Wildlife Angel
  • HOME
  • The NGO
    • EDITORIAL
    • THREAT OF POACHING
    • THE TEAM
  • OPERATIONS
  • MEDIAS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • Français
  • HOME
  • The NGO
    • EDITORIAL
    • THREAT OF POACHING
    • THE TEAM
  • OPERATIONS
  • MEDIAS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • Français
7 March 2016 In Poaching, Wildlife

Better in horor

Stats-RSA-2016-Wildlifeangel

The South African government through its Minister of Environment has finally given the statistics that everyone was waiting on rhino poaching in the country. The authorities were pleased to have reversed the slaughter curve thanks to the many radical measures implemented.

“We are very pleased to announce that, for the first time in ten years, the poaching situation has been stabilized” said the minister during a press conference.

The result now: while the number of rhinos poached in South Africa had quickly increased from 13 in 2007 to 1,004 in 2013 and reached the record number of 1,215 in 2014, the number was only 1,175 in 2015 (see chart below).

In the chart: « High increase of rhino poaching”


 Before you decide to send an honest message of congratulations to the South African government, it is necessary to think for a while. In my opinion, two important criteria should be taken into account when measuring the effect of announcement of these statistics.

  1. A number (several hundred) of rhinos from Kruger Park were relocated to other safer reserves within the country. It’s in this national park near the borders of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, in particular, that the majority of rhinos are poached. So we just moved part of the populations and drastic decisions were not necessarily taken on the affected areas.
  2. The number of rhinos poached rose sharply in Namibia and Zimbabwe. Therefore, there has been a shift, expected and announced for years, operated by poachers towards easier areas for them. Namibia will have to be even better prepared to face this shift in the coming year.

Even if we have to recognize that the carnage in South Africa stopped, unfortunately there is an increase over the whole southern Africa. Another indicator that is very worrying is the doubling of disappearances over births, which is a sign of a coming disaster for the whole race.

It’s important not to give up and accept this dramatic result. For years some NGOs have warned African governments to increase the number of Rangers, better train them and better equip them. In the same way as Chad and Kenya, the South African government has even decided, since 2014, to call on the army to secure the Kruger Park and other national parks. I don’t think the results are very convincing, especially for South Africa. They lack a true body of rangers, used to the bush and animals, well organized, supported by suitable means, etc. to summarize, it’s necessary to professionalize this job.

All the African countries, involved in the poaching of elephants, rhinos, and more generally of all endangered species, must strongly go into action. Again we do not question the governments’ sovereignty but it is essential that governments work with NGOs willing to make things happen.

Mathematically speaking, 1,175 in South Africa + 80 in Namibia + 50 announced in Zimbabwe (for NGOs the count is wrong but nothing can be checked with the Mugabe authorities) = more than 1,300 rhinos slaughtered in these three countries during the year. We are still on an average of 4 rhinos killed every day!

Early 2015 statistics were mentioning just less than 15,000 rhinos in Africa. A quick calculation shows us that the situation is more than critical, although according to the South African ministry, we can be proud of having reduced the number of animals poached in 2015.

Facebooklinkedinmail

Related Articles

  • parc-national-etosha-namibie
    What Model for Wildlife Conservation in Africa: private reserve, conservancy, national park?
  • African-Wildlife
    [Infographic] Africa's Wildlife in Danger

FACEBOOK

SEARCHING

CATEGORIES

  • About the NGO (4)
  • News (3)
  • Poaching (17)
  • Technology (2)
  • Wildlife (24)

ARCHIVES

  • January 2019 (1)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • January 2017 (2)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (3)
  • February 2016 (3)
  • January 2016 (5)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • May 2015 (4)

RSS NEWS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA

  • Rwanda: Kagame Bids Farewell to Mozambique's Chapo After Two-Day Visit 29 August 2025
    [New Times] At Kigali International Airport, President Paul Kagame on Thursday, August 28, bid farewell to his Mozambican counterpart Daniel Chapo, who concluded his two-day working visit to Rwanda.
  • South Africa: G20 Side Meetings Offer Opportunities for Expansion of SA's Agri Trade 29 August 2025
    [Daily Maverick] With leaders and ministers from the world's most powerful economies gathering here, we have a unique and time-sensitive opportunity. Instead of focusing intensely on broad multilateral trade negotiations, our government should be using these meetings for targeted, bilateral discussions on the sidelines. The citrus industry could use the opportunity to propose packaged deals […]
  • South Africa: Minister Dion George's African Penguin 'Lifeline' a Slap in the Face for Conservation Experts 29 August 2025
    [Daily Maverick] Deception' at a penguin conservation event has left scientists flabbergasted after the Minister used the occasion to sign controversial bunkering regulations that experts say fail to protect critically endangered African penguins, particularly the St Croix colony in Algoa Bay.
  • South Africa: The Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association 29 August 2025
    [Daily Maverick] Conferencing, meetings, events... there's a lot of money to be made from large gatherings, but it's also about affirmation, thanks to the wonderful people you get to meet.
  • South Africa: Addressing Gender-Based Violence Is an Urgent Economic Imperative 29 August 2025
    [Daily Maverick] With a direct impact on growth, competitiveness and national welfare, GBV is not simply a social justice issue -- it is an economic development emergency.ith a direct impact on growth, competitiveness and national welfare, GBV is not simply a social justice issue -- it is an economic development emergency.

Copyright 2019 - Wildlife Angel : Plan de site - Mentions légales