the poached rhino carcass, or carcasses are found, one person approaches the crime scene, does not step on any tracks, and when he leaves the scene he walks on his own tracks out. Photo's can be taken from one spot and passed over to investigators. Finger Prints and D.N.A can now be lifted from many items, such as axes, cartridge cases, items of clothing left on the scene, cigarette butts  and  Rhino horns, so the golden rule is: nothing is touched. Enforcement authorities must be notified as soon as possible. 

N.B Details of the incident should not be Tweeted or posted on Facebook or any social media, as this can assist organized crime syndicates, who are known to monitor Social Media Sites, and may still be in the area !!!  

Trained crime scene investigators have been specially trained to collect and preserve evidence, so no collection of any evidence must be carried out by Guides, or others. Evidence Preservation is vital, and must not be contaminated by handling.

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Few animals face as violent, as well organised, and as determined an enemy as the world’s rhinos. Across the continent, rhinos are being slaughtered on a daily basis and approximately 5,000 black rhinos and 21,000 white rhinos are all that prevent Africa’s rhinos from extinction. 

The Rhino Keepers (published by Jacana) is a personal story of the conservation of the rhinos in Southern Africa. It charts the ongoing struggle for survival of these amazing animals told through the experiences and insights of preeminent conservationists, Clive and Anton Walker. Clive’s and Anton’s book describes these fascinating animals and the reason behind their historical decline, the myths that surround them and discusses the resurrection of the rhino horn trade. They carefully unpack the complications of opening up a ‘legal’ trade in horn and the views of those who oppose such measures. 

This real life account of the rhino wars presents a harrowing story that underscores the enormous challenges that lie ahead for conservation in a world where rhino horns sold by the gram raise double the price of gold and are more expensive than cocaine in the end-user Asian markets. 

This book is for anyone who has been appalled over the past few years at the senseless slaughter of these magnificent animals. It urges readers to question the way we manage our natural heritage and implores us to recognise our role as rhino keepers of the future Clive Walker entered the battle for the rhino with the founding of the Endangered Wildlife Trust in 1973. He co-founded the Rhino and Elephant Foundation and the African Rhino Owners Association, and served on the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group for close on 14 years. He served as a member of the South African National Parks Board from 2000 to 2006. His son, Anton Walker, as a school boy, travelled together with his father to India and Nepal in 1984 to view the one-horned Indian rhinos and tigers in the wild. Anton largely grew up at Lapalala Wilderness where his parents assisted the late Dale Parker in the establishment of the reserve which has become an important rhino sanctuary. Lapalala was the first private reserve in South Africa to introduce the black rhino. Anton joined the permanent staff of the reserve in 1996 and is today the general manager of the 36,000-ha sanctuary. He has worked closely with both species of rhino over the past 16 years in all areas of management, monitoring, field operations, capture and care.  

A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Waterberg Museum Foundation’s Rhino Programme. 

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Who’s bum does this belong to?