South Africa rhino poaching drops in 2025 – but Kruger NP numbers rise

South Africa has reported encouraging progress in the fight against wildlife crime, with a 16% drop in rhino poaching in 2025 compared to the previous year. The improvement follows intensified anti-poaching operations, stronger cooperation between authorities and private reserves, and increased use of technology to detect criminal activity. For safari travellers, the figures highlight both positive conservation momentum and the ongoing challenges facing some of the country’s most iconic parks.

Key rhino poaching statistics for 2025

• 352 rhinos poached in 2025, down from 420 in 2024
• 266 being killed on state properties and 86 on privately owned parks, reserves or farms
• Major successes in KwaZulu-Natal, but Kruger National Park saw a worrying rise

Kruger National Park: Increase in losses

For travellers visiting Kruger National Park, the latest figures show a concerning trend:

• 175 rhinos poached in Kruger National Park in 2025
• Up from 88 rhinos in 2024

Mpumalanga - home to Kruger National Park - became the hardest-hit region, highlighting the ongoing pressure from organised wildlife crime syndicates operating around the national park.

The provincial and national breakdown for 2023, 2024 and 2025
(C) South African National Parks

Major success in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

There is encouraging news from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, where poaching dropped dramatically:

• 63 rhinos poached in 2025, down from 198 in 2024

Authorities credit this improvement to:

• Expanded dehorning programmes
• Advanced camera and sensor technology
• Strong cooperation between park authorities, private rhino owners and conservation NGOs

Stronger law enforcement and convictions

South Africa continues to intensify its anti-poaching strategy with:

• Increased intelligence-led operations
• Greater cooperation between police, prosecutors and environmental agencies
• Successful prosecution of major wildlife trafficking syndicates, including a 20-year prison sentence handed down in a major rhino crime case in 2025

What this means for safari travellers

For visitors, the overall decline is a positive sign for conservation and sustainable tourism. South Africa remains one of the best places in the world to see rhinos in the wild, and tourism continues to play a key role in supporting protection efforts.

However, the rise in poaching in Kruger National Park highlights why responsible travel and conservation funding remain critical.

 

Subscribe for updates:

Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates, border info, road alerts, and travel inspiration for Southern Africa. 

South Africa releases Q1 2025 rhino poaching report!

South Africa's Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, has released the official rhino poaching statistics for the first quarter of 2025. Between 01 January and 31 March 2025, a total of 103 rhinos were poached across the country - an average of 34.33 rhinos per month. This number is consistent with the previous 12-month average of 35 rhinos per month (or 420 annually), highlighting the continued threat to South Africa's rhino population.

Dr. George emphasized the urgent need for increased anti-poaching efforts:

“The South African government remains unwavering in its fight against wildlife crime. We are enhancing ranger patrols, expanding the use of surveillance technologies, and working with both national and international law enforcement agencies. This includes the deployment of advanced tools like drones and thermal radars. Furthermore, we are collaborating with communities near protected areas to support sustainable livelihoods and reduce the drivers behind poaching.”

Rhino poaching statistics by province – Q1 2025:

• Kruger National Park (SANParks): 65 rhinos
• KwaZulu-Natal: 16 rhinos
• Limpopo: 10 rhinos
• Free State: 5 rhinos
• North West: 4 rhinos
• Mpumalanga: 3 rhinos
• Eastern Cape: 0 rhinos
• Northern Cape: 0 rhinos
• Western Cape: 0 rhinos
• Gauteng: 0 rhinos

Significant progress has been made in addressing rhino-related crime in South Africa. Between January and March 2025, 15 suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching activities. Additionally, five cases were finalized in court, demonstrating the government's ongoing commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and strengthening prosecution outcomes.

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%.

-- click to enlarge --

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!

South Africa: New rhino poaching figures!

South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has released the rhino poaching figures for the first six month of 2023. A total of 231 rhino have been poached for their horn in South Africa between 01 January 2023 and 30 June 2023. Forty-two rhinos were poached in the Kruger National Park and 143 in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Forty-six of the rhinos killed were in privately-owned nature reserves and 143 in provincially owned reserves.

The provincial and national breakdown for January to June 2023 is as follows:

• SANParks - 42 rhinos killed by poachers
• Gauteng - 0 rhino killed by poachers
• Limpopo - 20 rhinos killed by poachers
• Mpumalanga - 5 rhinos killed by poachers
• North West - 5 rhinos killed by poachers
• Eastern Cape - 15 rhinos killed by poachers
• Free State - 0 rhino killed by poachers
• Northern Cape - 0 rhino killed by poachers
• Kwa-Zulu Natal - 143 rhinos killed by poachers
• Western Cape - 1 rhino killed by poachers

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.

South African National Parks (SANParks) beefs up security at Kruger National Park this festive season!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that it is increasing surveillance at Kruger National Park entry gates as part of the festive season 2022/23 anti-crime prevention. There will also be increased spot checks of vehicles inside Kruger National Park. SANParks will also implement vehicle number plate recognition, remote vehicle monitoring, radar surveillance as well as night flying with specialised infrared cameras.

“In addition to the normal ranger and security services patrols as well as the dedicated dog units with tracking hounds being deployed on poacher tracks, these will be enhanced during the festive season,” said Acting Kruger National Park Managing Executive, Dr Danny Govender.

The SANParks Environmental Investigative Unit (ECI), which has been successful in operations outside of Kruger National Park, will be joining hands with other law enforcement agencies in tackling criminals in adjoining villages. These operations will be targeted at those supplying rifles, ammunition,and recruiting poachers to commit crime. These are also the next level of poachers who transport and sell onward to their buyers. The operations are assisted by community members who often give good tip-offs to authorities which lead to arrests and convictions. In addition, ongoing collaboration with the Mozambican authorities will continue.
According to SANPArks, these measures are necessitated by the recent spike in poaching, especially snaring and poisoning, inside Kruger National Park which is indiscriminate and kills any animal that gets in contact with those elements.

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.

South Africa: New rhino poaching figures!

South Africa's Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has released the rhino poaching figures for the first six month of 2022. A total of 259 rhino have been poached for their horn in South Africa between January and June 2022. The number of rhino poached during this period is 10 more than the 249 poached countrywide in the first six months of 2021. From January to end of June 2022, 82 rhino were poached for their horns in the Kruger National Park. 

The current poaching numbers show a loss of 210 rhino on state properties and 49 in privately-owned parks. Hardest hit during this period is KwaZulu-Natal which recorded a loss of 133 rhino. This is more than triple the 33 rhino killed in the first six months of 2021.
Between January and June 2022, 69 people were arrested in connection with rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking.  Of these, 13 alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park.

Namibia: Eleven rhino carcasses discovered in Etosha National Park! [update]

update (11 July 2022): According to Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, law enforcement officials in Namibia have arrested 11 people in connection with the June 2022 poaching incidents where 11 rhinos were killed in Etosha National Park.

Namibia's Mininstry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has announced that eleven black rhino carcasses without horns have been discovered in Etosha National Park since 01 June 2022. Investigations indicate that the carcasses range between 3 weeks and older. This brings the total number of recorded cases of rhino poaching in Namibia to 22 since the beginning of this year. No arrests have been made yet on the recent discovery of rhino carcasses in Namibia's flagship park..
The MEFT further announced that it will together with the Namibian Police Force, the Namibia Defence Force and other partners intensify wildlife protection and law enforcement interventions in Etosha National Park. 

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.