Update On Rhino Poaching

South African National Parks
MEDIA STATEMENT

UPDATE ON RHINO POACHING

As the triennial Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) draws to a close, the number of rhino poached in South Africa rose to 158 since the beginning of the year. In the Kruger National Park 116 rhino have been poached, while 13 have been poached in North West, 12 in Kwazulu-Na...tal, 9 in Mpumalanga and 8 in Limpopo. A total of 61 people have been arrested, 38 of them alleged poachers and three alleged couriers. In the past week two alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park. Nine were arrested at a game farm near Lephalale in Limpopo in connection with rhino poaching on March 10, the Limpopo conservation department confirmed. South Africa’s effort to combat Rhino poaching this week received further praise from numerous stakeholders at the 16th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), at an event showcasing the intentions of a recently-approved project funded by the Global Environment Fund. The project is aimed at intensifying enforcement efforts through DNA forensic management, the improvement of information sharing through interfaced technology use, as well as enhanced co-operation with other range, transit and consumer states. Delegates to COP16 in Bangkok, Thailand, congratulated the Department of Environmental Affairs for its initiatives to combat rhino poaching on the sidelines of the conference saying initiatives presently being undertaken in South Africa would enhance the global effort to fight all trans-boundary wildlife crimes. South Africa is the first country to receive funding from a UNEP-GEF project with potential to improve the effectiveness of efforts to combat wildlife crime in South Africa’s protected areas through the improvement of forensic-based technologies, data gathering and analysis, more efficient and safe data sharing systems, improved cooperation structures at regional, sub-regional and international level to support the detection of syndicate intentions and strengthen prosecution of those involved in rhino poaching and illegal trade of rhino horn.