GOOD news on World Rhino Day: Decline in poaching
· The South African
South Africa marked World Rhino Day on Tuesday with a renewed focus on protecting its rhino population, as hundreds of the animals continue to be targeted by poaching syndicates.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) says South Africa remains home to the world’s largest rhino population, with the minimum national population estimated at 15 096 animals at the end of 2025.
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This comprised at least 2 565 black rhinos and 12 531 white rhinos, representing a 4.9% increase from 2024, according to the department.
However, the population growth comes against the continuing threat posed by rhino poaching.
READ | Rhino poacher arrested after shootout in Kruger National Park
230 rhinos poached this year
DFFE says 230 rhinos were poached across South Africa between January and the end of August 2026, compared with 248 during the same period in 2025.
The Kruger National Park remains one of the biggest targets.
A total of 114 rhinos were lost to poaching in Kruger during the first eight months of 2026, compared with 123 over the same period last year.
The provincial and national park figures supplied by DFFE show that KwaZulu-Natal recorded 29 poached rhinos during the period, down significantly from 67 in 2025.
Limpopo recorded 33, Mpumalanga 14, North West 19, the Eastern Cape five, Free State 12 and the Northern Cape three. Gauteng recorded one, while no rhinos were reported poached in the Western Cape.
The 2026 national total is down from 272 for the same period in 2024.
Provinces202420252026SANParks53123114Gauteng001Limpopo342833Mpumalanga1314North West91419Eastern Cape425Free State3812Northern Cape333KwaZulu-Natal1656729Western Cape000Total272248230Population showing signs of recovery
Despite the continued losses, DFFE says the rhino population has shown a positive trend.
In 2025, poaching accounted for approximately 2.2% of South Africa’s rhino population, below the estimated 3.5% sustainability threshold.
DFFE attributes the improvement to measures including continued dehorning programmes, strengthened security and law-enforcement efforts.
The department’s 2026 Biodiversity Management Plan for black and white rhino provides a 10-year framework aimed at securing and growing rhino populations.
The plan was gazetted in April and is intended to consolidate rhino management and conservation efforts.
Tougher fight against wildlife crime
The Kruger National Park has also strengthened its field capacity through the appointment of additional field rangers and rhino monitors under the Rhino Renaissance Initiative.
The broader conservation plan includes dehorning, layered security, technology, skills development and integrity management.
DFFE says the fight extends beyond the people physically killing rhinos.
The National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking targets the wider illicit value chain, including poachers, traffickers, financiers and those who profit from international wildlife trafficking.
The department says progress has been made in coordinated investigations, prosecutions, intelligence sharing and targeted operations.
South Africa recorded 352 rhinos poached during 2025, a 16% decline from the 420 recorded in 2024, according to DFFE.
Convictions send strong message
Several rhino-related convictions have also been secured during 2026.
Among them, Sifiso Mbuyane was sentenced to 28 years’ direct imprisonment after being convicted on multiple charges, including killing two rhinos, trespassing in Kruger National Park and firearms offences.
Two former security officers, Nyiko Gumede and Nomsa Ndlovu, were each sentenced to 12 years’ direct imprisonment after being convicted of killing a rhino and conspiracy to commit a crime.
DFFE also highlighted the finalisation in August of the long-running case involving Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus. Groenewald entered into a plea agreement with the State relating to allegations involving rhino horn trafficking, racketeering and money laundering.
‘Every rhino lost is one too many’
DFFE says that while the reduction in poaching is encouraging, every rhino lost remains significant.
Poaching removes breeding animals, can leave calves orphaned and can undermine long-term population recovery.
The department says the ultimate objective is therefore to drive poaching down as far as possible while improving the resilience and long-term recovery of South Africa’s rhino populations.
World Rhino Day serves as a reminder of the scale of that challenge.
DFFE is urging members of the public to report suspicious wildlife-related activity through its environmental crime hotline on 0800 205 005 or to SAPS on 10111.