Minister attributes drop in rhino poaching to dehorning

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George noted on Thursday a significant drop in rhino poaching during May and June, attributing this to the dehorning of rhino populations in KwaZulu-Natal. George said a national loss of 21 and 22 respectively were reported, compared with May and June of 2023 where 42 and 34 poachings were recorded. He highlighted that during the first six months of 2024, 229 rhinos were poached in South Africa, compared with 231 for the same reporting period in 2023. “…of those rhino poached, 191 were killed on State properties and 38 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms,” he said. This reduced loss was thought to be attributable to the dehorning of rhino populations in KwaZulu-Natal and specifically in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park where over 1 000 rhinos had been dehorned since April 2024, he said. At the end of 2023, South Africa reported 16 056 rhinos, comprising 2 065 black and 13 991 white rhinos.