South African court sends convicted rhino horn dealer to jail for eight years.
Nearly two years after being arrested with some 30 rhino horns in his possession, South African game farmer Jacques Els has finally landed in jail.
Els began serving his eight-year sentence this week following a failed appeal, according to IOL. He was also ordered to pay R1 million (US $122,802) to the Green Scorpions.
He was arrested in late 2010 along with an accomplice, Tommy Fourie, a manager at Maremani Game Reserve. Fourie — who committed suicide in November 2010 — allegedly had the rhinos dehorned for the purpose of selling the horns to Els.
Fourie had apparently hired veterinarian Andre Charles Uys to dehorn at least 15 of the reserve’s rhinos; the horns were found in Els’ possession and Uys was arrested in January 2011 for removing the horns without a permit.
In July 2011, Zoutpansperger reported that Uys agreed to be a State witness against Els, and the charges against the veterinarian were dropped.
India’s greater one-horned rhinos are vulnerable to wildlife traffickers during seasonal floods.
Rhinos killed in India
Two greater one-horned rhinos have been gunned down in the Indian state of Assam.
One of the rhinos was killed near Kaziranga National Park, and other inside Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
Flooding in Assam’s wildlife areas has unfortunately caused rhinos and other wildlife to seek higher ground, often in areas that are less protected.
Cute videos of baby Sumatran rhino
The International Rhino Foundation has uploaded more videos of Andatu, Ratu’s newborn calf.
The birth of baby ‘Andatu’ brings new hope for Sumatran rhinos, which number fewer than 200.
Enjoy!
Four-day-old Andatu cooling off in mud:
Five-day-old Andatu with mom Ratu:
Note the size of Ratu and Andatu next to their human caretakers:
Photos: Greater one-horned rhino via Shutterstock; white rhino silhouette via Shutterstock
Rhishja is the founder of Annamiticus, a nonprofit organization which provides educational information and news about wildlife crime and endangered species. She is the Editor of the blogs Annamiticus, Rhino Horn is Not Medicine, and Project Pangolin, a Producer for the upcoming documentary "The Price", author of the book "Murder, Myths & Medicine", and host of the "Behind the Schemes" podcast. When Rhishja is not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, she enjoys rocking out to live music.
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