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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Sudan |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
White Rhino |
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Plans and priorities. Southern National Park between Sue and Ibba rivers. The situation in Southern National Park represents Southern Sudan's biggest immediate conservation problem. Since the 1980 dry season, the Southern Region has been invaded annually by poachers from the north. Well-armed and mobile, with horses, camels and pack donkeys, they have caused havoc for wildlife and people alike. They concentrate mainly on elephants but kill anything of value and have almost certainly eliminated the white rhino in the west of the region. Each year the poachers have moved further south and east and this year are in greater force than before. They have completely occupied Southern National Park and in March there were estimated to be between 15 and 30 camps in the Park with 10 to 300 men in each. They are far better armed than the Southern Region Wildlife Department staff that are trying to combat them and are equipped with new G3 automatic weapons, radio communications and helicopter support.
It has not so far been possible to carry out a systematic count over this war zone, which in 1980 was estimated to hold 168 white rhinos, but an intensive count over the rhino area is planned for May when rains have moved the poachers out. So far 220 tusks have been captured from poachers, but it is estimated by one source that 5,000 and by another source that 30,000 elephants have been killed each year. Average tusk weight of elephants shot by one safari company fell from 49 lb to 36 lb from 198011 to 1981/2. The large elephants that were easily found 4 or 5 years ago have long gone. Most of the poached tusks weigh only a few pounds each. This organised poaching has political and military links. Unless stopped, there is no hope for Sudan's northern white rhinos and very little hope for the wildlife as a whole. A well organised, equipped and maintained anti-poaching effort is needed in the south, but it will have minimal effect un!.ess the central government takes action to stop the poaching and the export of ivory.
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Der Nashornbestand in Afrika
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