Rhino poaching continues unabated

By August 27, the number of rhino lost to poachers was 749 for the whole country. Of these, 544 we’re poached in the Kruger National Park (KNP), she told reporters at a briefing in Pretoria.

“By this time last year, the number of rhino lost to poachers was 716 for the whole of the country and 459 for the KNP.”

She said without government’s multi-pronged interventions, including the integrated strategic management of rhino, the number would have been significantly higher.

The number of people arrested for poaching-related activities has also increased.

“The total number of arrests inside the KNP was 138 for this year, compared to 81 arrests for the same period last year. A good example of the outcome of our increased efforts was during the month of July when 35 arrests were made in the KNP alone,” said Molewa.

“We are particularly proud of the work done by our law enforcement agencies. For instance this co-operation led to the arrest of eight poachers in an extended operation over 24 hours in the south of the KNP as part of Operation Southern Comfort. Two heavy-calibre rifles, ammunition, and poaching equipment were seized during this operation,” she said.

In May, Molewa told reporters that the number of rhino killed by poachers in South Africa this year had increased compared to the same period last year.

By the end of April the number of rhino lost to poachers was 393, with 290 of these in the KNP, she said at the time.

Figures for the same period in 2014 were 331 and 212 respectively.

At Sunday’s briefing, Molewa was flanked by Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Police Minister Nathi Nhleko.

ANA