Over 30 rhinos killed at KNP since January

This after at least 19 rhinos were killed over the festive season in the park.

Between 21 and 23 December, about seven remains of rhinos were discovered at Stolznek.

Briefing the media, KNP Regional Ranger Bruce Lesley said over 30 rhinos have been killed in the park since January.

"In 2025, from January to today (Tuesday), we've lost 35 rhinos since the beginning of the year and it's a real concern to us. The sudden increase in rhino poaching can be attributed to several factors; one is demand, the high value of the product on the international market, so, the transnational crime challenges come into play.

"The effect on the Mozambique situation may or may not influence it, I suspect it will have an influence to some degree and so that is also of concern to us, and really what we are trying to say is we are looking at figures that were starting to take place in 2019. "

Lesley pleaded with communities across the spectrum to assist the Park with reporting any rhino poaching related activities happening in and around the park.

"We really need to encourage people to help and bring forward information on any poaching syndicates from community level to international level who need help, and we are appealing to conservation agencies and law enforcement to help and assist.

"We have a very good relationship with the Hawks, and we are rolling out a lot of technology in different spaces like the camera systems that are on the roads, other technologies of more strategic value, and obviously the development and support of our staff and personnel in the field."

He added that the Park can never have enough rangers to curb poaching.

"We will never have enough manpower. So, really if you look at the crime triangle, we have a willing perpetrator, a high value asset, and a guardian and at this stage we will never have enough guardians in terms of field ranger assets in the field."

Despite the decline and increased efforts in fighting rhino poaching, various programmes have been on going to try and counter poaching pressure at the Kruger National Park.

These include the round the clock daily deployment of field rangers on the inside, patrolling on tracks and aerial patrols, helicopters for operations, daily fence patrol in high-risk areas, the use of technology, detection systems, and high-tech camera system especially in private concessions further south of the park.

Intensive Protection Zone; that involves radar detection, thermal imagery, trap cameras, sensor, seismic cables and magnetic systems; were installed to monitor rhino poaching.

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