It is astonishing to acknowledge the fact that in the 21st century, there are still people from western countries who are firm believers of superstition. According to Kenneth R. Weiss of the Los Angeles Times, 450 rhinos were killed in South Africa, merely for their horns. 
Nations like China, Vietnam and Thailand have a belief that rhino horns can cure cancer. It is common knowledge all around the world that Africa is rich in natural resources/treasure and we have a lot of game reserves, which has caused a large demand for rhino horns from Africa and them being killed without any remorse.
Thus these actions have raised a lot of questions and debates as to; who then kills these rhinos? As much as we Africans are raising a plea and campaigns against the killing of our national treasure, we are as much to blame as the westerners. The Chinese may create a demand but they do not really fly down here and kill the rhinos themselves, truth is there are some greedy SA poachers who roam among us and kill these rhinos in exchange for a quick buck from the rich Chinese.
The facts are out there, we can debate amongst each other about this issue the whole day but these rhinos are still being killed out there everyday and there are in a verge of being extinct- question is...
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
its true hey,the issue of rhino poaching is getting out of hand...wish it was possible to just keep them in a big hall somewhere so they can be safe from being killed
ReplyDeleteThe question I think that is on everybody's mind is "Can media influence or educate people on the consequences of poaching?"
ReplyDeletewell good point there Mrs Van Wyk, but will educating people through media be enough? we all know that ignorance is bliss and some people are not concerned with issues like conserving nature. So I guess at the end of the day, we wont be able to really and completely conquer this challenge
ReplyDeleteAre you then saying that Media has no role to play in educating people on Environmental issues? Are you then also saying that the 'Save the Rhino campaign' is not working? Let's get some research and stats in our discussion.
ReplyDeleteThis is really heartbreaking, the society needs pure education and much needed awareness Robust implications of engaging to such wrongfully act need to be put in place. The government, civil society organisations need to come up with a constructive plan.
ReplyDelete@Nhlanhla> indeed,much still needs to be done to overcome this tragedy.
ReplyDelete@Helena> On Tuesday(yes this Tuesday),four SA National parks(SANparks)officials were arrested in connection with rhino poaching, after 2 rhinos were found killed and dehorned in the Kruger National park that morning.One of the officials was a field ranger involved in an ongoing strike at the park,another was a traffic officer connected to the protection service unit(mind you,these are people who are very much aware of the consequences of rhino poaching)-And since you requested stats,Tuesday's discovery brought the total number of rhinos killed in the park since January 1 to 43 and the nationwide tally to 80. Fifty people have been arrested in connection with poaching since the beginning of the year,(Now according to these stats, do you think the "Save the Rhino campaign" is working?) My point is,the media can inform us as much as it can but the fact remains that,people will still choose to kill these rhinos if they want to