With the news of four rhinoceros being brutally killed by poachers in flood-hit Kaziranga National Park hitting headlines on 27 September, the fight against poaching of these magnificent creatures has never been more necessary.
Leading insurance brokerage, Aon South Africa, and financial services provider, ONE Financial Services Holdings PTY LTD (ONE), have thrown their weight behind the Rhino Rescue Project in a bid to halt this ferocious and unabated poaching.
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Bill Moyes
More than 600 rhino were poached between 2010 and 2011. This year alone, South Africa has lost almost 300 rhinos in the face of massive demand for Rhino horn from Asia. “With a 100% increase in the number of rhinos killed between March 2011 and March 2012, this is a very serious and deeply concerning issue. Without concerted, high level and even radical intervention to stop the poaching, South Africa’s estimated 18 000 white rhino and 2500 black rhino will be extinct in a few short years, only to be seen in museums and books,” says Bill Moyes of Aon South Africa’s Commercial unit.
The Rhino Rescue project was conceptualised and launched by conservationist Lorinda Hern of the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and veterinary specialist Dr Charles van Niekerk, and is positioned as an out-of-the-box solution to an out of control problem.
The project promotes the treatment of the rhino horn while the animal is under sedation, infusing it with an indelible dye that contaminates the horn. The dye is mixed with a compound of ectoparasiticides which serve to protect the rhino from ticks and other parasites that spread infection. The compound is toxic to humans, but completely safe for animals, including ox-peckers and vultures. A full DNA sample is also harvested from the rhino and three matching identification microchips are inserted, one per horn and the third on the animal.
Aon and ONE provide insurance cover to rhino owners, covering all risk of mortality for the animal including during the treatment process, as well as providing cover for poaching once the treatment has been completed and the DNA registered on the database at Onderstepoort.
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Peter Darroll
Peter Darroll, Marketing Manager at ONE adds: “To date, we are providing the only insurance cover currently available for rhino owners against poaching available without additional monthly premium, on condition that the animal undergoes a rhino horn treatment process offered by The Rhino Rescue Project (RRP), which is offered at a once-off cost. Prior to the introduction of this new product solution by ONE and Aon, insurance cover for rhinos specifically covering poaching was exceptionally expensive and in many cases, simply unattainable.”
Aon will never support the legalisation of trade in rhino horn. Dehorning poses serious behavioural and social challenges within the herd for the dehorned animal, and is subject to significant levels of fraud and corruption. Dehorned animals still get poached for their horn bases.
“We desperately need to get the message to consumer markets to stop buying rhino horn and once and for all explode the myths about the non-existent medicinal properties thereof. We cannot undermine the education efforts and expect consumers to stop buying rhino horn when we are willingly supplying it by legalising the trade in horns,” adds Bill Moyes of Aon.
For more about the Rhino Rescue Project go to www.rhinorescueproject.com
