Johannesburg - The lifting of lockdown regulations has resulted in an increase in rhino poaching in South Africa in the first six months of this year.
This weekend on World Ranger Day, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Barbara Creecy revealed that from January to the end of June, about 249 rhinos were poached for their horns in South Africa.
“While this is higher than the number of rhino killed for their horns in the same period last year – at 166 – it is fewer than the 318 rhino that were poached in the first six months of 2019,” the department said.
South African National Parks (SANParks) recorded the most rhinos poached (132), while KwaZulu-Natal had 33 rhino poaching incidents and Limpopo had 30. Mpumalanga recorded about 20 rhino poaching incidents, North West 18 and Free State 16.
“We find ourselves in a position where the efforts being made to combat wildlife crime, such as rhino poaching, are influenced to some extent by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the battle to beat the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Creecy.
According to the department, during the six months the Kruger National Park (KNP) recorded 715 cases of poaching activity, an increase of 3.77% in comparison to last year, which was 689 for the same period. From January to the end of June, 132 rhinos were poached for their horns in the KNP and one elephant was poached for its ivory.
“A number of successful arrests and prosecutions have also been recorded in the past six months. This again underscores the success of the collaborative work being done by law enforcement agencies,” the department said.
During the six months, 40 poachers were arrested within the KNP, while a total of 125 people were arrested for rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking across South Africa.
A total of 14 cases have been finalised since the start of the year, with 20 accused convicted.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the finalisation rate in courts has slowed down as witnesses, accused and court staff in many instances are required to isolate or quarantine, and even court buildings in some instances need to be decontaminated. This has had an effect on the finalisation of cases,” the department said.
It added that numerous confiscations of rhino horn had also taken place since January, within the country as well as at OR Tambo International Airport.
“It is clear that the multidisciplinary, integrated approach to investigating illegal wildlife trade is bearing fruit and that effective collaboration with critical role players remains key to our success,” said Creecy.
The Star