As the number of rhinos poached in 2012 rapidly approaches 500, Konica Minolta SA has renewed its support of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF’s) African Rhino Programme (ARP).
According to the WWF, Konica’s support of their rhino conservation work over the past year has produced significant results. These include prosecution-driven investigations, the donation of R1.2 million and efforts to encourage and support the building of an African rhino database.
For every bizhub sold, Konica Minolta makes a contribution to the WWF, which supports RhODIS, the country’s rhino DNA database.
“Konica Minolta SA’s contribution strengthens SA’s ability to help ensure the survival of the rhino and continues to be a major source of rhinos for the rest of Africa,” says Dr Joseph Okori, head of WWF’s ARP. According to Dr Okori, Konica’s contributions have funded training projects, micro-chip scanners and DNA forensic kits among other things.
“RhODIS is making a solid impact on the sentencing of poachers and the length of jail terms handed down. Recently, two men were jailed for 29 years each for being in possession of rhino horn and the illegal hunting of two rhino,” says Alan Griffith, MD of Konica Minolta SA.
According to Griffith, in this case, a sample of each rhino carcass was taken and the DNA was positively matched to the horns found the day prior. “Owing to this match, the Nelspruit Magistrate’s court could prosecute the two men on both counts,” Griffith says.
Cases like this one illustrate the chain of events that RhODIS sets in motion to help stop the illegal poaching of rhinos and the trade of rhino horn, Griffith notes. “Being the first country to successfully match the DNA of rhino horn to the DNA of a carcass should make every South African proud and aware of this patented forensic innovation,” he adds.
The WWF congratulated Konica Minolta for its efforts in addressing the poaching crisis and views the partnership as a sign of how strategic corporate engagement can make a difference in ensuring the survival of a highly threatened species like the African rhino.
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