Rhino poaching scourge on the wane

South Africa made significant strides in the fight against rhino poaching last year‚ the Environmental Affairs Department said on Wednesday – with 259 fewer animals killed in 2018 than in the year before.

According to Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane‚ there were 769 rhino poaching incidents last year. This was the third consecutive year that SA has seen a decline in rhino poaching.

In 2017‚ 1‚028 rhino were killed for their horns.

“It is also the first time in five years that the annual figure is under 1‚000‚” Mokonyane said.

“The decline is not only indicative of the successful implementation of the integrated strategic management of rhinoceros approach countrywide‚ but also a confirmation of the commitment and dedication of the men and women working at the coalface to save the species.”

Of the 769 cases‚ 422 of them were inside a SA National Parks facility; 421 in the Kruger National Park‚ and one in the Marakhele National Park.

Provincially‚ 142 were in KwaZulu-Natal (down from 222 in 2017)‚ and 65 in North West (down from 96).

Poaching incidents increased in Mpumalanga‚ from 49 in 2017 to 51 last year‚ and in the Eastern Cape‚ from 12 to 19.

The Western Cape did not have a single poaching incident in 2018‚ as was the case in 2017.

“Although we are encouraged by the national poaching figures for 2018‚ it is critical that we continue to implement collaborative initiatives to address the scourge of rhino poaching‚” said Mokonyane.

From January 1 to December 31 last year‚ 365 alleged rhino poachers and 36 alleged rhino-horn traffickers were arrested across the country. Of these‚ 229 were arrested inside and adjacent to the Kruger National Park‚ 40 more than the 189 arrested in 2017.

There are currently 318 rhino poaching-related cases on the court rolls involving 645 accused and 897 charges – 275 of these cases are trial ready.

Ffrom January to December 2018‚ the National Prosecuting Authority obtained convictions in 78 of the 82 cases that went to trial. ● While there was good news in the fight against rhino poaching‚ the news for the country’s elephants was not as promising.

The Environmental Affairs Department said on Wednesday that elephant poaching was “on the increase”‚ albeit from a much lower base.

“A total of 71 elephants were poached in the Kruger National Park between January 1 and December 31. 2018‚” the department said. “One elephant was killed in KwaZulu-Natal‚ which brings the total for South Africa to 72 elephant for 2018.”

Strategies to deal with the threat were being adapted.

In 2017‚ 68 elephant were poached across the country – again‚ all but one in the Kruger National Park.