Namibia: New rhino poaching figures!

According to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT), Namibia has lost 19 black rhinos and nine white rhinos to poaching the first three month of 2024. Out of these 28 rhinos, 19 were poached in the Etosha National Park, of which 10 were found during a campaign in March 2024 to dehorn rhinos to reduce the risk of them becoming poaching targets. Five rhinos were killed on private farms in Namibia, three rhinos were poached in rhino custodianship farms, and one in the Kunene region. 

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

Botswana has released rhino poaching figures!

Botswana has lost 138 rhinoceros to poachers since 2018, compared to only two poached from 2012 to 2017. This is according to Cabinet Minister Mabuse Pule, who answered a parliamentary question on behalf of Botswana's Minister of Environment and Tourism Philda Kereng on 19 February 2023. In addition to the 138 rhinoceroses that had been poached since 2018, 76 died of natural causes in the last five years. Mr Pule further announced that 33 rhino were killed by poachers in 2021, while Botswana lost only six rhinos to poaching in 2022.

nb. According to a Briefing Document for Delegates to CITES SC74 (Lyon, March 2022), titled "The Rise of Rhinoceros Poaching in Botswana", by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Botswana lost six rhinos to poaching from 2006 to 2017. 11 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2018, 30 in 2019 and 62 in 2020. This is according to government figures. 

2018: 11 rhinos killed by poachers in Botswana
2019: 30
2020: 62
2021: 33
2022: 6
Total: 142

South Africa has released rhino poaching statistics for 2022! [update]

update (08 February 2023): The 124 rhinos that were killed in National Parks managed by SANPArks were all poached in Kruger National Park (124 in 2022 versus 209 in 2021 – a 40% reduction). Not a single rhino was poached in any of South Africa's other National Parks. Of the 244 rhinos killed in KwaZulu-Natal, 228 carcasses were found on the provincial state park Hluhluwe iMfolozi and 16 were lost on privately owned Game Reserves.

The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has released the rhino poaching numbers for 2022. According to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, a total of 448 rhino were killed in South Africa in 2022 compared to 451 rhino poached in 2021. Out of the 448 rhino, 124 rhino were poached at the South African National Parks (SANParks). The province of KwaZulu-Natal lost 244 rhino to poaching last year compared to 102 in 2021.

A total of 132 arrests were effected during 2022 for rhino poaching: 23 in the Skukuza area in Mpumalanga, 49 in KwaZulu-Natal and the balance in Limpopo.
The  recent focus on money laundering and international co-operation with other law enforcement authorities saw the arrest of 26 rhino horn traffickers and 13 people for money laundering and bribing of rangers.

South Africa is home to the world's largest population of near-threatened white rhinos and about half of the total endangered black rhino population on the African continent.

Namibia: New rhino poaching figures!

According to the spokesperson of the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, Namibia has lost at least 63 rhinos to poaching, of which 41 are black rhinos and 22 are white rhinos, since the beginning of 2022. This year’s poaching cases include 26 rhinos poached in the Etosha National Park, 22 rhino on private farms and 15 rhinos on custodianship farms. Namibia recorded 44 (43?) rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017.

 
Romeo Muyunda further revealed that 106 suspects have been arrested since January 2022 in Namibia, of which 44 are linked to crimes related to rhino poaching and 62 to crimes related to elephant poaching. Out of 106 suspects, 93 are Namibians, eight are from Angola and five from Zambia.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

Namibia has recorded 55 cases of rhino poaching since the beginning of this year. According to the Namibian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, this is compared to a total of 44 (43?) rhinos poached in 2021. However, 36 people have been arrested in Namibia for rhino-related cases this year, compared to 80 in 2021. Minister Shifeta further said that two elephants have been poached in Namibia so far this year compared to a total of eight in 2021. 58 people have been arrested for elephant-related cases so far in 2022, compared to 98 people arrested in 2021.

btw.: As of October 2021, Namibia had recorded 14 cases of rhino poaching and five cases of elephant poaching.

Namibia: New rhino poaching figures!

