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EZEMVELO CEO MR. SIHLE MKHIZE WELCOMES THE DECLINE IN RHINO POACHING FIGURES IN KZN

02 August 2024
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is pleased to acknowledge the recent announcement by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, highlighting a significant reduction in rhino poaching within KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). The concerted efforts and strategic measures implemented have begun to yield positive results in the battle against this critical issue. During the first 6 months, KwaZulu-Natal lost 145.
As noted by the Minister, this reduction is directly linked to the dehorning program that has been diligently executed at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP). A comparison of the statistics underscores the success of this initiative. During the first three months of 2024, prior to the commencement of the dehorning program, a staggering 96 rhinos were poached. However, since the program’s inception on April 8th, the numbers have notably decreased. Only 53 rhinos were poached in the subsequent months—35 in April, 8 in May, 6 in June.
The relatively high number of poaching incidents in April can be attributed to two factors: the discovery of carcasses poached in March and a surge in poaching activity as criminals attempted to exploit the situation before dehorning could be fully implemented.
Ezemvelo CEO, Mr. Sihle Mkhize, stated, “The reduction in rhino poaching is an indication to the effectiveness of our dehorning program and the tireless efforts of our dedicated teams. We remain committed to protecting our precious wildlife and will continue to enhance our strategies to combat poaching.”
The dehorning process is a key component of the multi-faceted Ezemvelo KZN Guardianship Strategy for Rhinoceros conservation. The dehorning process costs approximately R8000 per rhino and will require re-dehorning every 18 to 24 months as horns regrow. Implementing this program would not have been possible without the financial support of WWF, which allocated significant resources from theor budget to help ensure the future protections of this species.
Mr Mkhize extended his gratitude to all stakeholders, partners and communities adjacent to our protected areas involved in these conservation efforts. He noted that the successful protection of rhino benefits not only Ezemvelo but also various sectors of the province, particularly the ecotourism sector.
To view a short dehorning clip, please follow this link: https://url.za.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/OcOECoYnm0T2993u1jxkA?domain=drive.google.com
For enquiries, you can contact Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Communications Manager. Ends
Musa Mntambo                                                               Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife: Communications Manager                                            Tel: +27 (0) 33 845 1743                                                    Cell: +27 (0) 83 284 9586                                       Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.