S3 E1 - Conservation News 04-12-2023 with Simon Borchert, Shannon Elizabeth & Peter Borchert

Alleged poaching kingpin, Chief Clyde Mini, was assassinated on the 26th of March 2023. image: Daily Maverick

Munu the blind black rhino finds a new home.

The team contemplates the “region beta paradox” as a reason why we don’t see sufficient urgency and how this influences donor expectations in conservation circles.

Julian Rademeyr’s latest report showcases a grim reality of corruption and its influence on wildlife crime around Kruger National Park. In the weeks after the release, alleged kingpin, Chief Clyde Mnisi, is assassinated and shortly thereafter his wife is gunned down in her home. We explore this decentralization of poaching as a result of the disruptions to syndicates in Kruger and what it means for law enforcement elsewhere.

Poaching in South Africa’s eastern cape province is on the rise but why is this perhaps more concerning than other areas?

Convergence Intelligence is showing signs of real impact in the illegal wildlife trade. A recent conference hosted by Prince William’s United for Wildlife, showcased some extraordinary successes in the growing partnerships between the private and public sector, and intelligence agencies.

India’s conservation successes could yield further evidence in the value of community-based responses to poaching and human wildlife conflict. Should we be de-militarizing our response to wildlife protection?