Namibia has recorded 48 cases of rhino poaching, of which 32 are black rhinos and 16 are white rhinos, since the beginning of 2022. According to the spokesperson of the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, 20 rhinos were poached in Etosha National Park, 12 black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos were poached on private farms. The Etosha figures include three carcasses discovered in June 2022 and recently confirmed as poached after a thorough assessment in the National Park as well as two more carcasses that the MEFT discovered last week.
Namibia recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

Namibia has recorded 33 cases of rhino poaching, of which 24 are black rhinos and nine are white rhinos, and two cases of elephant poaching since the beginning of 2022. According to the spokesperson of the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, this year’s poaching cases include nine black rhinos poached on custodianship farms, 15 black rhinos in the Etosha National Park, and another nine white rhinos on private farms.
Namibia recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017 as well as eight elephants poached in 2021, 12 in 2020, 13 in 2019, 27 in 2018 and 50 in 2017.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

KwaZulu-Natal: Shocking rhino poaching figures!

According to the "Daily Maverick", a South African daily online newspaper, at least 75 rhinos have been illegally killed by poachers in South Africa's province of KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of 2022 (01 January - 04 April 2022). Almost all of the 75 animals were poached in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and the flaghip park of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. A total of 102 rhinos got illegally killed by poachers in 2021 in KwaZulu-Natal and 93 rhinos in 2020. The "Daily Maverick" quotes Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo saying that rhinos had been dehorned in most of the agency’s smaller reserves, but he was not aware of any plans to dehorn animals in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is a governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in South Africa's province of KwaZulu-Natal. 

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

According to Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, the country has recorded two cases of rhino poaching and one case of elephant poaching since the beginning of 2022. A total of 43 rhinos got illegally killed by poachers in 2021 and 40 rhinos in 2020, while eight elephants have been poached in 2021 and 12 elephants in 2020.
Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

 

South Africa has released rhino poaching statistics for 2021!

South Africa's Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has released the rhino poaching numbers for 2021. According to Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, a total of 451 rhino were poached in South Africa last year, with 327 poached within government reserves, while 124 were poached on private property. In 2021, 209 rhino were poached for their horns in South African National Parks (SANParks) – all in the Kruger National Park. This was a decrease in comparison to 2020, when 247 rhino were poached within South Africa's National Parks. None of SANParks’ smaller rhino parks experienced any rhino losses from poaching in 2021, in comparison to the two rhino that were poached in 2020. 

Last year, there were 189 arrests in connection with poaching activities with 77 of them within the Kruger National Park and 109 outside the National Park. This compares with 156 people arrested countrywide in 2020. In the 38 verdicts handed down by the courts, 37 cases resulted in the conviction of 61 accused rhino poachers/traffickers.

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

Rhino and elephant poaching continues to significantly decline this year in Namibia. According to the latest figures released by the country's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, 14 rhinos and five elephants have been illegally killed by hunters in Namibia so far in 2021. Seven white rhinos and one black rhino were poached from private farms, while six black rhinos got killed in the Etosha National Park. The five elephants poached were from the Zambezi region, the Kavango East region and the Otjozondjupa region. 

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world. 

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

Rhino and elephant poaching continues to significantly decline this year in Namibia. According to the latest figures released by the country's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, nine rhinos have been illegally killed by hunters in Namibia so far in 2021. This is the lowest number in eight years for the period. Four elephants have been killed this way, a five-year low.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world. 

Namibia: New rhino and elephant poaching figures!

According to the spokesperson of Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, this year's statistics indicate that four white rhinos and one elephant have been poached in the country in the first five month of 2021. The four rhinos all got killed on private farms while the elephant was poached in a conservancy in Namibia's Otjozondjupa region.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world.

Namibia records a drastic drop in cases of illegal poaching!

The Chief Public Relations Officer at Namibia's Ministry of Enviroment and Tourism (MET), Romeo Muyunda, has announced that Namibia has recorded a drastic drop in cases of illegal poaching. The country has lost only two rhinos to poaching activities since the beginning of 2021 compared to 13 poaching cases recorded at the same period of time in 2020. According to Mr. Muyunda, Namibia's continued anti-poaching efforts have led to this drastic drop in poaching cases.
Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world. 

South Africa has released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2020!

South Africa's Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2020. According to the Department, a total of 394 rhino were poached for their horn in South Africa in 2020. This is 33% less than the 594 killed in 2019, and marks the sixth year that rhino poaching has continued to decrease in the country. A total of 16 elephants were poached for their ivory in the Kruger National Park during 2020, a decrease of 48.39% compared to the 31 killed in South African National Parks (Kruger National Park and Marakele National Park) in 2019.

