More than 1 000 rhinos poached last year
Although it seems hopeless, field rangers and other role players continue to put up a brave fight against these poachers
SKUKUZA – Today is the 21st day of the new year and already 37 rhino have been poached. Last year, 1 004 of these animals were slaughtered for their horns.
The Department of Environmental Affairs released these figures late Friday afternoon.
In 2012, 668 rhino were poached, with 448 the previous year. The grand total since 2008 is 2 778. The Kruger National Park remains the hardest hit, having lost 606 rhino to poachers last year. Since the beginning of the year, 34 were poached in the Kruger, with three in KwaZulu-Natal.
Although it seems hopeless, field rangers and other role players continue to put up a brave fight against these poachers.
A total of 343 suspects were arrested last year, 133 of them in the park. Six suspected poachers have also been arrested since
2014 commenced.
