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The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) recently welcomed the arrest of seven suspects linked to an intelligence-based rhino horn trafficking syndicate in Mpumalanga.
Earlier this year, the DEA reported back on the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros, which places an emphasis on the government's anti-poaching efforts.
These efforts are supported by the departments of defence, correctional services, the Hawks, the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.
Here are 10 things you should know about rhino poaching in South Africa:
400 – The number of suspects charged with various related crimes, including rhino poaching, since January 2018.
145 – The number of weapons seized in rhino-related incidents both inside and outside the Kruger National Park since January 2018. A total of 83 rhino horns were confiscated in the same period.
60.92kg – The weight of the rhino horn confiscated and linked to poaching incidents in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape.
530 – The number of poaching-related cases on the court roll involving 750 accused and 1 738 charges.
R200 000 – The donation received from the Chinese embassy and the Chinese community in South Africa for the fight against wildlife crime.
2 000 – The number of officials trained on matters pertaining to the illegal trade in wildlife at the country's ports of entry and exit from 2017.
28 – The total number of permits issued for the trade of rhinoceros horns, since the Constitutional Court lifted the moratorium on the domestic trade of rhino horn.
11 – The number community rhino hotspots identified and monitored by SANParks.
501 – The number of rhino poached between January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018.
361 – The number of live rhino translocated to Botswana, Chad, Namibia, Rwanda and Zambia with the intention of establishing new rhino populations within the continent.
