Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa says government’s strategy to combat anti-rhino poaching has contributed towards the decrease in this illegal trade in 2017.
Speaking in Pretoria, Molewa says the biggest decline in rhino poaching was registered in and around the Kruger National Park.
She says nationally rhino poaching went down to 1028 in 2017 as compared to 1054 in 2016.
Molewa commended the police as well as special National Park rangers for the arrest of about 446 alleged poachers in 2017.
Molewa says the total number of arrested suspects includes 21 government officials who were incarcerated for either rhino horn or elephant ivory dealing.
“We continue to register some success in our fight against rhino poaching. But we are equally aware that the battle is not yet over. Decrease in the poaching rate in the Kruger National Park is as results of many of our stakeholder and of our partners who are there. We would continue to be vigilant. The increase in other province of poaching rates and attempt coupled with the sharp rise in elephant poaching tells us that as we progress and involve so do the technics and methods of the poachers. It’s up to us, therefore, to remain ahead of the game at all times and we believe that we are equal to the task.”
