Rhino Capture in Kruger )C

National Park )U
rn
N3

A. J. Strickland William E. Mixon

The University of Alabama The University of Alabama
MBA Candidate

r. Markus Hofmeyr, head of Veteri- KRUGER NATIONAL

D nary Wildlife Services for South African

National Parks (SANParks), returned PARK

from another rhino capture with his team. They
had captured their 252nd rhino for the year before Kruger National Park was established in South
the rainy season set in, with heat and rain mak- Africa in 1898 to protect the nation's fast-dwindling
ing it almost impossible to continue the capture wildlife areas. By the turn of that century, it was
program. As Hofmeyr and his team were wind- estimated that white rhinos were extinct in Kruger.
ing down another successful year, given that each The first translocation of white rhinos to Kruger
rhino was worth between $30,000 and $35,000,1 National Park occurred in 1961, and a total of 345
he began to reflect on next year's game capture. white rhinos had been relocated from the parks
Hofmeyr faced the daunting question of how to in Kwa Zulu Natal by the mid-1970s. In 2007, an
continue to supplement the funding for SAN- assessment by the African Rhino Specialist Group
Parks' Park Development Fund. Over the years, estimated that 15,000 white rhinos and 1,500
the budget for his unit had been reduced, and pres- black rhinos existed in South Africa. As of 2009,
sure for self-funding of SANParks was increasing. research indicated that 10,000 white rhinos and 500
Some of the funding for SANParks' opera- black rhinos existed within Kruger National Park,
tions had long been provided by the South Afri- making it home to the largest rhino population in
can national government in the form of an annual the world. Population estimates for rhinos in South
grant. That began to change in 2010, however, when Africa are shown in Exhibit 2.
a budget shortfall forced the government to initiate Kruger National Park covered 7,722 square
the removal of the grant over three years. The South miles (20,000 square kilometers) of conservation
African government shifted its strategy toward area, with eight gates that controlled the flow of
building a new South Africa, focused on providing
additional funds for education, job creation through Exhibit I SANParks Budget
infrastructure expansions, better health care for all
South Africans, and economic prosperity. Funding Allocation (in U.S. dollars)
cuts outside of these priority areas threatened the
Kruger National Park $4,951,900
ability of SANParks' Veterinary Wildlife Services
Budget
to continue delivering normal veterinary and opera-
Poaching $ 275,100
tional services—services that were beneficial to all
SANParks wildlife and the habitat in which the Infrastructure $ 275,100
wildlife had roamed for centuries. SANParks' bud-
get allocation is shown in Exhibit 1. Copyright © 2010 by A. J. Strickland. All rights reserved.
C-362 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

