Kruger loses nearly 1 500 rhinos in five years

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Skukuza - Nearly 1 500 rhinos have been killed for their horns in the Kruger National Park in the past five years, according to recent stats.

Addressing delegates during a two-day anti-poaching workshop, which started in the Skukuza on Monday, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said more than half the total number of rhino poached in South Africa since 2008 were in the Kruger.

“The [Kruger] continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching, having lost more than 550 of these iconic animals to unscrupulous poachers during the past 11 months. In the past five years, more than 1 457 rhino have been killed for their horns in South Africa’s most well-known state-owned conservation region and wildlife tourist attraction,” said Molewa.

The minister said the number of rhino poached in South Africa this year was 891, the highest figure in the history of the country.

She said the total of number of rhino poached in 2012 was 668, while 448 were killed in 2011.

“I am deeply concerned and affected by the magnitude of rhino poaching in South Africa and elsewhere in the world, especially since this iconic species, known as one of the Big Five, has become the focus of international poaching syndicates.

"Despite limited funds, the government has made R75 million available to SANParks to combat rhino poaching until 2016 for the employment and training of additional rangers,” the minister said.

Molewa said over the coming days, government will announce more initiatives undertaken by the government to deal decisively with the rhino poaching problem.

“It is, however, important to remind you that the government declared the illegal killing and trade of rhinos and rhino horn a national security threat in 2011,” Molewa said.

She added that rhino poaching has since been elevated to the national joint security committee to help advance a national strategy that was implemented in 2010 for an integrated effort to combat rhino poaching.

Molewa urged leaders to find solutions within the country and in partnership with other role players, including the international community.

“The most recent example of successful international relations was the return last week of a consignment of 33 rhino horns and a large number of elephant ivory products worth an estimated R24 million that were seized by customs officials in Hong Kong in November 2011,” said Molewa.

Molewa said the return of the items took place in terms of an agreement between the governments of South Africa and China for mutual legal assistance, which was signed on February 20, 2009.

“It followed two years of discussion and negotiation following a request for mutual legal assistance from South Africa,” Molewa said.

Meanwhile, SANParks chief executive Dr David Mabunda recently told donors in Letaba that the results of a census taken a few months ago showed that despite the poaching onslaught, the 2013 rhino census in the Kruger estimated that there are between 8 400 and 9 600 white rhino in the country's national parks.

These numbers were estimated by SANParks scientists using a 40% block count survey method. – SAnews.gov.za