A total of 499 rhinos were poached in South Africa last year, an 11% increase from 2022, the country's Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said on Tuesday.
"During the year 2023, 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks, reserves and farms. This is an increase of 51 in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022," a post on X read.
The country is home to the vast majority of the world's rhinos and an epicenter of illegal hunting, fueled by demand from Asia, where rhino horns are used in traditional medicine for their alleged curative properties.
Most of the animals were hunted illegally in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, with the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Africa's oldest reserve, losing 307 animals.
"This is the highest poaching loss within this province," said Environment Minister Barbara Creecy. "Multi-disciplinary teams continue to work tirelessly in an attempt to slow this relentless pressure."
South Africa's government has been increasing security measures in the country to fight poaching, particularly around the Kruger National Park, a popular tourist destination, due to a significant decline in its rhino population over the last 15 years, according to the media. As a result, there were fewer losses, with 78 rhinos killed in 2023, which is a 37% decrease from 2022.
However, it has also directed poachers into regional and private reserves.
However, it has also directed poachers into regional and private reserves.
Last year, law enforcement agencies apprehended 49 suspected poachers in KwaZulu-Natal, Creecy said, adding that 45 poachers and horn traffickers were successfully prosecuted nationwide.
The minister also stated that in order to prevent poaching, the government needs to collaborate with the communities that live near rhino habitats.
"Rhino poaching cannot be solved with crime prevention alone, there have to be other interventions and one of them is working together with communities that are around rhino habitats," Creecy said.
Black and white rhinos are considered an endangered species since "they are being ruthlessly hunted by highly skilled and armed poaching syndicate," according to the South Africa Nature Reserves.
Fortunately, both species have "increased in number in recent years thanks to successful conservation efforts, especially in South Africa", the World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund) stated. One of the most recent measures was implementation of tax incentives for private rhino owners, which can help reduce the costs associated with caring for the animals.
However, despite the growth in the rhino population, more efforts need to be taken to protect the animals from poaching.