unauthorized traffic into the park. Since its estab- Traditional game capture evolved into an income-
lishment, it had become known for its unrivaled generating operation as the demand for rhinos
wildlife diversity and easy viewing and for its increased.
world leadership in advanced environmental man-
agement techniques, research, and policies. Many
viewed Kruger as the best national park in all of
INCOME GENERATION
Africa in all aspects management, infrastruc-
ture, and, of course, biodiversity. The flagship of
FROM GAME CAPTURE
South Africa's 22 national parks, Kruger held a The sale of wildlife for income generation was
variety of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphib- accepted and supported by -South Africa's.
ians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, and 147 mammals. National Environmental Management Act (2004).
Over time, the park had developed into a tourist SANParks maximized income from wildlife sales
attraction because of the wildlife and the beau- by concentrating on selling high-value species.
tiful scenery, which was representative of South The two species sold without clearly required
Africa's Lowveld region. (The Lowveld consisted ecological reasons for their sale were white rhi-
of areas around the eastern part of the country nos from Kruger National Park and disease-free
where the altitude was about 1,000 feet.) buffalos from other parks. The only condition
Tourist operations at Kruger were quite large, required when an animal was sold was that its
with the park offering 21 rest camps, 7 private removal could not negatively impact the popu-
lodge concessions, and 11 private safari lodges. lations from which it came. In 2009, 500 rhinos
Lodges that previously had been private were were sold in South Africa. Kruger National Park
operated in partnership between communities claimed 252 of these transactions; the others were
and private companies, which provided conces- sold from provincial parks and the private sec-
sions for parcels of land. The concessions were tor. A flow chart of sales transactions is shown
placed on tender, and areas were allocated for 25- in Exhibit 3. The average selling price for a white
to 30-year leases, during which operational activi- rhino was $30,300. Many wildlife biologists and
ties linked with tourism were allowed. At the end other experts feared that these rhinos would even-
of the period, the fixed assets became the prop- tually fall into the hands of private game hunters.
erty of SANParks, which could decide to extend Rhino hunting and rhino breeding for future sales
the lease or retender the concession. An integral or hunting were driving up the price for a rhino.
part of Kruger National Park's conservation SANParks accepted hunting as a legal form of
effort was game capture. Traditionally, capturing wildlife utilization but did not support unethi-
game allowed Kruger to reintroduce certain spe- cal put-and-take hunting practices because it was
cies to previously uninhabited areas of the park, very difficult to determine what happened to a
as well as to introduce rhino to the other national rhino after leaving SANParks. SANParks was not
parks in South Africa and neighboring countries. responsible for enforcing hunting regulations on
Game capture also enabled the park to bet- wildlife; instead, this responsibility was passed on
ter manage rare species by placing them in breed- to each respective South African province. How-
ing enclosures. In some instances, game capture ever, many provinces were understaffed, which
was used to reduce populations where that goal weakened the regulation of hunting activities.
was impeded by natural regulatory mechanisms. The most common method for selling rhinos
outside Kruger National Park was through pro-
vincial and private-sector auctions. In 2009, 45
Exhibit 2 Rhino Population in South auctions accounted for most rhino sales outside
Africa
SANParks. During that year, 252 rhinos on a
direct tender were captured in the bush and sold
at three auctions held by SANParks. The reve-
White rhinos 15,000 17,500 nue generated from rhino sales in 2009 totaled
Black rhinos 1,500 4,200 $7,033,400. These revenue sales supplemented
the conservation budget for SANParks' Park
 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-363

Exhibit 3 Flow Chart of Sales Transactions

Kruger Game
Capture Unit

m.1.0n
Private Game Ranchers/ Private Game
Owners Brooders Parka Owners
I— •

Private Par Hunting

Private Safari
Businesses

Development Fund. The buyers of the live rhi- rhinos, black rhinos were more difficult to intro-
nos were dealers who specialized in wild game duce and had a higher intraspecies mortality rate
or private owners who bought directly from from fighting. The tendency to fight made black
SANParks. Rhinos were typically sold to a pri- rhinos a riskier investment than white rhinos,
vate game reserve for either tourist viewing or which bred and coexisted much better than black
hunting. Rhinos were also sold or donated by rhinos. The majority of white rhinos were pur-
SANParks to neighboring countries. Rhinos chased in cow/calf combinations, which were not
purchased in the private sector were sometimes hunted. White rhino bulls were much more likely
sold internationally to zoos or to buyers who than white rhino cows to be purchased for hunt-
dealt in wild game. ing. However, most provinces had regulations
Typically, white rhinos were sold more often that limited the number of rhinos eligible to be
than black rhinos, since black rhinos were rarer hunted. Before a rhino was killed, it had to have
and much more aggressive. SANParks had sold lived on the current property for more than two
only two black rhino bulls; the other black rhinos years; however, this regulation was very difficult
moved from Kruger were donated as part of con- to enforce. Park Services was a critical compo-
servation efforts to reestablish them in countries nent of conservation for rhinos and other animals
where they had gone extinct. The private sector within the park.
bought black rhinos from Kwa Zulu Natal Wild-
life, where the remaining black rhinos survived
with white rhinos at the turn of the twentieth
century. Kwa Zulu Natal moved from completely
PARK SERVICES
selling black rhinos to retaining full ownership of Veterinary Wildlife Services (VWS) offered a vari-
the adults and partial ownership of the offspring. ety of operational and veterinary services for Kru-
Offspring were placed into a custodianship pro- ger National Park. Veterinarian operations were
gram that split the rights between two or more critical to the conservation of wildlife within and
parties. North West Province sold black rhinos, outside the park. The service's operations included
as did the private sector. Compared with white wildlife capture, holding, and translocation; park
C-364 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

