Barbara Creecy, Minister of
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, recently released the latest rhino
poaching statistics. The stats claim that poaching in South African
National Parks (SANParks) reserves has decreased.
While the DA has nothing but praise
for the efforts of our brave rangers and anti-poaching teams who have
worked so hard to stem the poaching, the reality regarding rhino
poaching numbers is far bleaker than what is being alleged.
The reality is that rhino numbers in
SANParks reserves have decreased by 75% over the past 10 years. The most
likely reason that the poaching numbers in SANParks reserves appear to
be slightly lower on the raw data is simply because the overall numbers
of rhinos are continuing to drop.
If one compares the population with
the incidents of rhino poaching in SANParks reserves, there is an
average increase in poaching and not a decrease as alleged. SANParks
reported that 247 rhinos out of approximately 3,500 remaining wild
rhinos were poached in 2020, which works out to 7% of the wild rhino
population. The numbers for the middle of 2021 indicate that 209 wild
rhinos were poached out of a population of +-2,800, which is 7.5% of the
remaining wild rhino population.
SANParks is still unable to
adequately account for the decline in wild rhino numbers from 3,500 to
2,800 in one year. If one subtracts the 247 rhinos poached that year,
there are still approximately 400 rhinos missing with no explanation
given. These rhinos cannot simply disappear.
It is also concerning that
no estimate of rhino numbers is provided for the end of 2021. There are
unofficial estimates of fewer than 2,000 rhino in SANParks reserves at
present and the DA calls on SANParks to provide the latest estimates as
soon as possible to combat the growing concern and uncertainty.
