Black Rhinos return to Matusadona National Park in major conservation milestone

Critically endangered black rhinos have returned to Zimbabwe's Matusadona National Park for the first time in more than three decades, marking one of the country's most significant wildlife conservation achievements in recent years.

Situated along the shores of Lake Kariba, Matusadona National Park was once home to Zimbabwe's largest population of black rhino. However, widespread poaching during the late 1980s and early 1990s forced authorities to relocate the remaining animals to safer areas across the country.

Now, descendants of those original rhinos have been reintroduced to the park through a joint initiative involving African Parks, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), and conservation partners.

The rhinos were carefully transported from several protected areas, including Imire Rhino and Wildlife Conservancy and Matobo National Park, before being moved to a secure protection zone within Matusadona. Following a period of monitoring, they will be released in phases into the wild.

For travellers, the return of black rhinos adds another exciting dimension to Matusadona National Park's wildlife offering. The park is already renowned for its spectacular Lake Kariba scenery, elephant herds, lion populations, and exceptional wilderness experiences.

The reintroduction forms part of Zimbabwe's long-term Rhino Conservation Strategy and is expected to establish a new breeding population that will help strengthen the country's black rhino numbers over the coming decades.

The project also highlights the remarkable recovery of Matusadona National Park since African Parks began co-managing the reserve in 2019, helping restore one of Zimbabwe's most iconic safari destinations.

Visitors to Matusadona National Par can now look forward to the possibility of seeing one of Africa's rarest and most endangered mammals roaming the landscape once again.

 

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Africa’s largest private Black Rhino Sanctuary planned in Namibia!

Namibia is taking a bold step in wildlife conservation with the creation of the world’s largest privately-owned Black Rhino sanctuary in the Gondwana Canyon Park, located in the Fish River Canyon landscape of southern Namibia.
Developed by Gondwana Collection Namibia in partnership with ERP Conservation Foundation Namibia and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), the sanctuary will protect one of Africa’s most endangered species - with fewer than 5,500 Black Rhinos left in the wild.
This milestone builds on 30 years of ecological restoration within Gondwana Canyon Park, transforming former livestock farms into a thriving haven for desert-adapted wildlife. The sanctuary borders the /Ai-/Ais–Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, supporting cross-border conservation and rhino metapopulation management.
Plans include immersive rhino tourism experiences, an educational centre at Canyon Roadhouse, and the deployment of anti-poaching units. This initiative reflects Namibia's leadership in sustainable conservation - inviting global support to protect rhinos and restore one of Earth’s oldest landscapes.

The Black Rhino is smaller and more solitary than its cousin, the White Rhino. Known for its hooked upper lip, it is well adapted for browsing on shrubs and trees in dry, arid environments. Once widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, the species suffered a dramatic population collapse due to poaching and habitat loss, especially during the 20th century. Today, Namibia holds one of the last strongholds for desert-adapted Black Rhinos, thanks to decades of conservation work.

South Africa: Rhino poaching Numbers decline in 2024!

The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has released the rhino poaching statistics for 2024. According to the data, a total of 420 rhinos were poached across South Africa from January to December 2024. Of these, 320 were killed on state-owned properties, while 100 were poached on privately owned parks, reserves, or farms. This marks a significant decrease compared to the 499 rhinos lost to poaching in 2023.
KwaZulu-Natal remained the hardest-hit province, with 232 rhinos poached in 2024. However, this is a notable decline from the 325 rhinos killed in the region the previous year. A major factor behind this reduction was the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Dehorning Programme, which was implemented in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park between April and October 2024. Funded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the initiative had an immediate impact, with poaching numbers dropping from 35 in April to fewer than 10 per month between May and September.

Kruger National Park reported a total of 88 rhinos poached in 2024, an increase of 10 compared to the 78 recorded in 2023. Up until the end of November 2024, rhino losses in Kruger National Park stood at 67, but a sharp escalation in poaching activity occurred in December. That month alone, 21 rhinos were killed, and the trend continued into January 2025, with another 17 rhinos reported poached.
In KwaZulu-Natal, poaching syndicates adapted their tactics in October and began targeting dehorned rhinos, leading to a sudden surge in incidents. That month alone, the province lost 27 rhinos. Fortunately, swift action by the provincial anti-poaching team led to the interception of the new syndicate, preventing further losses. Thanks to these concerted efforts, KwaZulu-Natal ultimately recorded a 67% decline in rhino poaching over the eight-month period.

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.

Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2023!

The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2023. According to the figures, Namibia lost 67 rhinos and eight elephants in the last year, compared to 92 rhinos and four elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2022. Over the past 10 years, Namibia has documented a total of 631 poaching incidents, with the highest numbers reported in 2022. In 2023, Namibia registered 50 cases related to rhino and elephant poaching, leading to the arrest of 139 suspects.

