KwaZulu-Natal: 80% drop in rhino poaching in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park!

According to the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF South Africa), the ongoing Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife mass dehorning of rhinos in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal has resulted in an 80% drop in poaching in the park since the operation began in April this year. To date, it has spared the lives of an estimated 120 rhinos and enabled the rescue of eight orphaned calves whose mothers had been killed. The calves were found in the early days of the operation when poaching levels were still high and are now being cared for at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. In April 2024, when the dehorning operation first started,  around 30 animals a month were being killed. In June 2024 only four animals were lost, in July 2024 eight and four in August 2024.
KwaZulu-Natal lost a total of 325 rhinos in 2023 to poaching, with a significant 307 of those illegally killed within Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. This represents more than 10% of the park’s population and some 60% of the national poaching loss in South Africa.