Or, to be more exact, a rhino poacher.
With the plight of rhinos being the environmental cause célébre that galvanized ordinary South Africans this year, it seemed fitting that one of the most amazing judicial decisions of the year should be against one of the heartless bastards who hack these magnificent animals for their horns so as to satisfy their own greed and the ludicrous superstitions of their clients.
Photo of a mutilated, dehorned and recuperating female rhino, courtesy of MSN News
It is not surprising that it was an Asian who was tried and found guilty in this case. Without the vociferous Oriental appetite (mostly Chinese, but also other Far Eastern countries) for rhino horn and their supposed ‘magical’ powers and other concoctions, there would be no trade in rhino horn. It’s as simple as that. Usually this barbaric mutilation of wildlife is to boost sexual prowess and other such nonsense, although in this case it was purportedly for a 'cancer cure.'
It is said that rhino horn is worth $65 000 a kilogram in countries like China, Thailand and Vietnam, making it worth more per ounce than gold.
This barbarian had taken advantage of the country's legislation which permits foreigners to hunt rhinos and then send the horns back home as part of trophy hunting' (in itself an outrageous travesty of a law which can only attract barbarians such as this and which must change in South Africa).
In the space of just seven months over two dozen rhinos had been killed for their horn due to 'special permits' obtained by this Thai 'businessman.' Rhino henchman is more like it.
The final judgement against this Thai bastard? 40 years.
Yes, 40 years.
That is more than even the mandatory sentence for murder in South Africa.
In delivering his momentous decision, the South African jurist, Judge Prince Manyathi, was quoted as stating that rhinos were a symbol of the country and the entire continent of Africa, adding that, “We cannot allow anybody to take our pride away."
Strange jurisprudential logic to equate rhino poaching with "the pride of a nation", but, I'll take a groundbreaking legal victory like this anyway it is served!
Artwork by the Wildlands Conservation Rhino Trust, courtesy of Behance
Fundisile Mketeni, deputy director general of South Africa's environment ministry said it very well: "South African citizens are serious about this. This is the heritage of the people of South Africa. It is the heritage of the people of Africa. It is the heritage of the people of the world."
You're damn right about that.
Down you go, Chumlong Lemtongthai - you, and all the other swill who dare to desecrate our beautiful and irrecoverable natural heritage.
