Apr 19, 2018 at the start of 2018 south africa s environmental affairs minister edna molewa described rhino poaching as a national priority crime, as she announced a 2% drop in the number of rhinos killed in. A total of 1 054 rhino were poached in 2016, compared to 1 175 in the same period for 2015, representing a decline of 10. Thandi survived a brutal attack by poachers, defacing. Rhino poaching decreases in south africa save the rhino. South africa is home to 80% of the worlds rhinos and they are a key attraction for the tourism industry. The current rhino poaching crisis began in 2008, with increasing numbers of rhino killed for their horn throughout africa until 2015. Whereas both black and white rhinos were on the verge of extinction at the start of that century, by the year 2000 they were thriving in south africa, which also played a key role in supplying other african. The history of rhino poaching in south africa rhino. Willem pretorius game reserve, freestate province, south africa. Fueled by demand from increasingly wealthy middle classes in china and vietnam, rhino horn is illegally traded on the black market largely as a symbol of wealth and status. The resurgence of illegal killing of rhino in south africa. According to the south africa department of environmental affairs, rhino poaching stats have risen by more than 300% in the last four years.
Management strategies to curb rhino poaching conservation. According to this view, the conservation of wildlife in subsaharan africa in the form of. Rhino poaching levels in south africa fell in 2015 this article is more than 4 years old slight dip in the number of rhinos illegally killed for their horns breaks relentless rise in deaths. Sep 25, 2017 katharina trump, expert for anti poaching at the world wildlife federation wwf germany, on rhinoceros poaching in south africa. Numbers of black rhino in south africa 0 250 500 750 1250 1500 1750 2000. For africa as a whole, this is the worst year in decades for rhino poaching, said tom milliken, a rhino expert with traffic, in a statement released to the media. Brutal rhino poaching methods have escalated in south africa, which is currently home to about 70 per cent of the remaining rhinos in the world. These are the reasons our animals are being slaughtered. Mar, 2017 south africa considers legalizing domestic rhino horn trade.
Poaching and its potential to impact wildlife tourism academic. Transnational links in rhino poaching and the black. However, the statistics clearly indicate that south africa s rhino population is in imminent danger. Ian recommends supporting the idea of paying for information that leads to the arrest of any rhino poachers in south africa.
Rhino has cost south africa a financial loss of about r228 million with the 333 rhinos poached last year alone. Sep 22, 2015 rhino conservation is something that we at rhino africa are incredibly passionate about and vested in. South africa considers legalizing domestic rhino horn. In south africas addo elephant park, home to one of the countrys largest black rhino populations, irf provided rangers with equipment to successfully run antipoaching patrols at night. In 2019, figures continued to decrease for the fifth year in a row. Feb 26, 2012 zululand conservationists are calling for cites to legalize the trade in rhino horn as a drastic measure to stop rhino poaching. Trade in rhino horn fuels massive poaching surge in south. Heartbreaking photos of more rhino slaughter in sa sapeople.
Durban rhino poaching in two of south africas most famous game reserves is starting to have an impact on tourism and could affect future visitor numbers if the situation does not improve. Some 93% of south africans think rhino poaching is a problem for all south africans, according to a wildaid survey. The great rhino population conservation gains of the last two decades will be wiped soon at this pace. South africa currently conserves 79% of africas rhinos but has suffered 88% of. Jan 25, 2016 for africa as a whole, this is the worst year in decades for rhino poaching, said tom milliken, a rhino expert with traffic, in a statement released to the media. We need to match the amount to the value of the horn, he says. The south africa viet nam rhino horn trade nexus pdf, 3 mb. The twoway conservationists are sounding the alarm over a south african proposal that would legalize and regulate the domestic trade. These are the statistics according to the wildlife and environment society of south africa wessa. Rhino poaching in south africa natural world safaris. South africa is one of the countries that boast the highest population of rhinos in the world, both black and white. Mar 01, 2016 at the center of the fight is wildlife, as a rapid rise in elephant and rhino poaching finds these animals being killed for their tusks and horns at increasingly alarming rates. As per estimates by wwf, the number of rhinos poached in south africa have risen from in 2007 to 1,175 in 2015. Compiled in early 2011, this investigation into rhino poaching asks.
Rhino poaching in south africa and indias major range states have been remarkably similar over time. The famous kruger national park, an expansive 19,633 square kilometers 7,580 sq. Everything from boots and tents to training and upgrades are needed to benefit the apus. Oct 07, 2009 south africa is witnessing a massive surge in rhino poaching, an activity blamed on criminal syndicates striving to meet an insatiable appetite for rhinoceros horn in east asia eightyfour.
