DENIAL AND WHITEWASHING IS PUSHING THE RHINO SPECIES TO EXTINCTION

PUBLIC STATEMENT

South Africa bears the enormous responsibility of being the custodian of ninety percent of the world’s southern black and white rhino population. 

Yesterday the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) published a graphic stating  that during 2020, 394 rhinos were poached for their horn in South Africa. This is apparently 33% less than the 594 rhinos that were killed in 2019, and furthermore it marks the sixth year that rhino poaching has continued to decrease in South Africa. 

Minister Barbara Creecy stated: “While the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the battle to beat the COVID_19 pandemic contributed in part to the decrease in rhino poaching in 2020, the role of rangers and security personnel who remained at their posts, and the additional steps taken by the government to effectively deal with these and related offences, also played a significant role.”

There is no mention or published graphic, however, stating that from 2011 there has been a 67% decrease in the number of white rhino, from an estimated 10 621 rhino to an estimated 3529 rhino. 

According to DEFF there were an estimated 415 black rhino in 2013 and now there are an estimated 268 black rhino, a 35% decrease in numbers.  

The confirmation of the decimation of the wild rhino population, was published, for the first time in many years, and is available in the South African National Parks Annual Report 2019/2020.