Ugandan Rebel Army Pledges To Save Highly Endangered Rhinos

[Robbien]

In a groundbreaking move, The Earth Organization, a South Africa-based international conservation group, has formally secured an agreement with the Ugandan Lords Resistance Army rebels aimed at saving the estimated last four Northern White Rhinos and other key endangered species in their area of operation.

“These are the most highly endangered large mammals on earth and if we lose them they will be the largest mammal since the mammoth to go extinct,” said Anthony who led the negotiations at the LRA base camp outside of the Sudanese provincial capital of Juba.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures. The LRA, with many highly armed mobile combatants have already killed 12 game rangers and eight Guatemalan UN troops in the park and the future of these only remaining rhinos lies in their hands at the moment,” added Anthony. For this reason the rangers have been limited in their ability to protect the Rhino from the poachers.

On August18, Anthony travelled from Zululand, South Africa, to Juba, south Sudan and made contact with rebels. “After two days of negotiations with the LRA leadership, we are pleased to announce that the LRA leader Joseph Kony has issued a written assurance that; the rebels would act as curators for all endangered species in the park including not only the Northern White Rhinos, but also the Congo Giraffe of which it is estimated there were only 40 remaining and the Okapi,” Anthony said.

The LRA statement, issued and signed by the chairman of delegation to the Juba peace talks, on the authority of Kony states; “We wish to assure the Game rangers in Garamba Park that provided they properly identify themselves and not attack us, we undertake to fully cooperate with them." “This statement regarding game rangers and conservationists is an extension of our unilateral declaration cessation of hostilities,” it adds.

http://www.sanepr.com/UGANDAN-REBEL-ARMY-PLEDGES-TO-SAVE-HIGHLY-ENDANGERED-RHINOS_10348.cfm