RHINO DEHORNING BEARS FRUIT IN KZN
It takes just five minutes to dehorn a rhino – but this can make a world of difference as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife shows
Rhino poaching in KwaZulu Natal – at a tragic all time high last year – has reduced significantly thanks to a dehorning program at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).
Ezemvelo CEO Sihle Mkhize says that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is pleased to acknowledge the recent announcement by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, highlighting a significant reduction in rhino poaching within KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
He puts this down to the concerted efforts and strategic measures implemented at what is regarded as the home of rhino conservation, the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).
During the first 6 months of this year, KwaZulu-Natal lost 145 rhinos.
According to Mkhize, 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, eight in May and six in June.
He attributed the relatively high number of poaching incidents in April 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.
“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,” he states.
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 the WWF, which allocated significant resources from their budget to help ensure the future protections of this species.
Mr Mkhize extends his gratitude to all stakeholders, partners and communities adjacent to our protected areas involved in these conservation efforts. He notes 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