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 2023!

The South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has released the rhino poaching statistics for 2023. A total of 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms. This was an increase of 51 rhinos in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022. Out of the 499 rhinos, 307 were illegally killed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal. Kruger National Park (KNP) recorded a 37% decrease from 2022 with a total of 78 poached in 2023. No rhinos were poached in any other of South Africa's National Parks.

In relation to rhino prosecutions in South Africa in 2023, verdicts were handed down in 36 cases of which 35 resulted in guilty verdicts and one in a not guilty verdict. The cases resulted in the conviction of 45 accused rhino poachers/rhino horn traffickers with a conviction rate of 97%.

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Members of the public can report any suspicious activities around wildlife to its environmental crime hotline which is 0800 205 005 or the South African Police Service (SAPS) number 10111!

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 released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2022! [update]

update (30 January 2023): According to an update on high-value species poaching in Namibia, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) announced that 87 rhinos were poached in 2022, including 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos. 15 rhinos were poached on rhino custodianship farms, another 25 on white rhino private farms, and 46 in Etosha National Park. The four elephants, that Namibia lost to poaching activities, were killed in the Zambezi Region (2), the Kavango West Region (1) and the Kunene Region (1). 

The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2022. According to the figures, Namibia lost 77 rhinos and four elephants in the last year, compared to 45  rhinos and 10 elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2021. The rhino poaching statistics of 2022 is the third highest recorded since 2013.
In 2022, a total of 43 rhinos were poached in Namibia, while 61 were killed in 2019, 55 in 2017, 66 in 2016, 56 in 2014 and 9 in 2013. 12 elephants were poached in Namibia in 2020, while 13 elephants were killed by poachers in 2019, 27 in 2018, 50 in 2017, 101 in 2016, 49 in 2015 and 78 in 2014.

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 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.

Africa: New rhino population estimates released!

According to a report to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups, the total rhino population worldwide was estimated to be 26,272 as of 31 December 2021. Africa conserved an estimated 22,137 rhinoceroses at the end of 2021*, which comprised 6,195 black and 15,942 white rhinoceroses. Namibia is home to 34.8% (2,156 out of 6,195) of the continental population of black rhino, followed by South Africa (33.2%; 2,056), Kenya (15.1%; 938) and Zimbabwe (9.9%; 616). For white rhinoceroses, South Africa is home to 81.3% (12,968 out of 15,942) of the continental population, followed by Namibia (7.7%; 1,234), Kenya (5.5%; 873) and Zimbabwe (2.6%; 417). However, the white rhinoceros’ population in South Africa declined from 15,625 at the end of 2017 to 12 968 at the end of 2021. Also worth noting is that rhinoceros’ populations of Botswana declined from 452 white and 50 black rhinoceroses respectively at the end of 2017 to 242 white and 23 black rhinoceroses at the end of 2021. Most black rhinoceroses (6,031) occur in wild (free) ranging conditions, and an estimated one-third of white rhinoceros (4,883) occur in intensive or semi-wild ranging conditions, mostly in South Africa.
In the period 2018 to 2021, 2,707 rhinoceros poaching incidents were recorded in Africa, of which 90% took place in South Africa.

* 218 black and 1,077 white rhinoceroses are in ex-situ collections, resulting in 23,432 African rhinoceroses worldwide at the end of 2021.

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.

Historic return of rhinos to Mozambique! [update]

update (31 August 2022): Zinave National Park in Mozambique has received 27 rhinos in the past two months. According to Bernard van Lente, project manager of the Peace Parks foundation, 54 men have been trained by Peace Parks to reinforce security in the national park and a helicopter to reinforce the patrol work, which is on site day and night, has been requested.

Zinave National Park in Mozambique is set to become the first “big five” National Park in the country and the host of the first founder population of the critically endangered black rhino and the near threatened white rhino. After becoming locally extinct more than 40 years ago, diversified resources company, Exxaro Resources, and southern African NGO, Peace Parks Foundation, are spearheading the project to reintroduce both rhino species to the National Park in 2022. Zinave National Park, which is co-managed between Mozambique's National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks, is situated in the district of Mambone near the Save river in the Inhambane Province of Mozambique. 

(c) Peace Parks Foundation

Since 2016 an intensive rewilding programme has reintroduced more than 2 300 game animals representing 14 different species into Zinave National Park. This has included rewilding the park with buffalo, elephant and leopard. In September 2021, the first lions were also recorded in Zinave after a 40-year absence.

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.