South Africa to sign int'l MoUs to curb rhino poaching

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South Africa to sign int'l MoUs to curb rhino poaching

(Xinhua) 19:35, October 25, 2013

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JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 25 -- South Africa will sign Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with various countries to curb rhino poaching, a government official said on Friday.

Albi Modise, the spokesperson in the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, said,"South Africa is expected to sign an MoU with Mozambique early next year."

In June this year, South Africa and Mozambique met and shared ideas on how to collaborate in stamping out rhino poaching.

South Africa is also seeking cooperation with some Asian countries in protecting the endangered rhino.

South Africa will sign an MoU with Lao in the field of biodiversity conservation and management, according to the spokesperson.

Modise said,"The signing of the MoU will be accompanied by the endorsement of an implementation plan, putting into immediate action concrete steps to eradicate wildlife crimes through government-to-government and security initiatives, educate the public and raise awareness."

"South Africa regards rhino poaching and illicit trafficking in wildlife and endangered species as part of the new and emerging forms of crime, which requires global attention if we are to effectively deal with these crimes," said Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa.

South Africa and some other countries in the world are currently faced with rampant wildlife crimes like rhino poaching.

This year around 790 rhinos have been illegally killed for their horns in South Africa, while over 250 people have been arrested for the rhino poaching-related charges.

The South African government has introduced interventions to curb the poaching of rhinos in the recent years.

（Editor：DuMingming、Zhang Qian）