At least 138 rhinos have been killed by poachers in Botswana over the five years to 2022, the country’s tourism minister announced on Monday.
Addressing parliament, Philda Kereng bemoaned the surge in rhino poaching in the country between 2018 and 2022.
She revealed that there was an unprecedented 6,800-percent spike in poaching over the period 2018-2022 compared to the previous five-year period.
Only two rhinos were poached between 2013 and 2017, she said.
The minister attributed the rise in poaching to rising demand for rhino horn in the international market.
Rhino poaching is driven by demand from Asia where horns are used in traditional medicine for their supposed therapeutic effect.
JN/APA