development; species conservation management; Kruger National Park's capability to assess and
wildlife sales; animal exchanges and contractual evaluate financial implications and the risks
commitments; regional cooperation; and research. imposed to its white rhino population by intense
VWS's aims and objectives and responsibilities localized removals and emerging diseases.3
are shown in Exhibit 4. Game capture operations
began in the 1980s for Kruger National Park;
Kruger had also operated game capture in other
CAPTURING A RHINO
parks. In the 1990s, a second unit was established The rhino capture process involved the use of
for operations outside Kruger. Both units were state-of-the-art equipment accompanied by a
combined to form VWS in 2002, ensuring that the team of experts. A game capture team included
service was serving SANParks' objectives and not a helicopter pilot, a veterinarian, an operational
just those of Kruger. Kruger aimed for VWS to coordinator, a veterinary technician, five capture
"provide ethical and professional services relating staff personnel, and two drivers for the transloca-
to capture, holding, translocation and research tion and crane trucks. Selected operating expenses
pertaining to wildlife."2 Some of the values and
of a rhino capture are shown in Exhibit 8.
functions associated with VWS are shown in Once a rhino was located, the capture process
Exhibit 5. consisted of darting it with a drug combination
from a helicopter. The fast-acting drug combina-
tion made the whole capture process less danger-
SAN PARKS' GAME ous to the capture unit by rendering the rhino
CAPTURE UNIT unconscious for evaluation before relocation. Once
the rhino was unconscious, a team from the game
SANParks' game capture unit had branch offices capture unit moved in to examine it. The game
in three locations in South Africa: Kruger, Kimber- capture unit conducted a medical examination of
ley, and Port Elizabeth. The capture, translocation the rhino by taking blood samples to test for any
and reestablishment functions of SANParks' Vet- signs of disease. At this point in the game cap-
erinary Wildlife Services are shown in Exhibit 6. ture process, three radio-frequency identification
Population growth, sex and age structure, spa- (RFID) microchips were tagged on the rhino for
tial use, natural dispersal, resource distribution, identification purposes. Inserting an RFID micro-
and population dynamics were considered when chip involved drilling into the horn, which is made
making the decision to sell an animal to a private of keratin, a material similar to that which human
buyer. According to SANParks' chief executive hair and fingernails are composed of. Photos of
officer, Dr. David Mabunda, "SANParks, by sell- the game capture process are shown in Exhibit 9.
ing or donating rhino, is assisting in the process of Park officials used tagging as a method to
recolonization of the range in the country and out- better understand the rhinos' movement within
side. It should be noted that it would be foolhardy their landscape. South African law mandated
if South Africa were to have its only rhino popu- the tagging of any rhino darted as well. Park
lation residing in the Kruger, because we run the services were also looking at ways to place track-
danger of losing them should there be a major out- ing devices on rhinos to increase the capability
break of disease or rampant poaching. We would of understanding rhino movements within their
be sitting ducks." Bovine tuberculosis and anthrax landscape. Prevention was the main emphasis of
were two diseases being monitored by VWS in the rhino poaching counteroffensive in Kruger. It
efforts to better understand how to contain them, was thought that these potential tracking devices
which in turn would lead to better decisions about would help deter poaching, but the main deter-
disease management where required. Intervention rent was gaining information from informants on
was not always needed in wildlife populations, possible plans for rhino poaching.
but an understanding of how a disease influenced After the evaluation and tagging process, a
population dynamics was. VWS disease manage- partial antidote was administered to partially wake
ment services are shown in Exhibit 7. In addition up the rhino but keep it in a semi-anesthetized
to these issues, SANParks concerned itself with state. Partial antidotes were necessary to protect
 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-365

Exhibit 4 Aims, Objectives, and Responsibilities of SANPa0--s' Veterinary

Wildlife Services

The SANParks Strategic Organizational Objectives Framework

Prioritization of services according to resources, ethical and legal constraints

Optimal utilization of resources

Development and training of the wildlife profession

Recognition that SANParks concerns itself with populations rather than individuals

The leveraging of information and skills developed in SANParks to the

benefit of the SADC region

The recognition of the importance of the wildlife and ecological socio-interfaces

Coordination of research on wildlife diseases and their impact on human livelihoods,

wildlife itself, and livestock

Implementation of wildlife capture and translocation programs

Reintroducing populations into national parks

Enhancing the conservation status of rare and threatened species

Controlling over-abundant wildlife populations to avert the threats of habitat

degradation and loss of biodiversity

Generating revenue for SANParks through wildlife sales

Enhancing breeding projects involving valuable and rare species

Building capacity in the veterinary and wildlife capture fields, particularly in persons
from historically disadvantaged population groups
C-366 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 5 Veterinary Wildlife Services' Values and Functions

F Veterinary Wildlife Values

VWS is a service delivery department for SANParks, providing specialist veterinary

and wildlife handling and translocatlon support.

