Three surprising facts about Biodiversity Crime

by CapeNature

Tackling biodiversity crime is one of the most challenging aspects of the work CapeNature does, but very little is actually known about what our Biodiversity Crime Unit (BCU) gets up to. So we sat down with Paul Gildenhuys, head of the unit, to dispel some misconceptions about their work.

It’s not just rhino horn and ivory trade

Given the public focus on the plight of rhinos and, to a lesser degree, elephants, it’s understandable to believe that poaching and biodiversity crime is limited to those two species, but the reality is that there are far more species at risk.

While the Western Cape has been an avenue for rhino horn and ivory trade, threats to the endemic species in the province also loom large. From poachers who focus on the rare geometric tortoise, to plant experts who target rare succulents and proteas for export internationally.

As Gildenhuys says, “the illegal wildlife trade is worth billions of dollars every year; it’s one of the five biggest illicit industries in the world. It can involve anything from animal meat, to bones, plants, insects, reptiles, and of course horns and ivory”.

The suspects are often the last people you’d expect

Gildenhuys and his colleagues in the BCU have vast experience dealing with the illegal wildlife trade, and have found that the criminals involved in the wildlife trade generally, though not always, fall into three categories.

The first, and most well-known to the public, are the SYNDICATE MEMBERS. “Syndicates are highly organised and involved diversified criminal interests”, Gildenhuys says. “They will not only traffic in rhino horn and ivory, but are also involved in the drug trade, illegal weapons trade and even human trafficking.”

The second category is the PROFESSIONAL TRADER. These criminals specialise according to species, collecting for the pet trade. They often jet in and out of the country in a short space of time, using cash for all transactions to avoid their movements being tracked, and employ locals who can take them to the areas where their target species are located.

“One of the main issues we have with the traders is the level of damage they can cause in a short amount of time. We had a case where a group came in and wiped out virtually the entire population of a species at a specific locality. They are purely profit-driven, so will attempt to remove as many individuals from their target species in as short a time as possible”.

The last, and perhaps most surprising, category of biodiversity criminal is the SCIENTIST or RESEARCHER, which includes specialist hobbyists. While you might think an individual so deeply involved in the study of a species will be most incentivised to protect or conserve it, the opposite is often true. Generally, the individuals in this category will come to South Africa under the guise of researching their chosen species, but will, while they are here, actually collect multiple specimens for illegal export and sale.

“These guys often know more about the species than anyone else on the planet, so they can come in, travel to the exact area they know the species will be, at the perfect time of year, and do a large amount of damage in a short period of time”, says Gildenhuys.

CapeNature and our conservation and law enforcement partners in the Western Cape recently prosecuted a Spanish couple, Jose Maria Aurell Cardona and Maria Jose Gonzalez Puigcarbo, both Spanish citizens and specialist hobbyists, who were found in possession of a huge amount of rare and endemic plants. The couple was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, which was suspended for five years, and a further fine of R2 million, after being found guilty of illegally picking and being in possession of flora in the Vredendal Regional Court in 2015.

The Western Cape’s high levels of endemism are a blessing, but also a curse

We are all very proud of the Western Cape’s status as one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, but this is a double-edged sword. While we are glad to have tourists visiting the Cape Floral Kingdom to admire the many species that can only be found here, the rarity of many of these endemic species makes the Western Cape a prime target for biodiversity criminals.

“The more unique a species is, the more desirable it will be to illegal traders, making the Western Cape a popular destination for these criminals.”

These three factors, along with a numberof other variables, make the work of the BCU incredibly challenging, but also rewarding, not to mention vitally important in the fight to retain the Western Cape’s unique biodiversity.

The Biodiversity Crime Unit aims to prevent the illegal trading of animals and plants in the Western Cape. The unit provides the public with advice and information on various issues related to biodiversity crime. We also respond to reports of illegal activities, working closely with the South African Police Service to investigate biodiversity crime.

The unit helps national organisations combat biodiversity crime through its work with the National Biodiversity Investigators’ Forum and the National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit.