A horrifying wave of rhino poaching has fallen upon the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park in 2022. We are yet to reach the midpoint of this year, and yet over 123 poaching incidents have officially taken place in the park since January 1st, unofficially this is thought to be at least 130. To put things in perspective, the park alone has already lost more rhino than the entire province in the two years prior, with 102 incidents in 2021 and 93 in 2020 (see table below).
Rhino poaching statistics per South African Province 2019-2021 It is thought that a change in the pattern of poaching has occurred, with poaching syndicates moving South from Kruger National Park in Limpopo to other provinces. Kruger has consistently been the rhino poaching hotspot of South Africa since the crisis began, resulting in a 75% decline of rhinos in the park over the last 10 years. Although the poaching pressure in Kruger still remains high, the significant reduction in rhino population combined with increased anti-poaching efforts may mean that poachers are focusing their crimes elsewhere. Kwazulu Natal has the highest density of white rhinos Ceratotherium simum in Africa, with the Hluhluwe Imfolozi park being crucial to saving the species from extinction during operation rhino, re-establishing and restocking rhino numbers throughout the country and Africa. 60 years later, this park which is so imperative to the species, appears to be becoming the next poaching hotspot.
Despite increased anti-poaching efforts at the park, the number of incidents have continued to rise, with the park currently losing an average of 1 rhino per day since the start of May. According to a spokesman for Ezemvelo (a KZN governmental conservation organisation) the park lacks the resources and the man power to deal with the increased poaching pressure. If the poaching continues at the current rate, the number of rhino killed in Kwazulu Natal is likely to far surpass the province’s heaviest year of rhino poaching on record - 222 poaching incidents in 2017. Further to this, the statistics do not take into account pregnant females or lost orphaned calves, a number that would paint an even more shocking picture of the impacts of these poaching incidents on the species.
