Management Plan

The Economic Influence of Rhinos and the Problems Caused by Rhino Poaching in South Africa.

Connor Alliston

Coret Hoogendoorn

Rian Pienaar

Spencer Sandy

BACKGROUND

South Africa is a country that comprises only 2% of the world's surface area, but contains a high percentage of the world's biodiversity (Cousins et al., 2008). The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) play an important role in South Africa’s wildlife ecosystems and economy (Child, 2012). The country's main source of income is eco-tourism where most people come to the country to see what is known as “the big 5”: lion, buffalo, rhinoceros (rhino), leopard and elephant (Child, 2012). For this reason, it is of great importance for management to conserve these animals. The possible conservation strategies to consider may include: 1) banning of rhino horn trade (Biggs et al., 2013); 2) “sustainable use approach” (Child, 2012); 3) habitat or land use conservation (Cousins et al., 2008); and 4) management of ecotourism (Lindsey et al., 2012). However, poaching is a great threat to these animals and stands in the way of these efforts (Hillman & Martin, 1979).

There is an increasing demand for rhinoceros horns in the Asian markets (Fig. 1), that has fueled an escalation in rhino poaching from 2007 to the present (Fig. 2). Poaching in South Africa has escalated exponentially from 0.17 rhinos per day in 2007, to 2.04 rhinos per day in 2012 (Ferreira et al., 2014). This increase has scientists worried about the survival of the species in the long term. South Africa has 82% of the world's rhinoceros populations, thus the conservation of the rhinoceros populations in South Africa is of great importance. Since 2006, South Africa lost 1,805 (or 75%) of the 2,387 rhinos to poaching (Ferreira et al., 2014).

Figure 1: Rhino horns found on the Asian black market (2013).

(http://www.newsstandonline.net/hong-kong-returns-rhino-horns-elephant-tusks-to-south-africa/)

Figure 2: Rhino poaching in South Africa since 2006.

(https://www.ecowatch.com/rhino-poaching-africa-2288410742.html?fb_comment_id=1562806760397964_1563067903705183)

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Assess attitudes of South African residents towards rhino conservation (To see if it is important for them to save both species of rhino).

2. Assess the economic influence that rhinos have on the stakeholders.

3. What the stakeholders think the best conservation methods are.

4. Assess how more awareness for rhino poaching can be provided.

5. Find out how much the public knows about the rhino in South Africa.

METHODS

There are two methods we will use during this inquiry, specifically e-mail survey and face-to-face interviews. Each method will have quantitative and qualitative data that can be gathered from the questions.

The first method that we will be using to collect our data is an e-mail survey. The survey will be mailed to national and provincial government officials and conservation organization members (NGO’s). By contacting these stakeholders, we will be able to determine what conservations methods we will be able to implement, if any, to help conserve the rhino population. Other stakeholders involved may include: ecologists, wildlife experts, private wildlife viewing ranches, rangers, hunters, management personnel on private hunting ranches and national parks.

The second approach that we will be using is face-to-face interviews. A random selection of wildlife ranchers and hunters as well as NGO’s was selected as interviewees in this study. We will use these interviews to determine what effect rhino poaching has on wildlife ranchers and hunters in the region. Coret and Rian will conduct the mail survey and determine to whom the survey needs to be sent, while Spencer and Connor will conduct the face-to-face interviews with local wildlife ranchers.

Compensation for surveys

E-mail surveys: all participants will stand a chance to win a voucher for a weekend away at any national park in South Africa (voucher for 2 people).

Face-to-face interviews: rubber bracelets or car stickers with “save the rhinos” slogan on it, for all the participants in the study.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Anticipated outcomes:

Awareness will be raised about rhino poaching among the general public and conservation efforts will be made to protect the rhinos. In the long term, our goal is to end rhino poaching.

Mail Survey

Questions for national and provincial government workers

1. Would you be willing to provide responses to surveys similar to this in the future? (Y/N)

2. On a scale of 1-5, how much do you know about Rhinos? 1 2 3 4 5

3. Do you see a need for Rhino conservation in South Africa? (Y/N)

4. Are you aware of the economic decline that is possible, in S.A., due to the loss of the rhino population? (Y/N)

5. If so, please explain. _____________

6. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos in S.A.?

7. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos worldwide?

8. What percentage of economic income in S.A. do you think is attained from tourism? ____

9. Are you aware of how much money poachers are taking away from the S.A. economic system every year? (Y/N)

10. Should stricter laws be enforced on poachers? (Y/N)

11. If yes, please provide details. __________________________________

12. Do you support the already existing laws about rhino hunting? (Y/N)

13. How would you promote these laws? ________________________________

14. How often do you talk about rhinos?

a.) weekly b.) monthly c.) yearly d.) never

15. How does rhino conservation effect your life? (Y/N)

16. Please explain. ______________________________________________

Questions for conservation NGO members

17.Would you be willing to provide responses to surveys similar to this in the future? (Y/N)

18.On a scale of 1-5, how much do you know about Rhinos? 1 2 3 4 5

19.What is the most effective method of communication to reach you? ___________

20.Would you be willing to answer a phone survey about rhinos?

21.Would you like to see the rhino population increase in S. A.? (Y/N)

22.What percentage of economic income in S.A. do you think is attained from tourism? ____

23.Is using rhinos as a source of income morally acceptable? (Y/N)

24.Should there be a certain bag limit of rhino per year? (Y/N)

25.What is the death rate of rhinos, in S.A.?

a.) 1.07/day b.) 1.5/day c.) .17/day d.) 2.04/day

26. How can we change this number for the better? ___________________________

27. How willing are you to tell someone else about rhino population decline? 1 2 3 4 5

28. Should there be a rhino season in S.A. after a balanced population is established? (Y/N)

29. Why should we focus on rhino conservation? ___________________

Questions for individuals in the wildlife industry

30.Would you be willing to provide responses to surveys similar to this in the future? (Y/N)

31.Do you see a need for Rhino conservation in South Africa? (Y/N)

32.If so, check any conservation methods you would be interested in learning more about.

__mail surveys __Local rhino conservation groups __donating to rhino research __recieving monthly newsletters about rhino research and conservation __other

33. What methods of conservation do you think are most likely to succeed in lowering the death rate of rhinos in South Africa? ________________________________

34..Would you be willing to answer a phone survey about rhinos?

35. Are you aware of the economic decline that is possible, in S.A., due to the loss of the rhino population? (Y/N)

36. If so, please explain. _____________

37. Would you like to see the rhino population increase in S. A.? (Y/N)

38. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos in S.A.?

39. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos worldwide?

40. What percentage of economic income in S.A. do you think is attained from tourism? ___

41. Would you be willing to join a local rhino conservation group? (Y/N)

42. If no, please explain why. _____________________________________________

43. Are you aware of how much money poachers are taking away from the S.A. economic system every year? (Y/N)

44. In your opinion, why do poachers kill rhinos? Please be specific. ___________________

45. How often do you see or interact with rhinos in S.A.?

a.) weekly b.) monthly c.) yearly d.) never

46. How does rhino conservation effect your life? (Y/N)

47. Please explain. ____________________________________________________

Questions for local and nonlocal people who participate in recreational tourism in S.A.

48. Would you be willing to provide responses to surveys similar to this in the future? (Y/N)

49. On a scale of 1-5, how much do you know about Rhinos? 1 2 3 4 5

50.What is the most effective method of communication to reach you? ___________

51.Would you be willing to answer a phone phone survey about rhinos?

52. Are you aware of the big 5 animals in S. A.? (Y/N)

53. If so, please name them. ______________________________

54. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos in S.A.?

55. Should hunters be allowed to hunt rhinos in the world?

56. Have you ever hunted for Rhino? (Y/N)

57. Should there be a certain bag limit of rhino per year? (Y/N)

58.Would you be willing to join a local rhino conservation group? (Y/N)

59. If no, please explain why. _____________________________________________

60. What percent of the world’s rhino population lives in S.A.?

a.) 24% b.) 50% c.) 82% d.) 74%

61. Should there be a rhino season in S.A. after a balanced population in established? (Y/N)

62. Do you support the already existing laws about rhino hunting? (Y/N)

63. How would you promote these laws? ________________________________

64. How often do you see or interact with rhinos in S.A.?

a.) weekly b.) monthly c.) yearly d.) never

65. How often do you talk about rhinos?

a.) weekly b.) monthly c.) yearly d.) never

66. Are you aware of how many rhinos are killed in S.A. alone every year? (Y/N)

Face-to-face interviews

67. On a scale of 1-5, how much do you know about Rhinos? 1 2 3 4 5

68. In your opinion, why do poachers kill rhinos? Please be specific. ___________________

69. Do you support the already existing laws about rhino hunting? (Y/N)

70. Should stricter laws be enforced on poachers? (Y/N)

71. Are you aware of the economic decline that is possible, in S.A., due to the loss of the rhino population? (Y/N)

72. How does rhino conservation effect your life? (Y/N)

73. Are you aware of how many rhinos are killed in S.A. alone every year? (Y/N)

74. Would you like to see the rhino population increase in S. A.? (Y/N)

75. How willing are you to tell someone else about rhino population decline? 1 2 3 4 5

76. What is the most effective method of communication to reach you? ___________

Table 1. Information-by-Objectives Matrix.

Question no.	Objective 1	Objective 2	Objective 3	Objective 4	Objective 5
1				x
2					x
3	x
4			x
5		x
6		x
7	x
8	x
9		x
10	x
11	x
12	x
13	x
14					x
15				x
16				x
17				x
18	x
19			x
20				x
21				x
22	x
23		x
24	x	x
25			x
26					x
27			x
28				x
29	x
30	x	x
31				x
32	x
33			x
34			x
35				x
36		x
37		x
38	x
39	x
40	x
41		x
42				x
43				x
44		x
45					x
46		x
47			x		x
48			x		x
49				x
50					x
51			x
52				x
53					x
54					x
55	x
56	x
57					x
58	x		x		x
59				x
60				x
61					x
62	x
63	x
64		x
65				x
66					x
67				x
68		x
69	x
70	x
71			x
72				x
73					x
74		x
75			x
76					x

LITERATURE CITED

Biggs, D., Courchamp, F., Martin, R., & Possingham, H. P. (2013). Legal Trade of Africa’s Rhino Horns. Science, 339(6123), 1038-1039.

Child, B. (2012). The sustainable use approach could save South Africa's rhinos. South African Journal of Science, 108(7-8), 21-25.

Cousins, J., Sadler, J., & Evans, J. (2008). Exploring the role of private wildlife ranching as a conservation tool in South Africa: stakeholder perspectives. Ecology and society, 13(2).

Ferreira, S. M., Pfab, M., & Knight, M. (2014). Management strategies to curb rhino poaching: Alternative options using a cost-benefit approach. South African Journal of Science, 110(5-6), 01-08.

Hillman, K., & Martin, E. (1979). Will Poaching Exterminate Kenya's Rhinos? Oryx, 15(2), 131-132.

Lindsey, P. A., Alexander, R., Mills, M. G. L., Romañach, S., & Woodroffe, R. (2007). Wildlife viewing preferences of visitors to protected areas in South Africa: implications for the role of ecotourism in conservation. Journal of Ecotourism, 6(1), 19-33.