From January to December 2020, 66 alleged poachers were arrested within the Kruger National Park.  A total of 90 people were arrested for rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking outside Kruger National Park, and more than 25 major investigations were undertaken across South Africa.

Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2020! [update]

update (08 February 2021): According to an article in "The Namibian" (online edition; 05 February 2021), Namibia recorded a total of 31 rhinos poached in 2020 compared to 52 in 2019.

Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2020. According to Romeo Muyunda, Chief Public Relations Officer at the MET, a total of 30 rhinos and eleven elephants got illegally killed by poachers in Namibia in 2020, compared to compared to 50 (54?) rhinos and 13 (12?) elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2019.
Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas and the largest free roaming black rhino population in the world.

Namibia has increased fines for poaching to N$25 million from N$200,000 and prison sentences have risen to 25 years from 20.

South Africa released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2019!

South Africa's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, has released the rhino poaching numbers for 2019. According to the Minister, a total of 594 rhinos got illegally killed by poachers in South Africa in 2019. This is a decrease of 175 rhino compared to 2018 when 769 rhinos were killed for their horns. Out of the 594 killed rhinos, a total of 327 rhinos were poached in the Kruger National Park.

From January to December 2019, 178 alleged poachers were arrested within Kruger National Park. At a national level, 332 arrests were effected in respect of both rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking and in excess of 57 major investigations were undertaken across the country. A total of 85 firearms were recovered during the year.

Provinces and National Parks	2017	2018	2019
South African National Parks (SANParks)	504	422	328
Gauteng	4	2	5
Limpopo	79	40	45
Mpumalanga	49	51	34
North West	96	65	32
Eastern Cape	12	19	2
Free State	38	16	11
Northern Cape	24	12	4
KwaZulu-Natal	222	142	133
Western Cape	0	0	0
Total	1028	769	594

With regard to elephant poaching, South Africa's Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries reports that 31 elephant have been poached in South Africa in 2019 – 30 animals in Kruger National Park and 1 in Mapungubwe National Park. This is a decrease in the number of elephant poached in 2018, when 71 were killed for their tusks.

Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2019!

Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2019. According to the MET, a total of (at least) 45 rhinos and 12 elephants got illegally killed by poachers in Namibia in 2019. In 2018, a total of 57 rhinos and 26 elephants were poached, while 120 suspected poachers were arrested.Namibia has the second largest population of white rhinos in the world after South Africa and, according to Save the Rhino, it holds one-third of the world’s remaining black rhinos.

 

South Africa released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2018!

South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, has released the rhino poaching numbers for 2018. According to the Minister, a total of 769 rhinos got illegally killed by poachers in South Africa in 2018. This is a decrease of 259 rhino compared to 2017 when 1 028 rhino were killed for their horns. It is also the first time in 5 years that the annual figure is under 1000. Out of the 769 killed rhinos, a total of 421 rhino were poached in the Kruger National Park. One rhino was poached in the Marakele National Park. From 01 January to 31 December 2018, a total of 365 alleged rhino poachers and 36 alleged rhino horn traffickers were arrested in South Africa. A total of 229 alleged poachers were arrested inside and adjacent to the Kruger National Park, 40 more than the 189 arrested in 2017. There are currently 318 rhino poaching-related cases on the court roll involving 645 accused and 897 charges. 275 of these cases are trial-ready.

A total of 71 elephants were poached in the Kruger National Park between 1 January and 31 December 2018. One elephant was killed in KwaZulu-Natal which brings the total for South Africa to 72 elephant for 2018.

Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2018!

Namibia's Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2018. According to the Minister, a total of (at least) 57 rhinos and 26 elephants got illegally killed by poachers in Namibia in 2018. 120 suspected poachers were arrested in 2018. (At least) One rhino was reported poached so far this year.
 

Earlier this month Namibia's Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Bernadette Jagger, revealed that Namibia has lost an average of 50 rhinos annually to poaching since 2015. According to the Deputy Minister, despite the onslaught of poaching, the white and black rhino population of the country has preserved and continues to grow. The black rhino population in Namibia currently exceeds 2 000 species, and the white population currently stands at 1 000 animals.