There are promising signs that rhino poaching is now on a downward trend in South Africa‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa says.
Reporting back on progress in the implementation of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros‚ Molewa said on Sunday that nationally‚ 702 rhino had been poached since the beginning of 2016 compared to a total of 796 rhino poached between January and July 2015.
“We are pleased to announce yet again‚ as we did in January and May‚ that poaching is on the decline in the Kruger National Park (KNP) – the area hardest hit‚” she said.
Between January and the end of August 2016‚ a total number of 458 poached rhino carcasses had been found in the Kruger National Park‚ compared to 557 in the same period last year. This represented a 17.8% decline in the number of rhino carcasses‚ the minister stated.
“Poaching rates‚ i.e. the number of carcasses as a percentage of the number of live rhinos estimated the previous September for each year‚ reduced by 15.5% compared between the same periods in 2015 (9.6% poaching rate) and 2016 (7.9% poaching rate).
“These figures come amidst a 27.87 % increase in the number of illegal incursions into the KNP – a staggering 2‚115 for the first eight months of 2016‚” Molewa said.
But she added there might be indications that the success of anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park had led to poaching syndicates shifting operations to other provinces.
In the period under review‚ the number of rhino poached had increased in a number of other provinces in comparison to the same period in 2015‚ such as Kwa-Zulu/Natal‚ Free State and the Northern Cape.
“However‚ despite these increases there is still a downward trend in the number of rhino poached.”
Significant increase in number of arrests for rhino poaching: Molewa
There has been a significant increase in the number of arrests of alleged poachers this year‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa says.
She said on Sunday that a total of 414 alleged poachers had been arrested in South Africa since January 1 this year – 177 of which were in the Kruger National Park and 237 in the rest of the country.
A total of 94 firearms have been seized inside the Kruger National Park between January 1 and August 31 this year.
Molewa said that among the notable investigations‚ arrests and prosecutions linked to rhino poaching were:
- The arrest of three men in Vanderbijlpark in April‚ during a police operation‚ for allegedly intending to sell rhino horns. Adriaan Van Staden‚ Martin Van Rooyen and Conrad Strydom were found in possession of 18 rhino horns. Their court date is 20 September 2016.
- In a matter linked to the arrest in Vanderbijlpark‚ two other men – Adriaan du Plessis and Nardus Rossouw – were arrested in Lephalale for their alleged involvement in the orchestration of the illegal selling of rhino horns. Their court date is 15 September 2016.
- In the Eastern Cape‚ three suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and the illegal possession of a fresh rhino horn in June. The arrest followed the killing of a rhino bull in a private game reserve earlier the same day in the Grahamstown area. Jabulani Ndlovu‚ Sikhombuzi Ndlovu and Zimbabwean national Forget Ndlovu were arrested during a joint operation during which a Dart Gun and Darts‚ several saws‚ knives; M99 tranquilizers and 2 high performance vehicles were also confiscated. The accused in this case remain in custody following their court appearances.
- On 10 August‚ the Hawks and SANParks officials arrested three men in Equestria‚ Pretoria‚ during a police operation who were intending to sell five rhino horn. Pieter Van Zyl (67)‚ Marco Swanepoel (35) and Stephan Mylie (30) were found in possession of an additional three rhino horns during the arrest. During follow-up investigations a massive haul of almost 105 rhino horns‚ the value of which is yet to be determined‚ was found. The three accused‚ who were granted bail during their court appearance in August‚ are scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on 12 October 2016.
- Law enforcement agencies working at OR Tambo International Airport in August arrested a Chinese national found in possession of 10 rhino horns‚ 84 stick ornaments made out of elephant ivory and 41 elephant ivory bangles. The suspect‚ Desheng Zhane‚ was about to board a flight to Hong Kong when he was nabbed. A joint investigation is underway by the Hawks and the Green Scorpions.
Signs that rhino poaching in SA on the decline: Molewa
There are promising signs that rhino poaching is now on a downward trend in South Africa‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa says.
Reporting back on progress in the implementation of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros‚ Molewa said on Sunday that nationally‚ 702 rhino had been poached since the beginning of 2016 compared to a total of 796 rhino poached between January and July 2015.
“We are pleased to announce yet again‚ as we did in January and May‚ that poaching is on the decline in the Kruger National Park (KNP) – the area hardest hit‚” she said.
Between January and the end of August 2016‚ a total number of 458 poached rhino carcasses had been found in the Kruger National Park‚ compared to 557 in the same period last year. This represented a 17.8% decline in the number of rhino carcasses‚ the minister stated.
“Poaching rates‚ i.e. the number of carcasses as a percentage of the number of live rhinos estimated the previous September for each year‚ reduced by 15.5% compared between the same periods in 2015 (9.6% poaching rate) and 2016 (7.9% poaching rate).
“These figures come amidst a 27.87 % increase in the number of illegal incursions into the KNP – a staggering 2‚115 for the first eight months of 2016‚” Molewa said.
But she added there might be indications that the success of anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park had led to poaching syndicates shifting operations to other provinces.
In the period under review‚ the number of rhino poached had increased in a number of other provinces in comparison to the same period in 2015‚ such as Kwa-Zulu/Natal‚ Free State and the Northern Cape.
“However‚ despite these increases there is still a downward trend in the number of rhino poached.”
Significant increase in number of arrests for rhino poaching: Molewa
There has been a significant increase in the number of arrests of alleged poachers this year‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa says.
She said on Sunday that a total of 414 alleged poachers had been arrested in South Africa since January 1 this year – 177 of which were in the Kruger National Park and 237 in the rest of the country.
A total of 94 firearms have been seized inside the Kruger National Park between January 1 and August 31 this year.
Molewa said that among the notable investigations‚ arrests and prosecutions linked to rhino poaching were:
- The arrest of three men in Vanderbijlpark in April‚ during a police operation‚ for allegedly intending to sell rhino horns. Adriaan Van Staden‚ Martin Van Rooyen and Conrad Strydom were found in possession of 18 rhino horns. Their court date is 20 September 2016.
- In a matter linked to the arrest in Vanderbijlpark‚ two other men – Adriaan du Plessis and Nardus Rossouw – were arrested in Lephalale for their alleged involvement in the orchestration of the illegal selling of rhino horns. Their court date is 15 September 2016.
- In the Eastern Cape‚ three suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and the illegal possession of a fresh rhino horn in June. The arrest followed the killing of a rhino bull in a private game reserve earlier the same day in the Grahamstown area. Jabulani Ndlovu‚ Sikhombuzi Ndlovu and Zimbabwean national Forget Ndlovu were arrested during a joint operation during which a Dart Gun and Darts‚ several saws‚ knives; M99 tranquilizers and 2 high performance vehicles were also confiscated. The accused in this case remain in custody following their court appearances.
- On 10 August‚ the Hawks and SANParks officials arrested three men in Equestria‚ Pretoria‚ during a police operation who were intending to sell five rhino horn. Pieter Van Zyl (67)‚ Marco Swanepoel (35) and Stephan Mylie (30) were found in possession of an additional three rhino horns during the arrest. During follow-up investigations a massive haul of almost 105 rhino horns‚ the value of which is yet to be determined‚ was found. The three accused‚ who were granted bail during their court appearance in August‚ are scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on 12 October 2016.
- Law enforcement agencies working at OR Tambo International Airport in August arrested a Chinese national found in possession of 10 rhino horns‚ 84 stick ornaments made out of elephant ivory and 41 elephant ivory bangles. The suspect‚ Desheng Zhane‚ was about to board a flight to Hong Kong when he was nabbed. A joint investigation is underway by the Hawks and the Green Scorpions.
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