News

Etana’s wildlife product has rhinos covered

27 January, 2012

Etana has rhinos covered

Last year, poachers killed 443 of South Africa’s rhinos, up from 333 the previous year, while 252 of them were killed in the Kruger National Park alone.

These figures are all the more shocking when one considers that we have fewer than 
19 000 white rhinos and 2 000 black rhinos left in the country.

South Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and demand in Asia for rhino horn, erroneously believed to have medicinal properties, has resulted in our animals 
being targeted.

It has been reported that the street value of rhino horn is more valuable than gold, being sold for around US$65 000 per kilogram, while gold is sold at around UD$57 000 per kilogram, so the incentive for poachers is clear.

In addition to the poaching figures, there are also the so-called trophy hunters, who are actually involved in the rhino horn trade, as well as the many horns stolen from animals that have died naturally. Some horns are harvested and sold illegally by game farmers themselves, so all this unscrupulous activity continues to fuel the market.

It has also been reported that a poor Mozambican labourer could earn a decade’s salary by poaching just one rhino and, with a low conviction rate of only 5%, according to the International Rhino Foundation, this makes the risk of getting caught worthwhile.

It stands to reason then, that insuring animals against poaching is a tricky and risky business. “Etana offers specific cover for rhino poaching, but because of the tenuous situation, we have to be very strict,” says Joan Jackson from Etana Wildlife. “We assist the game farmer not only to obtain cover, but more importantly to help protect the species. Some of the precautions include – armed response, armed guards and employing specifically trained individuals to guard the owner’s premises.”

To date, Etana has not experienced any rhino losses due to poaching, “which speaks volumes about the effort we put in to assist the policy holder and the broker in getting their risk management spot-on,” adds Joan. “It also goes to show that protection of this wonderful species is indeed possible. By having our interests aligned with the policy holder and the broker, we can put in a coordinated effort to get a client cover, protect their rhinos and, should that fateful day arise, their claims paid.”

For an in-depth look at the rhino poaching crisis see this article in Business Day: Rhino Poaching: What is the solution?

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=162979

For more information contact:

Joan Jackson

Etana Wildlife
joanjackson@vearisk.co.za

+27 (0)11 351 2734