Rhino poaching in south africa rhino species there are two rhino species in africa. Moves against rhino poachers are starting to bear fruit. The effects of poaching on rhino herd dynamics africa. Rhino poaching levels in south africa fell in 2015. The number of rhinos killed by poachers has hit a new annual record in south africa, raising concerns of a downward population spiral in a country. Last year, 606 rhino were killed in kruger, out of a total number in south africa of 1004. But in recent years, the rapid rise of poaching has threatened to undermine the good work. Over the last five years we have seen a dramatic rise in the incidence of rhino poaching, notably in south africa, custodian of the worlds largest remaining populations.
Poaching rhino horn in south africa and mozambique. The history of rhino poaching in south africa rhino africa blog. South africa has the largest populations of rhinoceros of any african nation. The extensive poaching for the illegal trade in horn continues to undermine the rhino conservation successes made in africa over the. Previously secure populations are now being targeted by increasingly sophisticated and aggressive poaching operations, apparently. The purpose of this descriptive document is to present relevant background information about south africa and the criminal markets of rhino poaching and rhino horn traffic.
At the center of the fight is wildlife, as a rapid rise in elephant and rhino poaching finds these animals being killed for their tusks and horns at increasingly alarming rates. South africa has reported an increase in rhino poaching, poachers in nepal have claimed the lives of elephants and gharials, and malaysia is striving hard to protect its severely threatened sun bears from falling prey to the chinainfluenced bear bile industry. The focus of this article is to share the contribution of gis and remote sensing from an environmental criminological perspective to better understand the spread of rhino poaching incidents. Department of state november 2014 this report interprets focus group and indepth interview data and does not necessarily reflect the views of the u. Rhino poaching numbers in south africa dropped slightly in 2015, with 1,175 rhinos slaughtered 826 in kruger national park, 317 poachers arrested a 59% increase from the previous year and firearms confiscated. Pdf the impact of rhino poaching on tourist experiences. Read more on the latest news, facts and figures on rhino poaching and rhino conservation both globally and in south africa and kruger national park. The role of man, handraised black rhinos and elephants on woody. In phinda nature reserve, an important rhino area, irf has funded a rapid response team that can preemptively respond to everincreasing poaching incursions. The integrated rhino poaching strategy the plan overview since 2007, rhino poaching has been occupying the attention and resources of conservationists both in south africa and worldwide. South africa is witnessing a massive surge in rhino poaching, an activity blamed on criminal syndicates striving to meet an insatiable appetite for. Pdf impact of antipoaching approaches for the success. A deadly combination of institutional lapses, corrupt wildlife industry professionals and asian crime syndicates by tom milliken and jo shaw with contributions from richard h.
Department of state november 2014 this report interprets focus group and in depth interview data and does not necessarily reflect the views of the u. Nov 27, 2012 latest rhino poaching statistics for south africa posted on november 27, 2012 by africa geographic editorial the latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 588 rhinos have been lost to poaching since the beginning of this year, with the total number of arrests at 246. Impact of anti poaching approaches for the success of rhino conservation in chitwan national park, nepal article pdf available in banko janakari 282. Wildlife poaching surges across the world as the covid19. Stop poaching now to critical projects in south africa, swaziland, and zimbabwe, while also translocating rhinos to a new site in botswana under a separate initiative. Jason kipling, a ranger at umkumbe safari lodge in the sabi sand game reserve in south africa, helps us answer these questions.
Jan 21, 2016 sabri zain, director of policy at wildlife trade monitoring group, traffic, said. Katharina trump, expert for antipoaching at the world wildlife federation wwf germany, on rhinoceros poaching in south africa. The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 588 rhinos have been lost to poaching since the beginning of this year, with the total number of arrests at 246. However, there is still a long road ahead as africa continues to lose an average of three rhinos a day to the ongoing poaching crisis. The viability of legalising trade in rhino horn in south africa. Considering that its world rhino day today we thought we would take a closer look at the history of rhino poaching in south africa.
In october 2011 the first incidence of rhino poaching in this area for 17 years was recorded when a calf was. Poaching numbers conservation save the rhino international. Rhino poaching is on the rise in south africa, with 277 of the endangered animals killed this year despite government attempts to clamp down on poaching, the environment ministry said wednesday. What has caused the current rhino poaching crisis in south africa. South africas longawaited statistical report on rhino poaching revealed an overall 10. South africas rhino population has been the most heavily affected in terms of numbers killed, with. Sabap2 featured nine million records across 17339 pentads, five minutes of latitude by five minutes of longitude, squares with sides of roughly 9 km, in south africa. Pdf the impact of rhino poaching on tourist experiences and. Brutal poaching methods have escalated in south africa, which is currently home to about 70 per cent of the remaining rhinos in the world.
