1. Colloquium on Anti-Rhino Poaching 13 September 2016
Angus Sholto-Douglas
Wildlife Ranching South Africa and Private Rhino Owners Association

2. Background Private Rhino Ownership Poaching Incidents
Own rhino (B&W) - 33% SA pop
NB rest of Africa combined rhino
330 (were 400) private rhino reserves: 2 million ha
Poaching Incidents
2014/15 estimate 80% had poaching incidents
280 poaching incidents with threat to human life

3. Factors Influencing Private Ownership
Financial implications
Risk / Poaching
Law enforcement

4. Financial Implications influencing Private Ownership
Loss of asset R300m
Annual security costs 2009 – 2016 R1,150,000,000m
Total Loss and cost R1,450,000,000
Ownership risk has resulted in:
Rhino distribution loss of ha
70 reserves no longer have rhino due to: Impact of poaching (costs and loss)

5. Impact of Poaching on Private Ownership
1200 of the 6000 poached have been on private land.
This equates to an asset loss of R300million.
A horn value of some R1billion.
Exponential increase in security costs.
This leads to:
Distress sale of remaining rhino on the property.
Negative perception of rhino ownership, due to risk.
70 less private properties have rhino in SA, 400 to 330.

6. Law Enforcement and Impact on Reserve Management
Substantive increase of budget > allocation to security
Severe impact on reserve profitability/sustainability.
Deployment of staff into security responsibilities
Reserve upgrades or projects on hold
Need to deploy armed APU teams
Sophisticated security equipment
Run informer network and gather intelligence

7. Core Challenges How do we maintain private rhino ownership?
From that base, how do we encourage rhino custodianship or ownership?
How do we improve security on private reserves?

8. How do we Maintain and Encourage Private Rhino Ownership?
Financial sustainability through a regulated horn trade mechanism.
Supportive, enabling legislation and law enforcement policies.
Increased levels of responsibility by Private Rhino Owners
Greater levels of co-operation between state, provincial and private rhino custodians.
A more cohesive rhino management community in a broader sense, recognising differences of approach that all have a role in reducing rhino deaths.