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Clive Walker has many years' experience in the field of rhino conservation within southern Africa. Author of The Rhino Keepers from Jacana Media, he has once again come up with a fresh, new look at the ongoing rhino crisis.
The rhino 'war' in South Africa has entered its 10th year, and 2016 saw 662 rhinos killed in Kruger alone – and over 1000 in total in the country. How is South Africa going to protect its rhinos in the current climate? Many reserves are not interested in stocking these endangered animals due to the huge costs of having to protect them. Clive Walker believes that this situation is unlikely to change anytime soon if one persists in believing that the enemy lies elsewhere in Southeast Asia; instead he wants to look for positive solutions from within South Africa.
He believes that people need to shift from the negative to an element of the positive, especially because people are losing hope. The private rhino owner, often working in conjunction with the state, will emerge as a key factor in the struggle to win the war, he believes. There is some optimism, due to the excellent work being undertaken by the state and the private sector at many levels in security, tourism, community involvement and environmental education, as well as NGO support.
Chapters and case studies of many of these are included in Rhino Revolution as well as a discussion around the rhino trade by Yolan Friedman from WWF and veteran conservationist Dr John Hanks.
Clive Walker entered the battle for the rhino with the founding of the Endangered Wildlife Trust in 1973. He co-founded the Rhino and Elephant Foundation and the African Rhino Owners Association, and served on the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group for close on 19 years.
