PHOTO COURTESY PIXABAY
The number of rhinos poached in South Africa in 2024 was slightly lower than in previous years.
This was announced by the minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Deon George, who revealed that the country lost 420 rhinos in 2024, down from the 499 killed in 2023 and the 448 poached in 2022.
George said while the progress is commendable, “it must be sustained and reinforced if we are to win the war against [rhino poaching].”
The minister said he completed a ranger training course this year and “is better equipped than any previous minister to lead the charge against the war currently being waged on our biodiversity.”
George said KwaZulu-Natal remains the worst-affected province, accounting for just over half of the total poaching incidents.
Encouragingly, he said there was a significant decrease in poaching numbers in the province compared to 2023.
“Kruger National Park, a key stronghold for rhino conservation, lost 88 rhinos in 2024, up from 78 the previous year,” he said in a statement.
“This rise is concerning, particularly as a spate of incidents carried over into 2025, straining park staff who are battling limited resources.
“The situation is exacerbated by a porous park fence, a high number of staff vacancies – particularly among rangers – and inadequate detection and response capabilities.
“The DA calls on the minister to ensure that polygraph testing under the Park’s Integrity Management Plan is implemented swiftly and effectively to curb internal collusion and safeguard rhino populations.
"We welcome the conviction and strong sentencing of Francis Kipamba in January 2025 and urge law enforcement to maintain this momentum in bringing poachers and syndicate leaders to justice.”
