At least 24 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South Africa’s game reserves since the beginning of December, Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment spokesperson Albi Modise announced on Wednesday.
The 24 carcasses were found in game reserves across the country, dehorned for lucrative overseas markets where each horn sells at over US$2,000 per kg, the spokesperson said.
The biggest victims of the carnage were Mpumalanga province and the Kruger National Park which reported seven killings each, while KwaZulu-Natal province recorded six deaths, and the Western Cape had four killed, Modise said.
He said the ministry condemned the continued poaching of these “iconic species for their horn, and commends the work being done by rangers and security officials over the festive period to stem the killing of rhino.”
Nine alleged poachers have been arrested in the first 14 days of December, Modise said.
NM/jn/APA