The SANParks strategic organizational objectives framework of bio-diversity, balancing,

people and enabling systems will guide these services.

[ The resource, ethical, and legal constraints as well as other drivers will make it necessary to prioritize
the services that can be delivered. (Guided by the Wildlife Management Commitee recommendations)

Optimal utilitization of resources.

■•••=._
The leveraging of information and skills developed in SANParks to the benefit of the
SADEC region, particularly in SANParks TFC involment.
"•••■1.-

Development and training of the wildlife profession.

The recognition of the importance of wildlife and ecological and diagnostic test
development.

Veterinary Wildlife Functions

Service to scientific services and park management with regard to implementing veterinary aspects of removals
and introductions into our parks, collar fitting, sample taking and any other activities that require handling of wildlife.

Disease monitoring, management and surveillance (including sample taking,

storing and distribution aid research),

Development of current veterinary aspects of capture, translocation and animal husbandry techniques.

Veterinary support to special species management related to approved plans

(e.g., predator management plans).

Conservation medicine (implementing and integrating disease and ecological principles in our function).

Veterinary research relevant to the service delivery component of VWS.

Liaison and education at the appropriate national and international level.

 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-367

Exhibit 6 The Capture, Translocation and Reestablishment Functions of

SANParks' Veterinary Wildlife Services

Capture, Translocation and Reestablishment Functions

Operational capture, care and translocation of wildlife species aligned with SANParks requirements

Import species and disease free breeding projects

Coordination of game sales

Transfrontier developemt

International transiocations

Coordination of capture by external entities

Exhibit 7 Veterinary Wildlife Service's Disease Management Services

Disease Management Services

BTB monitoring in Buffalo and Lion within Kruger

Monitoring in all parks when opportunities arise

Sarcoid research in Mountain Zebra in Bontebok NP

Disease prevention principles applied to animal movements and quarantine facilities

both in Kruger and Kimberely
C-368 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 8 Selected Operating Expenses of Rhino Capture

Game Capture Operating

Expenses Cost per Rhino Cost per Hour Cost per Day Cost per Year Unit Cost

ter N/A $800 N/A N/A N/A

ation of rhino $300 N/A N/A $11,000 N/A
N/A N/A $ 300 N/A N/A
N/A N/A $ 300 N/A N/A
team N/A $200 $1,400 N/A N/A
D microchip $ 50 N/A N/A N/A $17

the game capture team while walking the rhino any other tourist attraction in the world. Some
into the transportation crate. After the rhino safari companies offered photo safaris and wed-
was successfully loaded into a transportation ding packages, in addition to hunting services, to
crate, a boom truck lifted the crate onto the further generate revenue for operations.
translocation truck. A boom truck was needed Typically, each safari company recommended
since an average rhino weighed 3,300 pounds certain equipment and clothing for hunters to
(1,500 kilograms). Typically, the average distance bring along with them. This list varied by sea-
traveled by a rhino captured from Kruger son, since temperatures could range between 30°F
National Park was 50 miles (80 kilometers), (low) in the winter and 90°F (high) in the wet
at a cost of $300 per rhino per 16 miles. The summer season. Expenses also varied according
next translocation process was maintenance in to the specific details of a trip such as length of
holding facilities (see Exhibit 10). Rhinos were stay, trophy fees, number of hunters and observ-
placed in bomas (holding pens). Bomas allowed ers, and the daily rate charged per hunter. Airfare
a rhino to become accustomed to a new habitat to and from South Africa also varied depending
by slowly facilitating a passive release. Once on how far in advance travel arrangements were
released, the rhino was typically still confined made and whether the flight was direct. Typi-
to a larger pen or fenced-in area, depending cally, coach seating ranged from $800 to $1,100,
on the buyer's intentions. It was estimated that whereas first-class price ranges easily approached
50 percent of the bulls transferred to private $3,000. Rifles, bows, and darting weapons were
hunting companies were killed within two years, at offered in some packages, but rifles could be
a price of $2,800 per inch of rhino horn. imported into South Africa under strict guide-
lines and regulations. However, hunters were not
RHINO HUNTING allowed to import automatic or semiautomatic
weapons.
A typical rhino hunt could cost $82,400 per Some companies charged high trophy fees
hunter. In 2009, South Africa generated an esti- and low daily rates, in contrast to low trophy fees
mated $6.9 billion in revenues from tourist attrac- and high daily rates. Trophy fees varied according
tions; of that amount, hunting accounted for to the specific animal wounded or killed and were
about 70 percent, or about $4.8 billion.2 The typically not paid until the end of the safari. Daily
cost of booking a rhino hunt varied depend- rates depended on the services offered and could
ing on the safari company, as detailed in Exhibit include or exclude a number of amenities neces-
11. Most safari companies required a deposit of sary to hunt in South Africa. In general, some
50 percent of the basic cost of a safari, which was safari companies offered a lower daily rate as a
fully refundable until within three months of the marketing tool to increase their customer base;
contracted safari date. Accommodations varied a large trophy fee reflected the fact that a safari
according to packages offered by each safari com- company's profits depended on a successful hunt
pany and were considered comparable to those of by the customer. As Zingeli Safaris stated in its
 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-369

