Last year, 124 rhinos were poached at the South African National Parks (SanParks) compared to 209 in 2021. This represents a 40% decrease compared with those killed for their horns in 2021.

"The steady decline in rhino poaching in national parks is related to the relentless war that has been waged by our fearsome anti-poaching machinery as well as a comprehensive dehorning program.

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"This year’s outcome shows that collaboration between conservation authorities, the South African Police Services, revenue authorities and international agencies works. We believe that if provincial authorities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) follow our model, they will be able to significantly curb rhino poaching in their provincial parks before it is too late," Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, announced on Monday in a media statement.

A total of 448 rhinos were killed in the country in 2022, compared to 451 rhinos poached in 2021. Unfortunately, the poaching threat has shifted to KwaZulu-Natal, which lost 244 rhinos to poaching last year, compared to 102 in 2021.

132 arrested for poaching

In 2022, a number of successful arrests and prosecutions were recorded, which contributed to the integrated work of the law enforcement agencies, which comprised the SAPS, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), SanParks, Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre, the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions), customs officials, provincial park authorities, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

A total of 132 arrests were made during 2022 for rhino poaching: 23 in the Skukuza area in Mpumalanga, 49 in KZN and the rest in Limpopo.

As part of continued efforts to ensure the survival of the rhino species, SanParks, is in the process of identifying suitable safe habitat across South Africa for the introduction of new rhino communities.

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