S. Africa exports live rhinos as last resort to save the endangered species

CAPE TOWN -- South Africa, home to about 90 percent of the world's rhinoceros population, has to export some of the endangered animals so as to salvage them from extinction, authorities said on Friday.

Since 2014, South Africa has exported 361 live rhinos to former and existing rhino range states, including Botswana, Chad, Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) said.

One such translocation was of six black rhinos that were translocated to the Zakhouma National Park in Chad in May 2018.

It is the first time in 46 years that there are rhinos in Chad.

In line with requirements in the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the DEA in 2014 recommended the export of a total of 538 live rhinos from South Africa.

The country will have to export the remaining 177 rhinos to non-range states in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe, DEA spokesperson Albi Modise said.

Live rhinos from South Africa can only be exported to zoo facilities that are either members of the World Associations of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA), institutional members of an affiliated member of WAZA, or an accredited member of a regional zoo association, according to the DEA.

These institutions must be recognized by the CITES Management Authority of the state of import as a reputable association, the DEA said.

South Africa bears the brunt of rhino poaching, losing 1,028 rhinos in 2017 alone.

From Jan 1 to Aug 31 this year, 508 rhino were poached nationwide, according to the latest statistics released by the DEA.

The government has warned that the country's rhino population will be close to extinction by 2026 if no effective measures are taken to curb rhino poaching.

"Rhino poaching is a national priority crime, and as such, all the relevant government departments will continue their close collaboration to ensure that this iconic species is conserved for generations to come," the DEA said.