Rhinos to be evacuated from Kruger National Park to prevent illegal poaching

South African Environment Minister Edna Molewa made an announcement yesterday, 12 August 2014, to confirm the dispatch hundreds of rhinos from the Kruger National Park, in an attempt to curb illegal poaching.

"The South African Government will implement integrated strategic management of rhinoceros in South Africa. On 6 August 2014, Cabinet deliberated on discussed the 2013 rhino population census undertaken in the Kruger National Park and decided on integrated strategic interventions for the management of rhinoceros in South Africa.

The rhino population in South Africa was rescued from the brink of extinction in the early 1900s. At the time, the rhino population in the Kruger National Park was locally extinct. Since the start of the relocation of 351 rhino from the Hluhluwe-uMfolozi game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal to the Kruger National Park 50 years ago, the Kruger rhino population had increased to between 8 700 and 12 200 in 2010.

Translocation of 1 450 rhino from the Kruger National Park between 1997 and 2013 has contributed significantly to the growth of the South African rhino population. South Africa is home to 82% of Africa’s rhino, 93% of Africa’s white rhino and 39% of Africa’s black rhino. The reason that white rhino exist is because of this country’s exemplary conservation record.

As of 2012, South Africa’s rhino population was estimated at 21 000.

SANParks conducts periodic population surveys. During the latest survey in 2013, conducted by SANParks, the rhino population survey showed that between 8 400 and 9 600 white rhinos are presently living in Kruger National Park.

It is clear from regular surveys that rhinos are found in different densities across Kruger National Park. Poaching pressure is also uneven across the Park’s landscape. Some areas are relatively free of recorded poaching incidents while others are hard hit by poachers.

Poaching, natural deaths and the translocation of rhino from the Kruger National Park presently match that of rhino births. This means that the rhino population in the Kruger National Park has stabilised."

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Read he full article that includes information on:

• Integrated Strategic Management of Rhino
• International Collaboration and Cooperation
• Bolstering Existing Interventions
• Managing Rhino Populations
• Communities and Investigations into long-term sustainability solutions.

Source: Minister Edna Molewa leads implementation of
integrated strategic management of rhinoceros in South Africa