Rhino poached nears 250 this year
The number of rhino poached for their horn in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 249. The Kruger National Park remains the hardest hit, with the number of rhino poached since last week increasing from 167 to 180. A total of 21 in North West, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal, 17 in Limpopo and 13 in Mpumalanga.
The number of alleged poachers arrested countrywide has increased to 78, with two alleged couriers arrested in KwaZulu-Natal in the past week. This brings to five the number of alleged middlemen arrested so far the year. A total of 73 people are facing poaching-related charges and some additional charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Of these, 36 were arrested in the Kruger National Park, 17 in Limpopo, 13 in KwaZulu-Natal, eight in North West and one in Mpumalanga.
South Africans are urged to report incidents of poaching and tipoffs to the anonymous tipoff lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime Line on 32211.
| Rhino poaching statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SA | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| KNP (SANParks) | 146 | 252 | 425 | 180 |
| MNP (SANParks) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| GP | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| LIM | 52 | 74 | 59 | 17 |
| MP | 17 | 31 | 28 | 13 |
| NW | 57 | 21 | 77 | 21 |
| EC | 4 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| FS | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| KZN | 38 | 34 | 66 | 18 |
| WC | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| NC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 333 | 448 | 668 | 249 |
| Rhino poaching arrests statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa - Arrests | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
| KNP | 36 | 73 | 82 | 67 |
| MNP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gauteng (GP) | 3 | 26 | 16 | 10 |
| Mpumalanga (MP) | 1 | 66 | 73 | 16 |
| Eastern Cape (EC) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Limpopo (LP) | 17 | 43 | 34 | 36 |
| North West (NW) | 8 | 32 | 21 | 2 |
| Free State (FS) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) | 13 | 20 | 4 | 25 |
| Western Cape (WC) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Northern Cape (NC) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 78 | 267 | 232 | 165 |