Posted on 20 April 2012
- Jakarta – The only remaining population
of Javan rhinos will be better safeguarded
following the quadrupling of video camera
traps to monitor the critically endangered
animals in Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia.
WWF and the International Rhino Foundation
(IRF) recently donated 120 cameras to the
park, bringing the total number of camera
traps to 160.
The need to have additional video cameras
for rhino observation was first recognized
during an IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group
meeting at Cisarua, West Java in March when
the head of Ujung Kulon National Park presented
the positive results of Javan rhino identification
in 2011, when the park officially began
using video camera traps. That year 35 individuals
comprising of 22 males and 13 females were
identified.
Experts believe there are fewer than 50
Javan rhinos remaining.
“The Javan rhino population in Ujung Kulon
has been the last fortress of the Javan
rhino population in the world ever since
the extinction of Javan rhino in Vietnam
in 2011,” said IRF Director Susie Ellis.
“Additional video traps are believed to
provide an important step for ensuring the
survival of existing Javan rhinos.”
Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia’s Rhino Conservation
Program, Adhi Hariyadi said: “By integrating
video information gathered from camera trap
with DNA based monitoring, we can get a
better description of the Javan rhino population,
and an even deeper understanding of rhino
behaviors.”
“With the total of 160 video camera traps
placed simultanously around the park, we
can collect various information, not only
on javan rhino but also other wildlife,”
said Moh. Haryono, Head of Ujung Kulon National
Park Office.
“The video can even monitor human activities
inside Javan rhino habitat in Ujung Kulon.
This information serves as an important
basis to increase Javan rhino population
in Ujung Kulon, which is in line with Indonesia’s
rhino conservation strategy and action plan.”
The Ministry of Forestry
has set up nationwide targets to increase
the populations of 14 endangered species
by three percent by 2014.
The success of this target will be measured
by the primary work indicator, a guideline
developed by the Directorate General of
Forest Protection and Nature Conservation
of the Ministry of Forestry. Currently a
roadmap is being developed to provide a
systematic guideline for all stakeholders
to participate.
Biodiversity Conservation Director at the
Ministry of Forestry, Novianto Bambang Wawandono
said: “One of the primary activities developed
by the Ministry of Forestry to achieve this
target is to monitor populations of specific
species such as Javan rhino in its in situ
habitat. These 120 additional units of video
cameras will help efforts to increase Javan
rhino population by three percent.”
Since the 11000s, WWF has been working with
Ujung Kulon National Park to observe the
Javan rhino population using camera traps.
At that time the park was the first ever
in Indonesia to identify wildlife using
still photo camera traps. In 2008 video
camera traps replaced the photo camera traps.
+ More
Poaching sentences stiffened
in Cameroon
Posted on 10 April 2012
- A court in the East Region of Cameroon
has handed out high fines and lengthy prison
terms to a group of wildlife poachers and
traffickers a month after meting out mild
penalties that caused outrage in the conservation
community.
The ruling is unprecedented
in the history of wildlife crime cases in
the southeast of Cameroon, and included
sentencing 17 individuals to damages amounting
to nearly FCFA 80 million (US $160,000)
and prison terms as high as 30 months.
According to the verdict,
four poachers who were caught with 14 ivory
tusks near Boumba-Bek and Nki National Parks
in March each received 18 months jail terms
and were fined over FCFA 30 million.
Additionally, poachers
believed to be responsible for the decapitation
of thousands of African grey parrots in
Lobéké National Park were
given 30 month prison sentences and ordered
to pay FCFA 12 million or face an additional
two years in jail.
The sentences were the
outcome of concerted efforts made by WWF,
the Cameroon Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
(MINFOF) and the Last Great Ape Organization
(LAGA). Prosecution lawyers provided by
WWF and LAGA had urged the court to follow
established sentencing guidelines so as
to deter potential wildlife criminals from
pursuing illegal activities.
Unprecedented
The court rulings marked a watershed in
the history of law enforcement against poaching
in southeast Cameroon, said David Hoyle,
Conservation Director for WWF Cameroon.
“We congratulate the
Cameroon judiciary for applying the letter
of law and hope the decision will serve
as deterrence to stop the wanton carnage
of Cameroon’s wildlife,” Hoyle said. “This
verdict will certainly boost the morale
of forest rangers who have been hitherto
saddened and disappointed by the series
of mild court sentences passed by the courts
over the years.”
Balla Ottou, Chief of Sector in charge of
wildlife, who was amongst the four representatives
of Cameroon’s wildlife ministry at the trials,
welcomed the ruling. “We need such decisions
to stop the hemorrhage,” Balla said.
Turning the tide
The court rulings came on the heels of complaints
by conservation organizations such as WWF
and LAGA that Cameroon’s judiciary had been
too lenient in handing down sentences to
poachers, especially ivory traffickers.
The sentencing of four ivory traffickers
caught with 44 tusks to one month jail terms
in January marked the height of disappointment.
The southeast of Cameroon is home to iconic
species such as gorillas, forest elephants,
chimpanzees and African grey parrots, but
these species, especially elephants are
under intense poaching pressure. According
to anti-poaching data provided by conservation
services in southeast Cameroon, at least
50 elephants are killed for ivory each year
in the region. Hundreds of elephants have
been killed in northern Cameroon this year.
“Arrests are made on a regular basis but
suspects have been systematically let off
the hook,” said Zacharie Nzooh, WWF Project
Manager for Lobéké.
WWF provides assistance
to Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife
as the country seeks to fight the upsurge
in poaching. Logistics, financial and technical
help is geared at stemming the illegal exploitation
of natural resources.
