14 DAY TRIAL // Alarming news from South Africa informs us that, since the beginning of 2012, as many as 455 rhinos have been killed in this part of the world.
To cut a long story short, the year is not even over yet, and poachers have already succeeded in setting a new record when it comes to killing these animals for their horns.
What makes matters even worse is the fact that this record number was registered in spite of authorities arresting as many as 207 poachers and individuals who were in the business of trading rhino horns on illegal markets.
The World Wildlife Fund explains that this goes to show that the African government must do its best and prosecute the poachers and rhino horns traders it now has in its custody to the fullest extent of the law, so as to set an example for those that continue to kill these animals.
More precisely, the organization has its eyes set on the trial of the Groenewald Gang, a group of people who must be held responsible for the death of 20 rhinos.
“The world is watching to see that South Africa is prepared to prosecute rhino crimes to the fullest extent of the law and take these crimes seriously as an affront to South Africa’s national heritage,” explained Dr. Jo Shaw, presently working with the World Wildlife Fund.
As well as this, Dr. Jo Shaw made a case of how, “The most recent figure is disappointing as last year’s total has already been exceeded by mid-October. World-famous safari destination Kruger National Park continues to be the hardest hit by poachers with 272 rhinos killed to-date.”
According to the same source, the only good news is that, at least for the time being, the number of rhinos born in South Africa exceeds the mortality rate for this species.
However, things stand to only take a turn for the worse if poaching activities are not put an end to as soon as possible.