In the first half of 2022, 259 rhinos were poached in South Africa for their horn, which is a slight rise from the same period in 2021.
The 249 rhinos that were killed nationwide in the first half of 2021 were outnumbered by 10 between January and June 2022.
“Recent trends in rhino poaching show a move away from the Kruger Park to private reserves and KwaZulu-Natal where the majority of rhinos have been killed this year.
“This makes it all the more important for national government to shift its focus to supporting provincial authorities and private reserves in the war on rhino poaching,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy said on Monday.
As of January to end of June 2022, 82 rhino were poached for their horn in the Kruger National Park.
“2022 Poaching statistics show a loss of 210 rhino on state properties and 49 in privately-owned parks. As indicated, hardest hit during this period is KwaZulu-Natal, which recorded a loss of 133 rhino. This is more than triple the 33 rhino killed in the first six months of 2021,” the Minister said.
69 persons were detained between January and June in relation to rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking. In the Kruger National Park, 13 suspected poachers were detained.
The National Prosecuting Authority, the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and the Green Scorpions, as well as customs agents and law enforcement officials, can all be credited for the number of successful arrests and prosecutions made over the past six months. Private security is supporting in these attempts.
The partnership has expanded to include the financial and transportation industries, as well as transit and end-user nations in Southeast Asia, particularly with the People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This is in addition to the work being done within the seven Integrated Wildlife Zones.
“As a result of the ongoing work of integrated enforcement teams at OR Tambo International Airport, four alleged rhino horn traffickers were arrested between January and June this year for trying to smuggle 56 pieces of rhino horn out of the country.
“In one instance, cooperation between the Hawks, Malaysia and Qatar authorities led to the arrest of another alleged rhino horn trafficker and his haul of rhino horn pieces at Doha Airport in Qatar. This arrest demonstrates the success of country-to-country cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking at an international level,” the Minister said.
The Hawks are also working with the US Fish and Wildlife service in an investigation arising from the discovery in June of a suspect parcel at FedEx that was destined for the United States.
The parcel contained eight kilograms of rhino horns pieces concealed as wooden art pieces.
“A number of search and seizure operations took place countrywide, with the Hawks arresting one suspect and confiscating 29 rhino horn during an operation at storage and packing facilities in Bedfordview where rhino horns are prepared and packed for the illegal markets in Southeast Asia.
“In combined law enforcement operations two suspects were arrested in June when they were stopped by the Highway Patrol in Bedfordview and found to be in possession of two fresh rhino horn. Two suspects, one a former Ezemvelo-KZN Parks ranger, were arrested earlier this month after their vehicle was searched and two fresh rhino horn were seized,” Creecy said.
One of the accused had previously been arrested for possession of rhino horn in the Kruger National Park.
On 23 April 2022, an integrated operation was conducted to address money laundering and corruption linked to rhino horn trafficking activities within the Kruger National Park.
“Various search and seizure warrants were authorised and executed at multiple premises in and around the park with the aim of effectively dismantling the operations of some of the main targets.
“A multi-dimensional team led by the Hawks, with the support of the Kruger National Park and Stock Theft and Endangered Species in Skukuza was assembled and premises in Limpopo and Mpumalanga were searched during the operation.”
Two field rangers from Kruger National Park were among the three suspects who were taken into custody during the operation.
According to Creecy, the arrests and the operation’s effectiveness had a big impact on rhino poaching activities in the Kruger Park and conveyed a clear message that dishonest and illegal behaviour won’t be tolerated.
On July 21, 2022, a departmental hearing resulted in the dismissal of one of the rangers. In anticipation of the judicial proceedings, the departmental hearing for the other ranger is still going on.
“In total 51 cases in which 51 people were convicted have been finalised. The heaviest sentence handed down was 34 years imprisonment, while two Mpumalanga men were sentenced to 28 year behind bars for killing rhino and being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
“In the Skukuza Court, two Mozambican nationals were convicted for poaching a rhino in the Kruger National Park, possession of unlawful firearms and ammunition and being in the country illegally. They were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment,” Creecy said.
In a another case, two Mozambican citizens were found guilty of illegally possessing rifles and ammunition as well as poaching two rhinos in the Kruger National Park.
“They were sentenced to 19 years imprisonment. In addition, three South Africans were sentenced on charges of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park and firearm related charges, and sentenced to an effective 24 years in jail,” the Minister said.