1
Exhibit 9 The Game Capture Process

Game capture personnel drill a hole in the rhino's horn to insert the
RFID microchip.

The game capture unit follows the helicopter in pursuit of a rhino.

Game capture personnel inspect the sedated rhino.

The dart shot from the helicopter is inspected by game capture

personnel.

Boom trucks are needed to load the rhino.

Game capture unit personnel inspect the sedated rhino. After the antidote is given, the staff helps the rhino stand up.
C-370 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 10 Dr. Markus Hofmeyr brochure, "If you don't get your animal we lose;
Standing above Several this is your guarantee that we will do our best to
Bomas (Holding Pens) find you your dream trophy!" Customers incurred
taxidermist fees, in addition to trophy fees, if they
desired to have something tangible to take home.

POACHING
Demand for rhino horn in emerging markets
such as Asia and India made rhino poaching
highly profitable. In 2009, rhino horn was sold
on the black market at $3,600 per pound, but
by 2010 the price was reported to be $7,200 per
pound. An average rhino horn weighed six to
eight pounds. Businesses with ties to political
insiders were entering the market to supply and
sell rhino horn as wealth creation resulted from
the growth of Asia's and India's economies.

Exhibit 11 Selected Company Safari Expenses and Trip Details

Services Offered
- First-class rifle and bow hunting
- Ethical, professional hunters
- Personal attention to all our clients
- Family and photographic tours
- Specialized, well-maintained vehicles
- Luxury accommodation
- Excellent cuisine
- Dedicated staff
Firearms and Calibers
- Rhino legal minimum .375 caliber and 3-9 x 40 variable-power telescope
- Ammunition recommended minimum of 40 full metal jacket/solids in addition to soft point bullets
Travel Information
- Valid passport required
Trophy Handling
- All animals will be skinned by our very experienced skinners, as well as marked, salted, and dried prior
to being sent to a taxidermist. All documentation will be handled by Africa Sport Hunting Safaris.
Clothing and Other Requirements
-Three sets of hunting clothing: long pants (zip-offs), long-sleeve shirts, socks, and underwear
- Hunting boots/shoes—comfortable
- Casual/running shoes
- Sweater/warm jacket
- Flip flops/sweat suit
 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-371

– Cap/wide-brimmed hat
- Casual clothes
- Adjust your clothing to the time of year your hunt takes place.
- Winter May-August (35-70°F)
- Summer September-April ( 50-90°F)
Personal
- Personal medical kit
- Sunblock—minimum 30 SPF
- Mosquito repellent
- Pair of sunglasses
-Toiletries
Additional. Equipment
- Small day pack
- Flashlight with spare batteries
- Binoculars
- Camera with spare film and batteries
- Pocket knife
Accommodation: Luxury Thatched Chalets with a True African Ambience
- Private rooms with ensuite bathrooms
- Running hot and cold water
- Electricity with converters
- Flush toilets
Food and Beverages
-Traditional South African cuisine. For dietary requirements such as diabetes and high cholesterol,
please make arrangements on booking of the safari.
Additional Services
- Facials and full body massages
- Manicures and pedicures
- Day excursions
South African Hunting Areas Price List Limpopo Province 2010
- White Rhino $45,000
- White Rhino (Green-Hunt) $13,000
Daily Rate: South Africa
- Dangerous Game $ 800
- Plains Game
- 1 Hunter x 1 Professional Hunter: $ 400
- 2 Hunters x 1 Professional Hunter: $ 300
- All non-hunters are welcome at: $ 200
Included in Daily Rate
- Pick up and.drop off at Polokwane International Airport

