Pretoria: South Africa continues to see a downward trend in rhino poaching, with the 2024 statistics showing that 499 rhinos were poached in 2023, compared to 420 last year — a decrease of 79. ‘As we intensify the fight against wildlife poaching, it is encouraging to see that the work of the rangers, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and other key role players is steadily gaining momentum,’ the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, said on Thursday.
According to South African Government News Agency, from January to December 2024, 420 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 320 being killed on State properties and 100 on privately owned parks, reserves, or farms. The hardest-hit province continues to be KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), which lost 232 rhinos. However, this is a notable decline from the 325 that were lost in 2023. The significant reduction can largely be attributed to the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Dehorning Programme, which was implemented in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park from April to October 2024.
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. However, from October, the poaching syndicates adapted their tactics and began targeting dehorned rhinos, leading to a sudden spike in poaching incidents in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. 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 rhinos for 2024. This is 10 animals more than the 78 that were reported for Kruger National Park (KNP) during the same period in 2023. Up until the end of November 2024, rhino losses reported in the Kruger National Park stood at 67, but a significant escalation in rhino poaching activities was experienced during December 2024 and this has continued into January 2025. A total of 21 rhinos were reported poached in KNP during December 2024 and a further 17 were reported poached during January 2025. The Minister said the escalation in rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park is of great concern.
Both the South African National Parks (SANParks) and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife continue to implement a number of actions and initiatives to counter the threats in the hotspot areas. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is focused on implementing their Rhino Guardianship Strategy, which also played a role in reducing poaching in the province. This strategy was initiated in August 2024. The Ezemvelo Integrity Implementation Plan was completed and approved for implementation; integrity assessments of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park staff, by an independent service provider, commenced, and a Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Integrity Management Plan was completed and approved for implementation. Polygraphing of 55 Ezemvelo rhino reserve managers was completed and polygraphing of 58 field staff was completed.
The Minister noted the importance of expediting cases related to rhino poaching through the courts and opposing bail to prevent further crimes. In January this year, Francis Kipampa was sentenced to 18 years in prison, eight of which were suspended for five years, as part of Project Blood Orange. This project exemplifies the integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to tackling wildlife crime, targeting corruption, money laundering, and associated financial crimes.
The government continues to implement the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking. As the strategy enters its second year, partnerships within government, as well as with authorities in transit and destination countries, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations, remain critical. The focus for 2025 will be on strengthening agreements and operational protocols with key countries to combat rhino poaching effectively.