Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Vietnamese man held with rhino horns in S. Africa | Look At Vietnam

Vietnamese man held with rhino horns in S. Africa

April 26, 2012

LookAtVietnam – The security force of South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg arrested a Vietnamese young man when he was about to leave the country with three rhino horns, authorities said Monday.

A rhino horn (for illustration only). (Photo: Eyewitness News)

Upon searching the 25-year-old man’s luggage, the customs officers at the airport found the horns hidden in his bags, the New York Daily News quoted SA Revenue Service (SARS) spokesperson Adrian Lackay as saying.
The horns weigh about 13.9 kg in total and have an estimated value of about US$900,000, SARS said.
The man had travelled to South Africa before and he was being closely monitored up until his arrest, Lackay said.
The man, who was apparently in the country on a student visa, said he was here to learn English, according to Eyewitness News.
The name of the young man has yet to be announced.
Since the beginning of 2012, about 181 rhino horns have been poached in South Africa, according to local wildlife officials.
Last year, police detained 232 alleged poachers, of whom 26 were killed in clashes with law enforcement officers.
South Africa’s Environmental Agency warned that the number of rhinos killed in the country this year might end up doubling that of last year, putting the animal at risk of extinction in the near future.
Currently, black and white rhinos in South Africa account for 90 percent of the rhino population in Africa, as well as in the world, the agency reported.
The South African government has appealed to the public to assist in fighting rhino poaching.
VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre

No comments:

Post a Comment

They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.