KZN's rhino poaching crisis: 232 rhinos lost last year

KwaZulu-Natal remains the hardest hit province when it comes to rhino poaching, with 232 rhinos poached in the province last year. 

This is according to statistics released by Environment Minister Dion George on Thursday. He said 420 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 320 being killed on state properties and 100 on privately owned parks, reserves or farms. This was a decrease (of 79) in comparison to 499 rhinos poached in 2023.

He added that wildlife trafficking remained a significant global issue that required intense and co-ordinated global efforts to disrupt the criminal networks.

Speaking on the KZN stats, George said while 232 rhinos were poached, this was a decline from the 325 that were lost in 2023.

He said the reduction can largely be attributed to the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Dehorning Programme, that was implemented in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in northern KZN from April to October 2024.

He said the World Wide Fund for Nature-funded programme had an immediate impact, with monthly poaching numbers dropping from 35 in April to fewer than 10 per month between May and September 2024.

He added however that in October, poaching syndicates adapted their tactics and began targeting dehorned rhinos, leading to a sudden spike in poaching incidents in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and in that month alone, the province lost 27 rhinos.

"Fortunately, the provincial anti-rhino poaching team responded swiftly, intercepting the new syndicate and preventing further losses. The considerable efforts resulted in the province ultimately achieving a 67% decline in rhino poaching over the eight months."

Kruger National Park reported a total of 88 poached rhino for 2024, this is ten animals more than the 78 that were reported for the park during the same period in 2023. 

George said there was a significant escalation in rhino poaching activities experienced during December 2024 and this has continued into January 2025.  

The minister said both SANParks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife continue to implement a number of actions and initiatives as set out below in order to counter the threats in the hotspot areas:

• Polygraph testing of staff is continuing at Kruger National Park in line with its Integrity Management Plan. 
• Information related to the various rhino poaching crime scenes and modus operandi has been shared with the national department's Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre in order to determine linkages between the various incidents across the country and in particular Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KZN;
• Co-operation with various stakeholders was strengthened to assist in alerting customs and law enforcement officials in transit and destination countries to be on the lookout for illegally traded horns over the December/January period when there was an increase in poaching in Kruger National Park;
• Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has initiated a Rhino Guardianship Strategy.
• The Ezemvelo Integrity Implementation plan was completed and approved for implementation, integrity assessments of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park staff by an independent service provider have commenced, a Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Integrity Management Plan was completed and approved for implementation. Polygraphing of 55 Ezemvelo rhino reserve managers were completed and polygraphing of 58 field staff was completed.

THE MERCURY