Armed guards on patrol 24/7 at rhino sanctuary as poaching reaches devastating levels THE ILLEGAL wildlife trade has reached “devastating” levels with armed guards now forced to keep round-the-clock patrols to protect endangered species. By: Owen Bennett - Political ReporterPublished: Thu, March 20, 2014 Armed guards on the patrol in Uganda Armed guards on the patrol in Uganda [CATERS] The situation is, to put it starkly, devastating Simon Burns MP The far east is no longer the sole focus of the fight against illegal ivory, with experts warning that the UK is increasingly becoming a “major hub” for the contraband. Simon Burns MP believes an unprecedented spike in the illegal wildlife trade could undo all the work of conservationists in recent years. Around 36,000 elephants are believed to be killed each year while demand for rhinos and other animals for traditional medicines is increasing. Mr Burns told a debate in Parliament’s Westminster Hall that London is a major centre for the illegal trade, which is estimated to be worth as much as £12billion a year and funds other crime including terrorism. His comments came as the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda revealed it has been forced to employ a security force of 80 armed rangers to protect its 13 rhinoceros. Mr Burns said: After decades of conservation gains, the world is now dealing with what I believe is an unprecedented spike in the illegal wildlife trade, threatening all the gains of recent years. The situation is, to put it starkly, devastating. He added: There is a significant problem and, although a considerable amount is being done by the international community, we seem to be, in many respects, on a losing wicket, because of the increased activity in different parts of the world by those who are prepared to engage in this illegal trade. Mr Burns said in 2011, 23 tonnes of ivory was seized by authorities, which represents 2,500 elephants, across the globe - the worse year since 1989. He said the situation affecting rhinos was horrendous with poaching occurring at a rate of one every 10 hours, an increase of 5,000 per cent between 2007 and 2012. But ironically, the world’s largest seizure of rhino horn, which included 129 horns, occurred in Kensington in central London—not somewhere normally associated with rhinoceroses, said Mr Burns, referring to a 1996 raid.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 10:15:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015