South africa had managed to almost completely avoid the poaching crisis and had steadily built up its rhino numbers over the 20 th century. Mar, 2017 south africa considers legalizing domestic rhino horn trade. Pdf background on south africa, rhino poaching and rhino. Poaching and its potential to impact wildlife tourism academic.
In 2007, only rhinos were killed in south africa for their horns. Rhino poaching in south africa rhino species there are two rhino species in africa. Specifically for the knp, a total of 662 rhino carcasses were found in 2016 compared to 826 in 2015. 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. Aug 15, 20 there is another side to this heartbreaking scenario. If you add the new figures released by the minister the number of rhino killed for their horns in. The extensive poaching for the illegal trade in horn continues to undermine the rhino conservation successes made in africa over the. 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.
Do the rhinos feel the pressure they are under and, if so, how do they exhibit it. Poaching rhino horn in south africa and mozambique. The 61yearold exarmy general joined the organisation in 20, and has been tasked with one of the countrys biggest, most immediate challenges. 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. 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. South africa is one of the countries that boast the highest population of rhinos in the world, both black and white.
Several desperate efforts to present solutions to rhino poaching are currently being explored. 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. At the start of 2018 south africas 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. Rhino has cost south africa a financial loss of about r228 million with the 333 rhinos poached last year alone. Jan 25, 2018 1,028 rhino were poached in 2017, a slight decline 26 from the 1,054 animals killed in 2016. South african government is aware that ongoing scourge of. What has caused the current rhino poaching crisis in south africa. Rhino poaching decreases in south africa save the rhino. Previously secure populations are now being targeted by increasingly sophisticated and aggressive poaching operations, apparently. Management strategies to curb rhino poaching conservation. The history of rhino poaching in south africa rhino africa blog.
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. Compiled in early 2011, this investigation into rhino poaching asks. Currently, the saps is offering a r500,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of rhino poachers. 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. As of early november 2014, 969 rhinos had been killed in south africa with 637 in kruger national park alone. Poaching numbers conservation save the rhino international. South africa is home to 80% of the worlds rhinos and they are a key attraction for the tourism industry.
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. The south africa viet nam rhino horn trade nexus pdf, 3 mb. Latest rhino poaching statistics for south africa africa. Feb 26, 2012 zululand conservationists are calling for cites to legalize the trade in rhino horn as a drastic measure to stop rhino poaching. The south africa viet nam rhino horn trade nexus image wwf. 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. 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. Last year, 606 rhino were killed in kruger, out of a total number in south africa of 1004. 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. 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. The twoway conservationists are sounding the alarm over a south african proposal that would legalize and regulate the domestic trade. Impact of anti poaching approaches for the success of rhino conservation in chitwan national park, nepal article pdf available in banko janakari 282. 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.
The famous kruger national park, an expansive 19,633 square kilometers 7,580 sq. Some 93% of south africans think rhino poaching is a problem for all south africans, according to a wildaid survey. 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. The history of rhino poaching in south africa rhino. Katharina trump, expert for antipoaching at the world wildlife federation wwf germany, on rhinoceros poaching in south africa. Rhino poaching in south africa family safari south. 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. In 2019, figures continued to decrease for the fifth year in a row.
Moves against rhino poachers are starting to bear fruit. Sep 22, 2015 rhino conservation is something that we at rhino africa are incredibly passionate about and vested in. Rhino poaching in south africa family safari south africa. Rhino conservation is something that we at rhino africa are incredibly passionate about and vested in. The resurgence of illegal killing of rhino in south africa. Rhinoceros poaching in southern africa is the illegal act of slaughtering rhinoceros in the southern african countries of namibia, botswana, zimbabwe and. 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 currently conserves 79% of africas rhinos but has suffered 88% of. 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. 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. While a slight decrease in rhino poaching in south africa was apparent in 2015, so clearly action by the. 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.
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. South africa has the largest populations of rhinoceros of any african nation. Guinea savannah zone and lies between latitudes 911. Learn what is being done in southern africa to prevent rhino poaching and contribute in a safe way to conservation efforts.
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. Everything from boots and tents to training and upgrades are needed to benefit the apus. Rhino poaching in south africa natural world safaris. 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.
If you add the new figures released by the minister the number of rhino killed for their horns in south africa since 2006. 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. Pdf the impact of rhino poaching on tourist experiences and. Yet, in the past decade it has experienced unprecedented and horrific poaching now at around animals a year.
South africa is witnessing a massive surge in rhino poaching, an activity blamed on criminal syndicates striving to meet an insatiable appetite for. Transnational links in rhino poaching and the black. 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. Pdf impact of antipoaching approaches for the success. Latest official south african rhino poaching statistics. As per estimates by wwf, the number of rhinos poached in south africa have risen from in 2007 to 1,175 in 2015. These are the statistics according to the wildlife and environment society of south africa wessa. The current rhino poaching crisis began in 2008, with increasing numbers of rhino killed for their horn throughout africa until 2015. We need to match the amount to the value of the horn, he says. Thandi survived a brutal attack by poachers, defacing. 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. Ian recommends supporting the idea of paying for information that leads to the arrest of any rhino poachers in south africa. 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. Brutal poaching methods have escalated in south africa, which is currently home to about 70 per cent of the remaining rhinos in the world.
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. There is another side to this heartbreaking scenario. Heartbreaking photos of more rhino slaughter in sa sapeople. Rhino horn poaching reaches new record in south africa. Jun 25, 2018 south africa is home to 80% of the worlds rhinos and they are a key attraction for the tourism industry. During 20 in south africa, more than rhinos were poached and. 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. 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. Trade in rhino horn fuels massive poaching surge in south. However, the statistics clearly indicate that south africa s rhino population is in imminent danger. These are the reasons our animals are being slaughtered.
Zululand conservationists are calling for cites to legalize the trade in rhino horn as a drastic measure to stop rhino poaching. The great rhino population conservation gains of the last two decades will be wiped soon at this pace. Poaching, driven by illegal demand for rhino horn from south east asia. South africas rhino population has been the most heavily affected in terms of numbers killed, with. 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. 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.
Community and expert views from the trenches by kenly greer fenio, ph. The study found that perceived trust, practical approaches, intentions to act and effective community involvement significantly contribute to residents positive attitudes and perceptions towards antirhino poaching initiatives in. How rhino poaching is affecting sa tourism south africa news. Rhino poaching update rhino conservation kruger park news. 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. A memorial dedicated to rhinos killed by poachers near the greater st. Wildlife poaching surges across the world as the covid19. Rhino poaching levels in south africa fell in 2015. Department of state november 2014 this report interprets focus group and indepth interview data and does not necessarily reflect the views of the u. The effects of poaching on rhino herd dynamics africa. 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. Heartbreaking photos of more rhino slaughter in sa.
Reported african rhino poaching mortalities 20062015 afrsg, traffic. According to this view, the conservation of wildlife in subsaharan africa in the form of. Currently, the saps is offering a r500,000 reward for any. 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. The role of man, handraised black rhinos and elephants on woody. The kruger national park has lost 362 rhinos to poaching. 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. Willem pretorius game reserve, freestate province, 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. Poaching rhino horn in south africa and mozambique 2014 mk. South africa considers legalizing domestic rhino horn trade. Rhino poaching in south africa and indias major range states have been remarkably similar over time. 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 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. 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. 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. South african rhino poaching numbers show need for urgent. South african rhino poaching numbers for the last year show a decline for the second consecutive year due to concerted conservation efforts.