6 Mar 2013
As more than 2 000 representative of 178 signatory states to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gather in Thailand to determine the future of threatened species, South Africa has lost another 24 rhino since last week.
Despite the large increase in rhino poaching, no elephant have been poached in South Africa in the last decade. The latest rhino poaching statistics indicate that the Kruger National Park remains the hardest hit, with 15 rhino being poached for their horn since 20 February 2013. This brings the total number of pachyderms killed in the conservation area to 107 since the beginning of the year.
Twelve rhino have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces each, while eight have been poached in Limpopo and seven in Mpumalanga. Of the 50 people arrested, 47 are alleged poachers and three have been charged with the illegal trade in rhino horn following their arrest, in possession of three rhino horn, during a raid in Johannesburg in February.
In the past week two alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park, and two in Limpopo. “The SANParks Board has recommended to the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs’ that the boundary fence between South Africa and Mozambique be reconstructed,” said SANParks CEO David Mabunda.
Minister Edna Molewa said the reintroduction of the border fence was strictly dependant on an analysis of the rhino poaching situation in the Kruger National Park, and a lack of positive results emanating from the creation of a buffer zone within the Limpopo Transfrontier Park region bordering Mozambique.
South Africa has hosted two events on rhino conservation and safety and security on the sidelines of the CITES conference in Bangkok, reiterating the government’s commitment to fighting the scourge of rhino poaching. South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.
For media quiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
6 Mar 2013
That would be a total in SA of 168