ABOUT 328 rhinos will be illegally hunted for their horns in South Africa this year, unless efforts are stepped up to curb the $20-billion (about R156-billion) trade.
A total of 780 white and black rhinos were hunted and killed for their horns in 2010 and 2011, forcing the government to step up protection of the species from syndicates that sell the horns on the black market, mainly in the Far East.
Fundisile Mketeni, deputy director-general for biodiversity and conservation at the Department of Environmental Affairs, said criminal syndicates were using Mozambican nationals as poachers who breach the Kruger National Park fence to hunt for rhinos.
He was addressing Parliament's water and environmental affairs portfolio committee which yesterday held public hearings on solutions to rhino poaching.
Mketeni said South Africa was working closely with countries where much of the poached horns find their way, especially Vietnam and China.
Police arrested 194 poachers last year, another 24 people were taken to custody for illegally transporting of rhinos that had been poached, while 12 other people were also arrested.
The government has also placed extra measures to monitor and control canned hunting of rhinos after it emerged that some of the legal operators in canned hunting were in bed with crime syndicates.
According to a Global Rhino Ultimatum - which has drawn 11500 signatures worldwide - 69% of rhino trophy hunting activities have fronted for illegal trafficking and trade in horns.
Figures also show that 176 rhinos were hunted between 2009 and mid-2011 in North West. In July members of a Thai syndicate were arrested on charges of illegal hunting in that province. Most of the 176 hunting permits were issued to Asians.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 47 permits were issued between 2009 and 2011.
Some conversation groups have called on the government to place a moratorium on the trade in rhino horns.
Others want the government to destroy stockpiled rhino horns.
Mketeni raised committee chairman Johnny de Lange's ire when he admitted that the government was not aware of the amount of stockpiles in private hands.
SA to get tough in the fight against rhino horn poaching
ABOUT 328 rhinos will be illegally hunted for their horns in South Africa this year, unless efforts are stepped up to curb the $20-billion (about R156-billion) trade.
A total of 780 white and black rhinos were hunted and killed for their horns in 2010 and 2011, forcing the government to step up protection of the species from syndicates that sell the horns on the black market, mainly in the Far East.
Fundisile Mketeni, deputy director-general for biodiversity and conservation at the Department of Environmental Affairs, said criminal syndicates were using Mozambican nationals as poachers who breach the Kruger National Park fence to hunt for rhinos.
He was addressing Parliament's water and environmental affairs portfolio committee which yesterday held public hearings on solutions to rhino poaching.
Mketeni said South Africa was working closely with countries where much of the poached horns find their way, especially Vietnam and China.
Police arrested 194 poachers last year, another 24 people were taken to custody for illegally transporting of rhinos that had been poached, while 12 other people were also arrested.
The government has also placed extra measures to monitor and control canned hunting of rhinos after it emerged that some of the legal operators in canned hunting were in bed with crime syndicates.
According to a Global Rhino Ultimatum - which has drawn 11500 signatures worldwide - 69% of rhino trophy hunting activities have fronted for illegal trafficking and trade in horns.
Figures also show that 176 rhinos were hunted between 2009 and mid-2011 in North West. In July members of a Thai syndicate were arrested on charges of illegal hunting in that province. Most of the 176 hunting permits were issued to Asians.
In KwaZulu-Natal, 47 permits were issued between 2009 and 2011.
Some conversation groups have called on the government to place a moratorium on the trade in rhino horns.
Others want the government to destroy stockpiled rhino horns.
Mketeni raised committee chairman Johnny de Lange's ire when he admitted that the government was not aware of the amount of stockpiles in private hands.
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