16% DECLINE IN RHINO POACHING SHOWS THE IMPACT OF ANTI-POACHING AND ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS, SAYS MINISTER AUCAMP 10 FEBRUARY 2026 South Africa’s anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have yielded a 16% overall decline in rhino poaching in 2025 compared to 2024. This is according to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Mr Willie Aucamp, who attributes the...
Wildlife Trafficking remains a significant global issue that requires an intense and co-ordinated global endeavour if we are to succeed in disrupting the criminal networks. Having started off 2025 by attending a Ranger course at the Southern African Wildlife College, I have gained a better understanding of the scourge of poaching and the difficult work...
Many rhino-carrying reserves in South Africa, particularly the Eastern Cape, have partnered with Rouxcel Technology, a conservation company specializing in the design and deployment of rhino collars which detect and transmit abnormal rhino behavior in real-time. The system consists of two main components, namely the AI-Enabled Rhino Collars and a private LoRa Network. The Rouxcel collars...
Some of the rhinos at Addo Elephant National Park are now collared with Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to secure their safety. This is a first-of-its-kind intervention at the Park. Smart algorithms continuously monitor the rhino’s behaviour and in the event of an incident, an alert is generated that pinpoints the rhino’s location via GPS. This enables...
Two former Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers were sentenced on Friday to an effective 20 years in prison for their involvement in rhino poaching, according to South African National Parks (SANParks). Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu, former field rangers attached to the Crocodile Bridge section of the KNP, were arrested in January 2019. SANParks spokesperson JP Louw...
During 2023, 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 406 were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms. This was an increase (of 51) in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022."The pressure again has been felt in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province with Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park facing the brunt of poaching cases losing...
A senior manager working for Environmental Crime Investigations (ECI) at Groenkloof in Pretoria, was killed by a hippopotamus on Saturday. Kobus de Wet was attacked and killed by the hippo while camping in the Kruger National Park, South African National Parks (SANParks) spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said. "Details are sketchy at this stage and circumstances around the incident are...
Johannesburg - The Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Makhanda imposed heavy prison sentences on six Zimbabwean nationals in what game reserve owners in the Eastern Cape have called a major breakthrough in the war against rhino poaching syndicates.The men, Francis Chitiyo, 35, Trymore Chauke, 29, Misheck Chauke, 27, Simba Masinge, 27, Nhamo Muyambo, 32,...
Cape Town – The Skukuza Regional Court convicted and sentenced three men to hefty sentences, totalling over 100 years, for poaching-related offences.Zwelithini Mathebula 37, and Lucky Mhlongo 39, were sentenced to 34 years’ imprisonment while their co-accused Teddy Dlamini 37, was sentenced to 39 years’ imprisonment.NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, said that the three culprits...
Chief Clyde Mnisi was expected to appear in the Mpumalanga High Court in April to face charges relating to rhino poaching. He was shot and killed on Sunday night, March 26.Chief Clyde Mnisi (37) from Bohlabela in the Ehlanzeni District was fatally shot, allegedly multiple times, next to the KMI Airport road near White River...