SHIFTING THE ODDS IN FAVOUR OF RHINO CONSERVATION

In comparison to the 2023 figures, KwaZulu-Natal has seen a significant reduction in rhino poaching, with a notable decrease observed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Through Ezemvelo’s Rhino Guardianship Strategy and the mass dehorning operation, rhino poaching has seen a sharp drop of 80% in Hluhluwe – iMfolozi Park (HiP). In recognition of World Rhino Day (22 September 2025), Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is reaffirming its commitment to Rhino conservation and ensuring that poaching is eradicated in its reserves entirely.

Ezemvelo’s multifaceted Rhino Guardianship Strategy, which was launched in August 2024, sets ambitious goals to mitigate poaching and conserve rhino. This is done through ongoing efforts which include intensification of anti-poaching patrols and surveillance, improvement of boundary fences, integrity testing with field staff and mass dehorning. A cornerstone of this strategy was the large-scale dehorning initiative launched in April 2024. In less than three months, 1,071 rhinos were dehorned, a strategic intervention that has proven highly effective.

“We have seen firsthand how dehorning, combined with integrity testing and surveillance technology, can shift the odds in favour of rhino protection,” said Dumisani Zwane, officer in charge of the Game Capture Field Operations at Ezemvelo. “The scale and precision of our operation at Hluhluwe – iMfolozi Park has proven to be highly effective in addressing the scourge of poaching incidents. We are now only down to single monthly digits in poaching incidents, which is a significant turnaround. The work does not stop until poaching is eliminated entirely from our reserves.”

From 2009 to 2024, 40% of the park’s rhinos were lost, with a peak loss of 1000 rhinos nationwide annually. Dehorning, starting in 2016 in smaller reserves, and within some private reserves. After observing this as a successful intervention to deter poachers, it dehorning operations expanded to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in 2024. This was done in partnership with WWF-SA, with ongoing maintenance dehorning carried out to sustain the programme.

Ezemvelo’s CEO Mr. Sihle Mkhize declared, “The sharp decline in poaching is a direct result of our relentless collective efforts and bold strategic measures to protect our cherished rhino population. Ezemvelo remains committed to intensify these efforts, fuelled by optimism for even greater victories in safeguarding our wildlife heritage.”

Ezemvelo’s Rhino Guardianship Strategy integrates three key components – technology, enhancing operational capabilities, and improving adjacent community relations. A key initiative, the Ezemvelo Integrity Implementation Plan, has already seen over 100 staff members undergo independent integrity testing, including 58 HiP staff and 55 rhino reserve managers.

Significant upgrades have been implemented with the park’s technological and operational infrastructure. This includes the refurbishment of the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera system and the deployment of 216 trap cameras. Additionally, the park has deployed vehicle trackers, drones, and helicopters with advanced night-vision capabilities, and is currently expanding a R40 million smart fence with funding from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

“Operational strength has been significantly enhanced through advanced, specialized training that sharpens K9 reaction and tracking capabilities. A dedicated wildlife prosecutor now stands at the forefront, tackling wildlife crime cases across the province. Most critically, the strategy pioneers the development of Integrated Wildlife Zone (IWZ) guidelines and drives community beneficiation projects, empowering local residents as vital partners in the fight for conservation,” shares Vuyiswa Radebe, Head Biodiversity Conservation Operations, at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. “On World Rhino Day we will also be hosting local schools from communities adjacent to HiP to discuss current rhino management practices. Community projects like this are crucial in build stronger relations with community members, and with youth in particular.”

“While these measures have dramatically reduced poaching figures, the fight is far from over. Even a single rhino lost is a tragedy, especially for orphaned calves. A poached mother leaves behind a calf, often too young to survive on its own, as calves rely on their mothers for up to three years for survival,” shares Zwane.

Ezemvelo’s rhino orphanage and rehabilitation programme have become a lifeline for these vulnerable animals. “We have recently rescued 11 rhino orphans, some as young as one month, who would never have survived on their own. These young rhinos are given a second chance. They’re nurtured, stabilised, and eventually rewilded into Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park.”

This World Rhino Day also marks the 21st anniversary of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP), a pioneering partnership between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and WWF-SA. Since its inception, BRREP has established 12 new conservation sites, safeguarding over 245,000 hectares of protected habitat. These efforts have led to the birth of 235 progeny and the placement of 244 rhinos across BRREP sites – representing 40% of KwaZulu-Natal’s total black rhino population. With more than R120 million raised, BRREP continues to be a cornerstone of species recovery and long-term ecological resilience in southern Africa.

For more information, visit https://www.kznwildlife.com/