Slight drop in rhinos killed in South Africa

For the first time in nearly a decade, South Africa has seen a slight decrease in the number of Rhinos poached, officials said Thursday.

South Africa Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said that 1,175 rhinos were poached in 2015, a slight drop from the 1,215 rhinos that were poached in 2014.

“Considering that this is despite escalating poaching pressure, and in the face of an increased and relentless rise of poaching activity into protected areas, this is very very good news,” Molewa said in statement Thursday.

Molewa said that despite the “optimistic” decline in overall poaching, there was a 10% increase in poaching activity at Kruger National Park, which is home to between 8,300 and 9,400 white rhinos, according to a 2015 census survey by South African National Parks.

Last year, 317 poachers were arrested for poaching offenses, of that number 202 were arrested in Kruger National Park, according to Molewa.

While, Molewa noted that the “onslaught against… rhino has continued unabated,” she said considering “the backlog we faced in 2014 and 2015, this is a remarkable achievement.”

Despite the slight decrease, more needs to be done, Ginette Hemley, senior vice president of wildlife conservation for World Wildlife Fund said in a statement.

“As governments like South Africa continue to ramp up efforts to stop wildlife poaching, these numbers remind us of the urgency to swiftly address this crisis across all fronts,” Hemley said. “Although South Africa remains the epicenter for the rhino poaching epidemic, criminal networks appear to be expanding their reach across the region, and the problem is ultimately rooted in demand for rhino horn in Asia, most notably in Vietnam.”

Mutilated rhino treated with elephant skin bandage

According to WWF, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe hold nearly 95% of the remaining African rhinos.

The killings reflect growing demands for rhino horns in parts of Asia where the horns are believed to have medical benefits, symbolize higher social statuses and are used to create expensive jewelry.

With high demand, many have looked for alternatives to quell the sale of the rhino horns on the black market. On Wednesday, a South African court upheld a decision that would allow the legal sale of rhino horns in South Africa, according to Molewa.

Under the law, the owner of a rhino farm could legally use anesthesia and remove the rhino’s horn and then sell it.

Molewa said the government was not “privy to the reason for the decision” but they plan to appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Colman O'Criodain, wildlife trade expert at the WWF, told AFP the law would essentially open the doors to easy sale on the black market.

"There is no domestic demand for rhino horn in South Africa, so it is inconceivable that anyone would buy it, unless they intend to sell it abroad illegally or they are speculating that international trade will be legalized," O'Criodain told AFP.

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