World Rhino Day by the numbers
This article is more than 6 years old
Is South Africa winning the fight against rhino poaching? Environmental affairs minister, Edna Molewa sure thinks so.
In a media statement released on 22 September to commemorate World Rhino Day, Molewa said the “slow but steady decline in rhino poaching numbers” shows the significant progress of anti-poaching interventions.
Key to this intervention is a joint anti-rhino poaching effort between several government departments and state entities, such as the departments of defence, environmental affairs, and South African National Parks.
“There has in recent months been an increase in the number of detections of illegally trafficked rhino horn at ports of entry and exit,” said Molewa in the statement.
Earlier this month a Chinese national was arrested at OR Tambo international airport after five rhino horns wrapped in foil were discovered in his luggage.
Below we provide a breakdown of the number of rhinos poached as well as poaching-related arrests made in the past five years.
In a media statement released on 22 September to commemorate World Rhino Day, Molewa said the “slow but steady decline in rhino poaching numbers” shows the significant progress of anti-poaching interventions.
Key to this intervention is a joint anti-rhino poaching effort between several government departments and state entities, such as the departments of defence, environmental affairs, and South African National Parks.
“There has in recent months been an increase in the number of detections of illegally trafficked rhino horn at ports of entry and exit,” said Molewa in the statement.
Earlier this month a Chinese national was arrested at OR Tambo international airport after five rhino horns wrapped in foil were discovered in his luggage.
Below we provide a breakdown of the number of rhinos poached as well as poaching-related arrests made in the past five years.
| Oh and we’ll take this opportunity to remind you again: when it comes to rhino horn’s medicinal values, you’re better off taking an aspirin or biting your fingernails. |
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