African witnesses to illegal wildlife trade tell of its devastating impact, after China relaxes ban

James Mwenda tended to world’s last male northern white rhino. Of China easing its ban on rhino horn trade, he says, ‘It’s sad to see the dark side of humanity’

Lee White, battling to save the forest elephants of Gabon from ivory poachers, says it’s a fight for the country’s future too

Reading Time:4 minutes

James Mwenda stands next to Najin, one of only two remaining female northern white rhinos, in their paddock in Nanyuki, Kenya. Photo: Tony Karumba/AFP

Published: 6:00am, 12 Nov 2018Updated: 11:24am, 12 Nov 2018

James Mwenda is in Hong Kong this week to deliver a message for a dead friend, fulfilling a promise in the process.

On March 19, the game warden at Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy bid farewell to Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, who was put down aged 45 (90 in rhino years) after a long illness. All that is left of the subspecies are two females – Najin and her daughter Fatu, Sudan’s daughter and granddaughter. It seems that IVF is the species’ only hope.

“His death is the catalyst for my message,” said Mwenda on the phone from the non-profit wildlife conservancy in Kenya’s Laikipia County. “I am giving Sudan the voice he did not have.”

His is a much-needed voice.

Last month, China relaxed a 25-year trade ban on rhino horn and tiger bones, saying it would allow the sale of rhino and tiger products under “special circumstances” that include scientific research, sales of cultural relics, and “medical research or in healing”.

Seized ivory at the Hong Kong customs headquarters in Kwai Chung. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x