Department Of Environmental Affairs Rhino Poaching

The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that a total of 588 rhinos have been lost to poaching since the beginning of this year, with the total number of arrests at 246.
The Kruger National Park has lost 362 rhinos to poaching. The North West, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces continue to be the hardest hit by poachers, collectively accounting for the loss of 186 rhinos.

Rhino poaching statistics:

 

SA	2010	2011	2012
KNP (SANParks)	146	252	362
MNP (SANParks)	0	6	3
GP	15	9	1
LIM	52	74	52
MP	17	31	27
NW	57	21	75
EC	4	11	7
FS	3	4	0
KZN	38	34	59
WC	0	6	2
NC	1	0	0
333	448	588

Of the 246 arrested individuals, 217 are at the level of poacher, 18 are couriers and 11 are receivers.

Rhino poaching arrests statistics:

 

South Africa – Arrests	2012	2011	2010
KNP	61	82	67
MNP	0	0	0
Gauteng (GP)	26	16	10
Mpumalanga (MP)	66	73	16
Eastern Cape (EC)	0	2	7
Limpopo (LP)	39	34	36
North West (NW)	32	21	2
Free State (FS)	6	0	0
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)	15	4	25
Western Cape (WC)	0	0	2
Northern Cape (NC)	1	0	0
Total	246	232	165

 
Members of the public are urged to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to arrests and prevention of illegal killings to 0800 205 005.
For media queries, contact:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

15 February 2018

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) will showcase the work of the Environmental Monitors (EM) in their quest to curb the scourge of rhino poaching in the eastern parts of Kruger National Park bordering the area of Hoedspruit in Limpopo.
With at least 1 620 young South Africans participating on the Environmental Monitors programme across the country, the initiative aims to increase conservation capacity within the South African National Parks (SANParks), provincial and private nature reserves through patrols, biodiversity monitoring and environmental education and awareness within different communities. They operate throughout South Africa on 32 host institutions (7 public entities and 25 private nature reserves), with SANParks’ Biodiversity Social Projects (BSP) as the implementing agent.
Recently, the Minister of Environmental Affairs Dr. Edna Molewa has commended and praised the EM’s, saying they continue to play an instrumental role in fighting the scourge of rhino poaching.
The media will visit four sites where they will have photo opportunity and can interview the EM’s about their work and environmental engagements. The activities include, amongst other, visiting the Data Capturing Tools Applications used by EM’s; the Green Valley Village – South African Environmental Observation and Network, a stewardship of the Department of Science and Technology (SAEONT); visit the Nourish Library of a sustainability Learning Site; the Andover Nature Reserve, an initiative of the DEA in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Parks and Tourism Agency (MPTPA); conclude the tour at the Welverdiend area, visiting the  Rangeland Management Programme and the Herd Monitor Project.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event as per the details below:
Date: Media Tour 20 February 2018
Time: 09:00
Venue: Zandspruit Bush and Aero Estate, Stand No 1, Hoedspruit
Transport will be provided for Polokwane based media houses, departing from Garden Court Hotel, Thabo Mbeki Street, Polokwane at 08:30.
To RSVP, contact:
Seipati Sentle
Cell: 072 8352735
E-mail: [email protected]
For media queries, contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197