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More than 100 rhinos have been poached between January and March 2025. (Daniele Fiasca/Mondadori via Getty Images)
- More than 100 rhinos have been poached between January and March.
- During the same period, there were 15 rhino-poaching related arrests.
- The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said the monthly average for poaching is on par with last year, when there were a total of 420 rhinos killed.
More than 100 rhinos have been poached in the first three months of the year, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George has said.
"The loss of 103 rhinos to poaching in the first three months of 2025 is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife," said Dr George.
"Yet, the absence of poaching in four provinces shows that our targeted interventions are yielding results, and we must build on this progress."
The latest statistics indicate an average of 34.33 rhinos are killed per month. George said this figure is close to the average monthly poaching rate of 35 rhinos over the previous 12 months (420 rhinos annually).
He said the statistics underscored the "sustained pressure on our rhino populations and the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat this illegal activity.
"The breakdown of poaching incidents by province reveals that SANParks [owned reserves] recorded the highest number of losses, with 65 rhinos poached. [Provincially and privately owned properties in] KwaZulu-Natal reported 16 cases, followed by Limpopo with 10, Free State with 5, North West with 4, and Mpumalanga with 3. Encouragingly, no rhinos were poached in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, or Gauteng during this period," he said.
He said the figures highlight "the effectiveness of targeted interventions in certain regions".
"The absence of poaching incidents in four provinces is a testament to the dedication of our rangers, law enforcement agencies, and community partners who work tirelessly to protect our natural heritage," he said.
READ | Inside South Africa's wildlife school helping to catch poachers
George added that there have been 15 rhino poaching-related arrests between January and March 2025.
"We are working closely with the NPA and SAPS to ensure that repeat offenders and those with no fixed address face stronger opposition to bail," George said.
"The South African government remains steadfast in its commitment to combating wildlife crime. We continue to strengthen anti-poaching measures, including enhanced ranger patrols, advanced surveillance technologies, and collaboration with national and international law enforcement agencies."
The minister said they are working closely with various stakeholders to bolster anti-poaching efforts through the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and thermal radars.
George said his department will "continue to monitor the situation closely and provide regular updates on our efforts to protect South Africa's rhinos and other endangered species".
ALSO READ | Dehorning programme sees 60% drop in rhino poaching at KZN reserve
News24 previously reported that in 2024, there were 420 rhinos killed. There were 499 poached in 2023. Last year's poaching incidents were the lowest number of rhino poaching cases since 2020, when 394 were killed.
The decrease in poaching incidents was attributed to a dehorning programme in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, which was instrumental in reducing rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal.
This province has borne the brunt of poaching over the last few years. But last year's rhino poaching statistics, showed a 67% decline in poaching incidents in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi since the dehorning programme's implementation.
In 2023, 325 rhinos were poached in the province. This dropped to 232 in 2024. Between January and April 2024, 124 rhinos were poached in the province – an average of 31 deaths a month.
The dehorning programme was implemented in April, and between May and September 2024, poaching numbers dropped from 35 a month to fewer than 10 a month.
