The poaching of rhinos in KZN provincial parks has dropped from 30 to 40 rhinos per month to an average of five rhinos between May and July.

The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife launched a dehorning programme in April to protect the lives of rhinos from poachers, and it’s yielded great results in the province.

The conservation says they’ll employ fence walkers from the neighbourhood to inspect and fix any damage to perimeter fences daily, and it has also started erecting a new smart fence at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to curb rhino poaching.

Since the dehorning programme started, the poaching of rhinos has decreased. Picture supplied

“The number of rhinos being poached in our parks has dropped drastically since we started dehorning them in April,” said Ezemvelo spokesperson, Musa Mntambo.

“Rhino poaching has become alarmingly high in KwaZulu-Natal in the last few years, we were losing on average 30 to 40 rhinos to poachers per month. Since the dehorning programme started it has dropped to an average of 5 per month from May to July.”

“Some individuals are damaging the infrastructure of South Africa’s game reserves, including the cherished Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Such actions not only undermine the integrity of these historic game reserves but also pose significant dangers to innocent people living adjacent to this iconic game reserve,” said King Misuzulu Zulu in a meeting.

A white rhino that has been dehorned. Picture: Pixabay

The dehorning programme marks an important turning point in Ezemvelo’s anti-poaching efforts, in line with proven strategies implemented in other places, such as the Kruger National Park.

Mail & Guardian reports that the Pilanesberg National Park has reported no poaching incidents since 2020 after it decided to dehorn its rhinos.

Dehorning can cost anything from R8 000 an animal, with repeats every 18 to 24 months. However, the costs can be proportionally reduced if more animals are dehorned during the same operation.

Dehorning rhinos can cost anything from R8 000 an animal. Picture: krugerpark.co.za

SABC News reports King Misuzulu has condemned the theft of materials from fence lines at Ezemvelo Parks. This is as Ezemvelo has started erecting a new smart fence at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to curb rhino poaching.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) in South Africa said rhino poaching can carry prison sentences of 12 to 15 years. The demand for rhino horns, a prized ingredient in traditional Asian medicine, has increased.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg