South Africa has seen a 24% decline in rhino poaching in 2019 compared to the preCOVID period, but there has been an increase of poaching on private property.
Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, stated Tuesday that 451 rhino were poached last year in South Africa. 327 were poached in government reserves, while 124 were taken on private property.
The Minister stated that South Africa is committed to protecting rhino populations and would continue to work tirelessly with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and authorities in transit and destination countries to combat wildlife crime.
Last year, 209 rhino were poached for their horns in South African National Parks (SANParks) – all in the Kruger National Park.
“This was in reality a decrease compared to 2020, when 247 rhino poached within national parks. The Minister noted that there were no rhino losses in SANParks’ smaller rhino parks in 2021 compared to the two poached rhinos in 2020.
The steady decline in rhino poaching within the Kruger National Park is due to an increase of anti-poaching efforts. The police’s endangered species unit and the SANParks environment crimes inspectorate have had a close working relationship that has led to increased arrests as well as convictions.
In 2021 there were 189 arrests related to poaching activities, with 77 occurring in Kruger National Park and the other 109 being made outside the park. This compares to the 156 people who were arrested in 2020. In the 38 verdicts handed down by the courts, 37 cases resulted in the conviction of 61 accused rhino poachers/traffickers.
“One unintended consequence is that poaching syndicates are now looking for other areas to prey on, which has led to them targeting private reserves of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Creecy said that conservation and anti poaching efforts have intensified in South Africa over the past year. This is because a joint effort was made by State-owned conservation zones, government and private landowners to decrease the poaching of rhinos in South Africa.
A Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), developed situational awareness platform called CMORE has been integrated into the integrated wildlife zones to facilitate a more targeted deployment of resources.
This technology platform allows all players to collaborate using real-time insights.
“Information collected is communicated through the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre, (EEFC), which continues support to the teams at both a tactical as well as strategic level. The Minister stated that our analysis capabilities have improved, which has led to increased identification of rhino poaching and trafficking suspects and expanded investigations by multidisciplinary teams.
SANParks and provincial nature reserves are dehorning rhino to discourage poachers. SANParks is looking into the feasibility of additional anti-poaching measures, including initiatives aimed at apprehending poachers or establishing additional founder populations besides the Kruger National Park.
Creecy stated that the government continues to work closely alongside the private sector and nongovernmental organisations through the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros approach, and the draft National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking. This is to combat rhino poaching.
(With inputs from South African Government Press release)