Save the rhino population to preserve SA’s heritage
Despite poaching, climate change and habitat loss, South Africa remains the region with the most influential rhino population.
The mighty rhino is intrinsically linked to South Africa’s heritage, but despite its status, numbers continue to dwindle.
There were 259 rhinos poached in South Africa in the first six months of this year, 10 more than the same period last year.
Recent trends indicate a move away from major national parks such as the Kruger National Park, towards private game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal.
In 2022, 210 rhinos were poached on state property and 49 on privately owned land. In KZN alone, 133 rhinos perished. Partnerships between the private and public sector remain the rhino’s most tangible hope to survive.
At the height of the rhino crisis in 2012, Rhino Lifeline was launched by Investec and for the past 10 years, support has been rendered to NGOs and conservation entities dedicated to saving rhinos.
“Rhinos are timeless, magnificent creatures synonymous with the bush,” said head of conservation at Investec Geraldine Fleming.
“They have always been there – we don’t remember a time when they weren’t around.”
Playing such an integral role as a keystone species, which means other species rely on them to exist, Fleming said rhinos not only have a “significant impact” on vegetation, but are a tourist attraction as well, in turn sustaining our economy.
“Rhinos are an icon that represents our wildlife and natural heritage in South Africa. Our fight to protect and save rhinos is representative of the bigger picture of the natural heritage we need to conserve as a legacy for our children, and theirs.”
South Africa would not be the
same were it not for its wildlife, and would face a bleak future, making the conservation of this species all the more important.
“The more we learn about our planet and society, the more we realise how inextricably linked the two are. Not only do rhinos lose their lives so, too, do poach
ers and rangers,” said Fleming.
In August, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said poaching was still “an acute threat” to the survival of the species.
A total of 2 707 rhinos were poached in Africa between 2018 and 2021, according to IUCN, the vast majority of which were killed in South Africa, mainly in the Kruger National Park.
South Africa is home to nearly 80% of the world’s rhinos.
Rhino poaching rates in Africa have declined from a peak of 5.3% of the total population in 2015 to 2.3% in 2021, the Swiss-based organisation said.
“The overall decline in poaching of rhinos is encouraging, yet this remains an acute threat to the survival of these iconic animals,” said Sam Ferreira, scientific officer with the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group.
He said there was no formal analysis into why poaching rates were declining.
“A number of factors could lead to this slowing, including improved local cooperation in law enforcement, international collaboration between range and consumer states, as well as changes in the demand for rhino horn,” said Ferreira. – Additional