South Africa credits lockdown with sharp fall in rhino killings

South Africa’s anti-Covid -19 lock down is credited with helping to achieve a dramatic drop in rhino killings, but as the country opens up experts warn of a possible resurgence of poaching of one of Earth’s most endangered mammals.

Redoubled efforts are critical to protect the country’ s rhinoceros population, South African officials and wildlife activists say, as World Rhino Day was marked yesterday.

South Africa’ s nationwide shut down to combat the spread of the coronavirus was imposed at the end of March and stopped all international and domestic travel. The country has gradually reopened and will allow a return of international tourists on 1 October.

Albi Modise, spokesman for the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, said :“The lock down presented an opportunity for us. There was no international or local tourism and the lockdown also prevented poachers from moving around and we were able to ramp up our protective measures.”

In the first six months of this year, the numbers of South African rhino skilled by poachers fell by more than 50 per cent from the previous year, to 166, according to official statistics from the environment department.

“We realize that as the country opens up, we need to up our game to address the possible threat of poaching,” Mr Modise said.

South Africa has about 20,000 rhinos, estimated to be 80 per cent of the world’s total population, and the country has been hard hit by poachers killing the animals for the illegal international trade in rhino horns. Other countries with significant rhino populations are Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Cathy Dean, chief exe cutive of S ave the Rhino, said: “Although the killings of rhinos have reduced this year, this could be a temporary reprieve. With the economic down turn caused by the coronavirus and the decline of tourism, many people are desperate and some may turn to poaching.

“With a resumption of international flights, we may again see seizures of illegal rhino horn, which indicates a resurgent trade.”

South Africa deploys antipoaching squads throughout its parks to protect rhinos, elephants and other game from poachers. In the KwaZulu-Natal province, a technologically advanced “smart fence” is being built around the Hluhluwe-imfolozi park, which alerts park rangers when any intruder tries to sneak into the park.

“The fence has electrics both inside and outside its length and any tampering or cutting of the fence sends us an immediate message,” Nomusa Dube-ncube, the province’s top official for tourism and environmental affairs, said.