Several desperate efforts to present solutions to rhino poaching are currently being explored. White rhinos are, without doubt, the most prolific rhino species, and are found in game parks and reserves throughout south africa as well as surrounding countries. How rhino poaching is affecting sa tourism south africa news. Latest rhino poaching statistics for south africa posted on november 27, 2012 by africa geographic editorial the latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 588 rhinos have been lost to poaching since the beginning of this. Pdf background on south africa, rhino poaching and rhino. Thankfully, poaching numbers have decreased across africa since the peak of 1,349 in 2015. South africa had managed to almost completely avoid the poaching crisis and had steadily built up its rhino numbers over the 20 th century.
Poaching, driven by illegal demand for rhino horn from south east asia. In south africa, and specifically in kruger national park, rhino poaching has increased at an alarming rate during the first decade of the 21st century. Yet, in the past decade it has experienced unprecedented and horrific poaching now at around animals a year. South african government is aware that ongoing scourge of rhino poaching is linked to worldwide illicit wildlife trade 20 november 2014 the south african government recognizes that the ongoing killing of the rhino for its horns is part of a multibillion dollar worldwide illicit wildlife trade and that addressing the scourge is not simple. Specifically for the knp, a total of 662 rhino carcasses were found in 2016 compared to 826 in 2015. South africa considers legalizing domestic rhino horn trade. In 2007, only rhinos were killed in south africa for their horns. Rhino poaching in south africa family safari south africa. Rhino horn poaching reaches new record in south africa. As of early november 2014, 969 rhinos had been killed in south africa with 637 in kruger national park alone. During 20 in south africa, more than rhinos were poached and. Latest official south african rhino poaching statistics. Community and expert views from the trenches by kenly greer fenio, ph.
Hundreds of thousands of rhinoceros populated africa and asia at the beginning of the twentieth century even after centuries of demand for rhino horn from the middle east, india, china, and eventually the west. Reported african rhino poaching mortalities 20062015 afrsg, traffic. Rhino poaching in south africa today as per estimates by wwf, the number of rhinos poached in south africa have risen from in 2007 to 1,175 in 2015. Aug 15, 20 there is another side to this heartbreaking scenario. The 61yearold exarmy general joined the organisation in 20, and has been tasked with one of the countrys biggest, most immediate challenges. Rhino poaching update rhino conservation kruger park news. Latest rhino poaching statistics for south africa africa. In south africa, poachers kill on average three rhinos per day or about 100 per month to feed the demand for horn on the black market. South african rhino poaching numbers show need for urgent. The south africa viet nam rhino horn trade nexus image wwf. Zululand conservationists are calling for cites to legalize the trade in rhino horn as a drastic measure to stop rhino poaching.
A memorial dedicated to rhinos killed by poachers near the greater st. Rhinoceros poaching in southern africa is the illegal act of slaughtering rhinoceros in the southern african countries of namibia, botswana, zimbabwe and. While it is encouraging to see south africas poaching numbers fall, losses in kruger national park continue to amount to more than half of all incidents. Jan 25, 2018 1,028 rhino were poached in 2017, a slight decline 26 from the 1,054 animals killed in 2016. The kruger national park has lost 362 rhinos to poaching.
The impact of rhino poaching on tourist experiences and future visitation to national parks in south africa article pdf available in current issues in tourism june 2017 with 2,225 reads. Rhino poaching in south africa family safari south. Learn what is being done in southern africa to prevent rhino poaching and contribute in a safe way to conservation efforts. While a slight decrease in rhino poaching in south africa was apparent in 2015, so clearly action by the. Currently, the saps is offering a r500,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of rhino poachers. Heartbreaking photos of more rhino slaughter in sa. Rhino conservation is something that we at rhino africa are incredibly passionate about and vested in. Last year in south africa, poachers killed more than 1,000 rhinos for their horns, a 50% increase from the previous year see figure 1. Currently, the saps is offering a r500,000 reward for any. Apr 09, 2014 rhino poaching is on the rise in south africa, with 277 of the endangered animals killed this year despite government attempts to clamp down on poaching, the environment ministry said wednesday. If you add the new figures released by the minister the number of rhino killed for their horns in. If you add the new figures released by the minister the number of rhino killed for their horns in south africa since 2006. There is another side to this heartbreaking scenario.
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