1000 rhinos poached in 2013
The fears of South Africa were confirmed on Friday after the Department of Environmental Affairs announced that more than a thousand rhino were poached in the country in 2013.
The Department’s latest statistics show that a total of 1004 rhinos were killed for their horns during the year, while the number of rhino poaching-related arrests climbed to 343.
“During 2013, the Kruger National Park continued to bear the brunt of rhino poaching losing a total of 606 of the iconic animals to poachers,” the Department said in a press statement.
A total of 114 rhino were poached in Limpopo, 92 in Mpumalanga, 87 in North West and 85 in Kwazulu-Natal.
The number is a 33% increase from 2012, when a total of 668 rhino were lost to poachers.
According to the Department, 2778 rhino have been poached in South Africa since 2008.
Arrests also increased considerably in 2013, from 267 in 2012.
2014 has kicked off with an average of more than two rhinos a day being slaughtered by poachers, with 37 confirmed killings recorded.
In April 2013, former director of the KNP, Dr Salomon Joubert, predicted that the number of rhinos poached for the year would hit a thousand, a statement which was labelled ‘pessimistic’ by SANParks.
“Despite the huge outcry against it, rhino poaching will never stop,” said Joubert. – The Write News Agency