THE South African National Parks are not letting any poachers slip through their fences as rhino poaching in Mzansi peaks.
On Tuesday, 27 February, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment announced that in 2023, at least 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, and of this number, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks, reserves and or farms.
This was an increase of 51 compared to 448 rhinos poached in 2022.
To date, KZN leads the pack with 325 counts of poached rhinos. This is an increase from 244, which was recorded in 2022.
Gauteng, Free State, and Northern Cape recorded zero in 2023, a slight improvement from the previous year.
Rhino Poaching 2023 records in number:
| PROVINCES AND NATIONAL PARKS |
SANParks 478
Gauteng 0
Limpopo 59
Mpumalanga 7
North West 12
Eastern Cape 17
Free State 0
Northern Cape 0
KwaZulu-Natal 325
Western Cape 1
Reacting to these numbers, SANParks spokesman Isaac Phaahla said one rhino lost is too many.
He told Daily Sun that it was painful to hear of the increases, especially in KZN.
However, while poaching continues to rise, Phaahla noted how the Kruger National Park experienced a 37% decrease in poaching.
This, according to him, was due to the hard-working anti-poaching team and advanced technology to ensure suspects were captured and arrested speedily through infrared cameras.
“Our security measures have made the KNP a risky place for poachers because once your tracks are picked up, we put our dogs onto your trail, resulting in your arrest and conviction,” he said.
In the meantime, looking at the numbers, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy said in KZN they have recorded 49 arrests and 13 firearms were seized by multi-disciplinary teams that continue to work tirelessly in an attempt to slow the pressure on rhino poaching.
“The revision of the BMP aims to address the needs of both black and white rhinos, provide a strategic approach and detailed action plan to conserve rhinos in South Africa, and engage with range states to the north,” Creecy said.
