The worst year on record for rhino poaching in South Africa’s history makes 2013 a dismal period for the endangered animal. Figures released by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs in January show that in 2013, just over 1,000 rhinos were illegally killed in South Africa - the equivalent of nearly three animals a day.

The figure is more than 1.5 times the official figure of 668 rhinos killed for their horns in 2012. This brings South Africa’s white rhino population ever closer to the tipping point, where deaths outnumber births and the population begins a serious decline.

Rhino horns are smuggled by organized transnational criminal networks to the main consumer markets in Viet Nam and Japan, where they are primarily used as a status symbol and health tonic. There is evidence of links between the criminal gangs masterminding the trafficking and other forms of organized crime, including the trafficking of people, drugs and weapons.

Mozambique, which neighbors South Africa, is widely seen as both a transit point for rhino horn smuggling activities and an operational base for poachers who cross the border to kill rhinos.

Tom Milliken, TRAFFIC’s rhino expert, said South Africa and Mozambique must decisively step up their game if they hope to stop this blatant robbery of Southern Africa’s natural heritage.

“2014 must mark the turning point where the world collectively says ’enough is enough’ and brings these criminal networks down. Rhino horn trafficking and consumption are not simply environmental issues, they represent threats to the very fabric of society,” Milliken said.

In March 2013, parties meeting at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) singled out certain countries heavily implicated in rhino trade crime to take action toward addressing the ongoing crisis.

The Vietnamese Government must report back to CITES on their progress in making seizures, arrests, prosecutions and convictions for rhino horn trafficking and use offenses, as well as implementation of a robust tracking system for preventing imported rhino horn trophies from going into illegal trade. The country has also been instructed to develop and implement measures to reduce demand for rhino horn.

Similarly, Mozambique, a transit point for horn exiting Africa, must show its enactment and implementation of legislation with deterrent penalties to combat wildlife crime and stop the killing of rhinos and trafficking of rhino horn. Currently the crime of rhino poaching in Mozambique remains only a misdemeanor.

To tackle wildlife trafficking between the two nations, South Africa and Viet Nam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in late December 2012, and later the countries went on to develop a joint Rhino Action Plan. South Africa signed a similar MoU with China in 2013 and is currently developing others with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Chinese Hong Kong.

“The world’s rhinos are facing a genuine crisis and high level agreements and statements have to translate into meaningful conservation action, both in rhino range states and in key consumer countries such as Viet Nam and China,” said Dr. Naomi Doak, Coordinator of TRAFFIC’s Greater Mekong Program in Viet Nam.

Doak said TRAFFIC is still waiting for the rhetoric to result in significant arrests and prosecutions of those orchestrating the rhino horn trafficking.

“We also urgently need to see a reduction in demand for horn in Viet Nam, the introduction of a system for tracing hunting trophies in the country, and strong sentences imposed on those convicted of rhino horn trafficking,” Doak said.

At this year’s London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade, commitments were sought from key governments to combat the growing global threat posed by illegal wildlife trade. The conference issued a declaration of political commitment to ensure a coordinated global response as well as necessary resources to turn the tide on illegal wildlife trade through improving law enforcement and the role of the criminal justice system, reducing demand for illegal wildlife products and supporting the development of sustainable alternative livelihoods.

(The author is a coordinator at TRAFFIC International, a wildlife trade monitoring network)