(Continued)
C-372 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 11 (Continued)

— Hunting licenses and fees

— Transportation to and from hunting concessions —
Field preparation of trophies
— Professional hunters, trackers, skinners, and camp staff —
Fully equipped hunting vehicles
— Luxury accommodation and meals —
Drinks and beverages in moderation —
Daily laundry services
Excluded from Daily Rates
— Flights: international and domestic —
Charter flights where applicable
— All animals shot and wounded will be charged per price list —
Dipping, packing, taxidermy cost
— Non-hunting, traveling days at $150 per day —
Accommodation before and after hunt
— Any additional tours or excursions
Methods of Payment Accepted —
U.S. currency
— Traveler's checks
— Wire transfers —
Credit cards
— Personal checks with prior approval
Members Of:
— Professional Hunters Association South Africa —
Accredited Tour Guides
— Safari Club International
— North American Hunters Association —
National Rifle Association

Chattaronga Safaris

Daily Fees Hunter

1 $400
2 $350
3 $300
4 $300
Observer $200
Included Tariffs
— Accommodation including full board
— Liquor and beverages served in camp
— Full-time service of experienced professional hunter. —
Trained staff
— Trackers
— Skinners
C-374 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 11 (Concluded)

Included In Daily Rates

— Full board and lodging with traditional catering
— South African wines and beer in moderation, and soft drinks —
Experienced professional hunter and trained staff
—Trackers and skinners
— Field preparation, salting and packing
—Transportation of trophies to reliable and qualified taxidermist who will follow your instructions and fulfill the
necessary requirements
— Use of hunting vehicle
— Laundry services
—Transportation to the ranch and return to Johannesburg International Airport or charter plane
Excluded In Daily Rates
— Air travel before, during and after the contracted period of the safari
—Accommodation and travel charges incurred before and after the contracted period of the safari —
Trophy fees for animals taken or wounded
—Value added tax (VAT) 14 percent on daily rates —
Air charters
— Gratuities to professional hunters and staff
— Preparation, packing, documentation, and export of trophies from South Africa

The market for raw rhino horn was mainly and 100 poached in South Africa as a whole. As of
driven by demand in China and Vietnam. Cul- January 22, 2010, poachers had killed 14 rhi-
tural beliefs, combined with increasing wealth, nos in Kruger National Park as well.
were creating a strong foundation for the Poachers were ruthless in the slaughter-
demand of rhino horn. Asians believed that ing of rhinos. They typically cut off the rhino's
rhino horn was a very beneficial aphrodisiac, horns after darting it with a deadly poison (see
and Indians desired rhino horn daggers. These Exhibit 12). Poachers also darted rhinos with an
beliefs and desires were strong enough to pro- immobilizing antidote that sometimes left the
duce enough capital to entice the illegal killing rhino helpless in the wild to be eaten by other
of rhinos without regard to law enforcers such game. SANParks' CEO, Dr. David Mabunda,
as the SANParks Environmental Crimes Unit, described poachers as "dangerous criminals."
South African Police Service, and park rangers. Their exploits were not limited to killing rhinos,
Poachers were well equipped with highly but also included human trafficking, arms smug-
sophisticated transportation such as helicopters gling, prostitution, and drug trafficking.
and the latest military weaponry available in "Poachers must beware," Mabunda said in a
the region. They were able to strike fast within statement announcing a $250,000 funding boost,
even the most protected game conservation in addition to the $5.2 million allocated to train
areas. Poaching was even a problem in Kruger and prepare the SANParks Environmental
National Park, home to what some considered Crimes Unit and South African Police Service.
the best antipoaching unit in South Africa. In Fifty-seven rangers equipped with night vision
2006, two rhinos were even poached by staff goggles and high-powered motorbikes had been
members employed by SANParks. In 2009 alone, dispatched to guard highly poached areas of the
there were about 50 rhinos poached in Kruger park day and night. Said Mabunda, "This war
 Case 22 Rhino Capture in Kruger National Park C-375

Exhibit 12 Rhino Left to Die after with Kruger National Park's mission. Animal
Poachers Cut Off Horn rights activists dubbed the sale of animals at
Kruger National Park an "animal supermarket."
Many believed that the commercial trade posed a
greater threat than poaching did. Many also felt
it was fundamentally wrong to herd animals from
a popular wildlife reserve and sell them in efforts
at "conservation." Wildlife activists accused
SANParks of misusing the park by serving as
nothing more than a private game breeder, and
experts feared that the vast majority of the rhinos
sold by SANParks would fall into the hands of
private hunters.

