CONTEXT

BACKGROUND

Whilst rhino poaching in many African range states remained a major problem between 1960 and 1995, particularly for the black rhino and northern white rhino, rhino poaching within South Africa was low. Between 1960 and 1980, numbers of rhinos poached were negligible, whilst between 1980 and 2007 the average rate of rhino poaching was nine animals per year. In 2008, however, a significant upsurge in rhino poaching took place in South Africa, with a reported 83 animals being killed illegally, and this trend was escalating ever since with a peak from mid 2010s followed by a decline in recent years.

THREAT POSED BY RHINO POACHING

While this rate of poaching does not yet exceed the population growth rate, should the rate of poaching continue to increase, it may eventually exceed the population growth, which would see South Africa’s rhino populations go into decline. 

RHINO STAKEHOLDERS' RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT'S INVITATION

Rhino stakeholders, very broadly defined, responded magnificently to the government’s invitation to discuss their concerns regarding the poachers’ onslaught on the South African rhino and to work together to devise strategies that could provide relief to, and rescue, the country’s embattled iconic mammal from the threat of extinction.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Rhino dialogues consist of the views of organisations and individuals with an interest and stake in the sustainable conservation of the rhino population in South Africa. The aim of these dialogues is to solicit well-considered views on how best to secure the protection, safety and sustainable conservation of the rhinos in the country.

STATE OF RHINOCEROS SPECIES

AFRICA AND ABROAD

Currently, only five rhinoceros species remain in the world. Two rhino sub-species, namely, the western black rhinoceros in Cameroon and the Indochinese Javan Rhinoceros in Vietnam have become extinct. In Asia there are populations of Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Rhinoceros unicornis or Sumatran rhino (animals categorised as critically endangered) and Rhinoceros unicornis, the Indian rhino (DEA, 2013). In Africa there are two species, namely, the white rhino and black rhino, which are critically endangered (DEA, 2013).

STATE OF RHINOCEROS SPECIES IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, the white rhino is the dominant species. According to, the Rhino Issue Management Report (2013), over 90 per cent of Africa’s white rhino occurs in South Africa. By the 1930’s the black rhino had almost disappeared in South Africa with only 110 animals surviving in game reserves.

The largest population of white rhino in the world exists in the KNP. In the year 2010, estimates indicated the presence of 10,621 white rhino in the park (DEA, 2013). Since the late 1990’s, white rhino have been translocated from the KNP for biodiversity and conservation reasons and sold to generate conservation revenue. By the year 2010, 1 402 rhinos had been removed, largely to other conservation areas, with no adverse effects on the population as numbers continued to increase in the park (DEA, 2013).

OVERWHELMING CAUSE OF RHINO DECLINE AND EXTINCTION

The overwhelming cause of rhino decline and extinction in the last 50 years has been due to poaching, stimulated by demand for rhino horn used for traditional craft and traditional medicinal purposes by consumer nations in the middle-east and in Asia.