Fewer rhino killed in 2015
The fight against rhino poachers has stabilised for the first time in a decade.
That was the message from Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa when she addressed the media in Pretoria Thursday, confirming that the integrated government strategy is paying off, with fewer rhino poached in 2015.
She added that the number of white rhino was also stabilising in the Kruger National Park.
Molewa said there was reason to be hopeful, because more and more poachers and illegal activities were being prevented.
This, she said, was because of the work done by government, justice, police as well as other stakeholders.
"Considering that there has been an approximate 10 percent increase in the number of poaching activity in the Kruger National Park, it is clear that were it not for these interventions, the situation would have been far worse and many more rhino would have been lost," she said.
Molewa said that while they usually see a spike in rhino poaching over December, the year-end spike in 2016 was averted.
#Rhino Molewa says by end of Dec 2015 number of poached rhino were 1175 (1215 previous year) - majority in the Kruger. MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 21, 2016
#Rhino Molewa says the SA rhino population continues to stabilise - in the Kruger there are between 8400 - 9000 white rhino. MV
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 21, 2016
#Rhino Some stats on convictions/arrests related to poaching. MV pic.twitter.com/fLdaplSA0X
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) January 21, 2016
(File photo: Gallo Images)