Rhino poaching falls by 50% in first 6 months of 2020
Rhino poaching decreased by more than 50% in the first half of 2020 when compared to the same period last year, the Department of Environmental Affairs said on Friday.
The department says 166 animals were poached in the first half of the year.
“Rhino poaching has decreased by almost 53% in the first six months of 2020,” says spokesperson Albi Modise.
In spite of the significant decrease in rhino poaching, Modise says the lockdown has not deterred poachers.
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“Between the start of the lockdown on 27 March until the end of June, 46 rhinos were poached across the country. Of these, 14 rhinos were poached during April, 13 in May and 19 in June.”