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06 July 2009

Media Release: Rhino poaching update

Since the beginning of the year, 65 alleged poachers have been arrested in the Kruger National Park, while 30 have been arrested in Mpumalanga and another 30 in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the past week 11 poached rhino were found in the Kruger National Park. The park continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching in South Africa with 345 rhino killed for their horns since January 1, 2013.

Of the total number of rhino”s poached, 56 rhino have been killed in Limpopo, 55 in North West, 53 in KwaZulu-Natal and 37 in Mpumalanga.

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) 146 252 425 345
MNP (SANParks) 0 6 3 2
GP 15 9 1 3
LIM 52 74 59 56
MP 17 31 28 37
NW 57 21 77 55
EC 4 11 7 2
FS 3 4 0 0
KZN 38 34 66 53
WC 0 6 2 0
NC 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 333 448 668 553


Rhino poaching arrests statistics :

SA 2013 2012 2011 2010
KNP (SANParks) 65 73 82 67
MNP (SANParks) 0 0 0 0
Gauteng (GP) 3 26 16 10
Mpumalanga (MP) 9 66 73 16
Eastern Cape (EC) 0 0 2 7
Limpopo (LIM) 30 43 34 36
North West (NW) 11 32 21 2
Free State (FS) 0 6 0 0
KZN 30 20 4 25
Western Cape (WC) 0 0 0 2
Northern Cape (NC) 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 148 267 232 165


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

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs