A South African delegation visiting Hong Kong has identified information exchange, awareness and education, enforcement and technology-sharing with authorities as central to efforts that aim to address wildlife crime, especially the on-going scourge of rhino poaching in South Africa.

The delegation, comprising high-level representatives from the Department of Environmental Affairs and law enforcement authorities, today ended two days of talks with the Hong Kong authorities, non-governmental organisations and the Hong Kong media as part of South Africa’s efforts to foster co-operation at bilateral and multilateral levels to thwart the on-going scourge of rhino poaching.

The Hong Kong engagement follows the seizure late last year of rhino horns and worked elephant ivory by customs officials there. South Africa aims to send a team of experts to collect DNA samples from the seized rhino horn in a month’s time. The collection of DNA samples will aid in establishing the origin of the rhino horns and lead to possible prosecutions. The collection of the samples is however dependent on the signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between SA and Hong Kong. These samples are central in assisting the law enforcement agencies in identifying the possible origins of the confiscated items that are currently held by Hong Kong customs.
Since the beginning of this year, a total of 312 rhinos have been killed in SA. The continued efforts by the South African government to curb rhino poaching have so far resulted in 187 arrests this year.