Management strategies to curb rhino poaching: Alternative options using a cost–benefit approach

Sam M Ferreira,Michèle Pfab,Mike Knight

doi:10.1590/sajs.2014/20120055

Abstract

The combination of increasing demand and high black market prices for rhino horn in Asian markets has fueled an escalation in rhino poaching since 2007, particularly in South Africa. This situation has in turn resulted in greatly increased rhino protection costs, loss in confidence by the private sector in rhinos, loss of revenue to conservation authorities and reduced rhino population growth rates. Within current CITES processes, management responses to threats posed by poaching to rhino persistence fall within a mixture of reactive responses of increased protection and law enforcement and some pro-active responses such as demand reduction tactics, along with a parallel call for opening a legal trade in horn. These rhino management strategies carry different risks and benefits in meeting several conservation objectives. An expert-based risk–benefit analysis of five different rhino management strategies was undertaken to assess their potential for delivering upon agreed rhino conservation objectives. The outcomes indicated that benefits may exceed risks for those strategies that in some or other format legally provided horn for meeting demand. Expert risk–benefit approaches are suggested to offer a rational, inclusive and consensus generating means of addressing complex issues such as rhino poaching and augmenting the information used within the CITES decision-making processes.

Highlights

IntroductionPoaching of Africa’s rhinos has escalated exponentially from an average loss of 0.17 rhinos per day (a total of 62 rhinos) in 2007, to 2.04 rhinos per day (a total of 745 rhinos) in 2012.1 This escalation has raised concerns amongst conservationists about the long-term survival of the species.[2] South Africa, with 82% (or 20 954 rhinos) of the continent’s rhino population, has been most affected by poaching, losing 1805 (or 75%) of the 2387 rhino poached since 2006.3 Of particular concern is the 1.75-fold (+0.64 s.d.; n=5) increase in the annual rate of poaching, which accounts for 3.2% of the South African rhino population size in 2012
Poaching of Africa’s rhinos has escalated exponentially from an average loss of 0.17 rhinos per day in 2007, to 2.04 rhinos per day in 2012.1 This escalation has raised concerns amongst conservationists about the long-term survival of the species.[2]
South Africa, with 82% of the continent’s rhino population, has been most affected by poaching, losing 1805 of the 2387 rhino poached since 2006.3 Of particular concern is the 1.75-fold (+0.64 s.d.; n=5) increase in the annual rate of poaching, which accounts for 3.2% of the South African rhino population size in 2012

Summary

Introduction

Poaching of Africa’s rhinos has escalated exponentially from an average loss of 0.17 rhinos per day (a total of 62 rhinos) in 2007, to 2.04 rhinos per day (a total of 745 rhinos) in 2012.1 This escalation has raised concerns amongst conservationists about the long-term survival of the species.[2] South Africa, with 82% (or 20 954 rhinos) of the continent’s rhino population, has been most affected by poaching, losing 1805 (or 75%) of the 2387 rhino poached since 2006.3 Of particular concern is the 1.75-fold (+0.64 s.d.; n=5) increase in the annual rate of poaching, which accounts for 3.2% of the South African rhino population size in 2012. It has been argued that trade bans, such as that over the sale of rhino horn,[11] exasperate the situation, driving up the black market prices for rhino horn even further and increasing pressure on wildlife populations.[12,13]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion