About a fifth of the 231 rhinos slaughtered in SA in the first six months of 2023 were hosted in privately owned nature reserves, highlighting a shift away from the Kruger National Park that had been the focal point for poaching in recent years.
Of the 231 rhinos killed during the period, 42 were harboured in Kruger National Park, 143 in provincially owned nature reserves and the rest in privately owned nature reserves, the forestry, fisheries & environment department said in a statement posted on its website on Monday.
The figures represent an 11% drop compared with the same period a year ago, thanks to joint efforts of law enforcement and conservation authorities, as well as private security, who collaborated to prevent and detect poaching activities.
“This strategy aims to break the illicit value chain of wildlife trafficking in SA and beyond its borders,” said forestry, fisheries & environment minister Barbara Creecy.
“Though … our main focus is [on] rhino, the strategy also aims to address the illegal trade in, and poaching of, other species that are threatened by trafficking syndicates, such as abalone.”
The government has invested heavily in antipoaching measures in the Kruger, such as deploying rangers, helicopters, drones, dogs, fences and cameras. These efforts seem to have paid off, as the number of rhinos poached in the Kruger dropped from 327 in 2018.
Still, the figures indicate that poachers have not given up as they have shifted their focus to less-protected areas where rhinos are found such as provincial and private reserves. This spells trouble for private nature reserve owners, who rely on wildlife tourism as their main source of income. Wildlife tourism is a big attraction for local and international tourists, who come to SA to see the iconic ‘big five’, which includes rhinos.
Rhino poaching also spells trouble for the broader economy, which counts tourism as one of its biggest contributors and employers.
Creecy said 31 offenders were convicted of rhino poaching and related crimes in the first six months of the year, with most of them receiving custodial sentences ranging from 16 to 39 years.
She said one of the challenges facing the prosecution of poachers was that rhino poaching is not listed as a scheduled offence, making it difficult to oppose bail. Research is being conducted to propose amendments to the legislation to address the issue, she said.
Creecy praised the bravery and dedication of rangers who are on the front line of the battle against wildlife poaching, especially on World Ranger Day, celebrated on Sunday.
She said rangers play a vital role in supporting the prosecution and sentencing of poachers by collecting evidence at crime scenes and collaborating with forensic teams.
“The role of rangers in supporting the prosecution and sentencing of those arrested for wildlife crimes committed in the Kruger cannot be underestimated,” she said.
motsoenengt@businesslive.co.za
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