costs . The kits are packed by the VGL . Thousands of these kits have been produced and distributed since January 2011 to investigators from the provinces and SANParks , private owners , farm managers , police officers and veterinarians in South Africa as well as many other African rhinoceros range states .
The RhODIS™ database has grown to include over 5000 animals from South African black and white rhinoceroses from the national parks , provincial parks and private sector as well as rhinoceroses from Namibia , Zimbabwe and Kenya and continues to grow .
The database also includes samples from rhinoceros horn stockpiles . The RhODIS™ database has been used as a forensic tool to support investigation of several poaching incidents in the Kruger National Park and other provincial parks and on private land . These investigations are ongoing . Another aim of RhODIS™ is to train the local environmental management inspectorate ( EMI ), rangers , veterinarians , police investigators , members of the Department of Environmental Affairs , prosecutors and magistrates on the system of DNA testing of wildlife and rhinoceros specifically , the crime scene investigation process , the prosecution of wildlife crime and general information on the rhinoceros and its value to the African continent .
This training has extended to the training members
of the Kenyan Wildlife Service to perform routine sampling and handle poaching incidents in Kenya as part of the capacity building project . Thus far EMI ’ s , police officers and other people representing most provinces in South Africa that are involved in rhinoceros cases and DNA sampling of rhinoceros have been trained in several courses held in the Kruger National Park , Onderstepoort , Pilanesberg National Park , Northern Province , Eastern Cape , Kwazulu-Natal and Swaziland . Informative talks and presentations that describe the RhODIS™ project in terms of the aims and context and further highlight the devastating effect that poaching is having on the rhinoceros population , also form part of the project and schools and other organizations have been addressed as part of this initiative .
RhODIS™ is proof that the capacity and expertise exists within Africa to protect and manage our wildlife heritage using sophisticated techniques . Africa is the only continent on which megafauna still survive and it is the responsibility of Africa ’ s citizens to ensure that these animals remain a part of the natural landscape for future generations and protect them from the onslaught of foreign enemies . The rhinoceros has become a symbol of this struggle , a flagship species that evokes emotional support and empathy from all that deal with it , its quiet strength , a gentle giant that has become the object of insatiable human greed and cruelty .
Specially formulated nutritional vitamin and mineral supplements for wildlife during periods of limited feed intake or other stressful conditions .
25kg
Registration holder-HEALTHtech Investments Pty ( Ltd ) Co ./ Mpy . Reg . No . 1999 / 18375 / 07 Box 12285 , Vorna Valley , 1686South Africa
V-Tech ( Pty ) Ltd
Cnr . Douglas and Old Pretoria Road , Midrand , South Africa , Client Service Centre : 0860 109 779 , www . vtech . co . za
2016 SEPTEMBER 11