SAN PARKS'
JUSTIFICATION
we plan on winning." In addition to the fund- SANParks was guided in its decision to sell wild-
ing boost, plans were considered to guard the life by Clause 55 (2) (b) of the Protected Areas
porous border near Kruger National Park with Act No. 57 of 2003 (as amended), which stated
military personnel. Elisabeth McLellan, a spe- that "SANParks may, in managing national
cies expert with the World Wildlife Foundation parks, sell, exchange or donate any animal,
(WWF), was quoted as saying, "The situation is plant, or other organism occurring in a park,
bad for rhino worldwide, in terms of poaching." or purchase, exchange or otherwise acquire
Conservationists were facing an environment any indigenous species which it may consider
that had evolved into an industry, as world trade desirable to reintroduce into a specific park."
had reached a 15-year high for illegal rhino horn SANParks believed that it was critical to its con-
trading. servation efforts to maintain the sale of animals
Kenyan authorities at Jomo Kenyatta Inter- to private entities. For years, SANParks had
national Airport had seized a 662-pound load of sold animals to fund conservation efforts, and
elephant tusk and rhino horn believed to have in many cases the park had traded animals to
come from South Africa. It was speculated that obtain other species. Also, SANParks screened
the load, valued at approximately $1 million, was animals and buyers to ensure that animals were
destined for China. Industry experts suggested released not arbitrarily, but to buyers with the
that the high value placed on elephant tusk and proper permits and intentions. Decisions to sell
rhino horn by consumers was driving the demand or donate wildlife were scientifically determined
for both substances. according to population dynamics, sex and age
structure, spatial use, natural dispersal, and
ANIMAL SUPERMARKET resource distribution.
SANParks' strategy was informed by the fol-
Kruger National Park was determined to win the lowing objectives: population control, broaden-
war against poaching, but determination alone ing of the range for populations, spreading the
wasn't enough to protect the rhino. Primary- risk of managing wildlife, making the popula-
market transactions involved buyers that protected tions more resilient and viable, and fund-raising
the rhino—such as other national parks, private for specific conservation and land-expansion pro-
game farms, game dealers, and photography safari grams. The responsibilities of SANParks' con-
business owners but secondary markets from servation biologists are shown in Exhibit 13. The
the sale of captured rhinos had also developed. challenge facing SANParks was how to effec-
Hunters had become the most numerous buyers tively communicate that selling rhinos was for the
in the secondary market, which wasn't aligned greater good.
C-376 Part 2 Cases in Crafting and Executing Strategy

Exhibit 13 Responsibilities of Conservation Biologists

Identify key research themes necessary for national parks to achieve their conservation objectives.

Conduct research on key themes.

Coordinating research projects conducted by external scientific institutions in national parks.

Integrating best available biodiversity data into park management through interactions with external
researchers and research institutions.

Maintaining inventories of biodiversity in national parks, including species checklists for vertebrates and
higher plants and the mapping of landscape. Geology, soil and vegetation.

Identifying and averting threats to biodiversity in national parks, including overabundance of certain
wildlife populations, invasive alien plant and animal species, pollutants, human development,
excessive resource exploitation or other factors.

Ensuring that development within parks takes place in a manner

that does not compromise biodiversity conservation.

Conservation for rare and threatened species.

Provide scientific inputs on the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes.

Providing scientific inputs on biodiversity aspects of park management plans and activities.

Building capacity in conservation biology and related sciences, particularly in persons from historically
disadvantaged population groups.
1.1

ENDNOTES

All monetary amounts in this case are in U.S.

dollars.
2 Wildlife
Research Magazine.
3 Sam Ferreira & Travis Smith Scientific Ser-
vices, SAN Parks, Skukuza, South Africa.