THE rhino-poaching numbers have decreased across the continent since the peak of 1 349 in 2015, but at least one rhino is still killed every day.
This is according to a non-profit organisation called Save the Rhino in view of the country commemorating World Rhino Day on September 22.
“World Rhino Day is a day of awareness for all five rhino species and the work being done to save them,” says the International Rhino Foundation. “Since 2011, the day has been celebrated internationally by rhino experts and advocates.”
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Cathy Deon, the CEO of Save the Rhino, revealed that 451 rhinos were killed in South Africa last year.
“South Africa holds the majority of the world’s rhinos, and it has been the country hardest hit by poaching criminals with more than 1 000 rhinos killed each year between 2013 and 2017. As Covid-19 lockdowns were in force across the world, and in particular, curfew laws in place in South Africa, it would have been much harder for poachers to get into a reserve to kill a rhino and then smuggle its horn out of the country without being noticed,” said Dean.
She stated that, unfortunately, this meant that as those restrictions started to lift, criminal syndicates began to seize their opportunities to find rhinos again, causing poaching to increase by 13% since 2020.
“We cannot protect rhinos without everyone’s help. There is no magic bullet to solve the poaching crisis. It will take a mix of the best tools we have got. Having well-trained and equipped rangers is an important start, and making sure that communities living near rhino habitats see and feel the benefits of conservation is another critical factor in preventing people from returning to poaching,” she stated.
