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01 June 2009

Media Release: Rhino poaching update

The Kruger National Park has lost 267 rhino to poachers, while the number of rhino poached in Limpopo increased by 15 to 45 in the past week.

The number of rhino poached for their horns in North West since January 1, 2013, has risen to 48. A total of 38 rhino have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal, 27 in Mpumalanga, 2 in the Eastern Cape and 1 in Gauteng.

A total of 122 suspected poachers have been arrested since January. Of these, 57 have been caught in the Kruger National Park. Five alleged receivers have been arrested.

On Sunday, Kruger National Park rangers made contact with a group of three poachers near Letaba. One poacher was wounded during the shootout and later died of his wounds. The other poachers managed to escape.

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.

Rhino poaching statistics:

SA 2010 2011 2012 2013
KNP (SANParks) 146 252 425 267
MNP (SANParks) 0 6 3 0
GP 15 9 1 1
LIM 52 74 59 45
MP 17 31 28 27
NW 57 21 77 48
EC 4 11 7 2
FS 3 4 0 0
KZN 38 34 66 38
WC 0 6 2 0
NC 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 333 448 668 428


Rhino poaching arrests statistics :

SA 2013 2012 2011 2010
KNP (SANParks) 57 73 82 67
MNP (SANParks) 0 0 0 0
Gauteng (GP) 3 26 16 10
Mpumalanga (MP) 6 66 73 16
Eastern Cape (EC) 0 0 2 7
Limpopo (LIM) 21 43 34 36
North West (NW) 8 32 21 2
Free State (FS) 0 6 0 0
KZN 27 20 4 25
Western Cape (WC) 0 0 0 2
Northern Cape (NC) 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 122 267 232 165


For media queries, contact:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs