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.