According to the South African authorities, increased surveillance of the park is to some extent behind the reduction, but also the fact that the rhino population itself has fallen – precisely because of poaching.
The country’s environment minister, Barbara Creecy, believes that it is “no secret” that the rhino population “has been hit hard by nearly 20 years of poaching.”
— That is why you can see that the animals have moved to other areas, she said during a press conference.
However, Creecy added that by far the biggest reason for fewer animals being shot is the “incredible efforts” of park rangers.
42 of the national park’s rhinos were killed between January and June for their horns, which is almost half of the animals killed during the same period last year.
A total of 231 rhinos were killed across South Africa in the first six months of the year – an 11 percent decrease compared to 2022, according to the country’s environment ministry.