Rhino poaching drops in S. Africa

The number of rhinos killed for their horns in South Africa has fallen sharply, and cooperation with international partners has been credited with contributing to the protection of the endangered animals.

Last year, poachers killed 327 rhinos in government reserves, with a further 124 butchered on private properties, the total representing a drop of 24 percent from 2019, said Barbara Creecy, the minister for the environment, forestry and fisheries.

Creecy said collaboration with countries such as China, Vietnam, Poland, along with other southern African countries, resulted in large gains against rhino poaching.

Investigations by South African and Chinese officials are being carried out after a seizure of 32 horns in December.

One suspect has been arrested in South Africa and two others have been held in China, said Creecy, adding that additional horns were seized as a result of the operations.

South Africa and China have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the conservation of wetlands, desert ecosystems and wildlife. The Chinese embassy in Pretoria and the Chinese community in South Africa have donated money to combat poaching.

Last year, 189 people were arrested for poaching in South Africa, up from 156 in 2020. Sixty-one poachers were convicted in 2021.

New platform used

Creecy said technology has been put to use in the battle against poaching. South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research developed a platform known as CMORE that is used by national parks rangers to trace poaching sites and locate carcasses. Parks officials can also monitor the movements of rangers on patrol.

"Through this single technology platform, all role players are able to collaborate, making use of real-time insights and analytical capability, linking, for example, camera traps and ranger patrols while integrating a range of other systems," Creecy said.

People living near national parks have also been encouraged to report suspicious activities. The national parks have helped villagers by donating medicinal plants.

The national parks each year allow free access for about a week to encourage people to develop a bond with parks so that they will protect them. South Africa is home to about 80 percent of Africa's rhino population. The country has an estimated 5,000 black rhinos and 18,000 white rhinos.

Some offenders keep rhino horns as trophies and as a source of traditional medicine. As a decoration, it can be used to flaunt someone's wealth. The high prices for horns make it attractive to criminal syndicates operating internationally. Some keep stockpiles of rhino horns at their homes in the expectation they will appreciate in value. At times, rhino horns can fetch three times the price of gold.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.