Group sees ’15 drop in rhino poaching

JOHANNESBURG — The number of rhinos poached in South Africa in 2015 was slightly lower than in the previous year, representing modest progress by law enforcement in countering poachers who have killed rhinos in record numbers, according to a conservation group.

Citing unidentified sources, Elise Daffue, founder of Stop RhinoPoaching.com, said there were about 1,160 reported cases of rhino poaching last year, down from 1,215 in 2014. If the statistic is confirmed, it would be the first annual drop in numbers since rhino poaching surged around 2008 in South Africa, home to most of the world’s rhinos.

Other conservationists, however, believe the number of rhinos killed last year was higher. During a visit to South Africa last month, Britain’s Prince Harry said poachers had killed 1,500 rhinos there in 2015. He did not cite a source.

The South African government plans to release its own 2015 statistics on rhino poaching early this year.

AP/SCHALK VAN ZUYDAM Rhinos take a mud bath last month at a game reserve on the outskirts of Hluhluwe, South Africa.