Rhino poaching decrease ‘smoke and mirrors’

The SA National Parks’ (SANParks) reported decrease in rhino poaching has come under criticism from insiders, who claim the figures are nothing but “smoke and mirrors” to hide corruption within the entity.

SANParks’ annual report stated 303 rhinos were poached, “a significant reduction” of 21.6%.

SANParks’ target for 2019-20 was that no more than 500 animals be poached.

The first six months saw an almost 53% reduction in rhino poaching, with 166 rhinos killed. In the first six months of 2019, this figure was at 316.

A source who wished to remain anonymous told The Citizen the statistics were nothing more than “throwing smoke and mirrors for the ordinary guy to say things seem to be better than we thought”.

The source alleged that corruption within SANParks was rife, which impacted negatively on antipoaching measures.

There is a stark lack of expertise within the Kruger National Park (KNP) and SANParks is teetering on the edge of functioning “like any other state-owned entity”.

In addition, the source highlighted that SANParks still had not reported on collateral damage, questioning how the data from pregnant rhinos and calves that were lost due to poaching is recorded and how these numbers could potentially push rhino poaching statistics up.

It is alleged that SANParks do not record these deaths as part of the statistics and calves that were eaten by predators after their mothers were poached were labelled “natural deaths”.

Dr Annette Hubschle, senior research fellow with the global risk governance programme at the University of Cape Town, confirmed that SANParks did not record rhino embryos as part of their poaching statistics.

The recent drop in poaching as a percentage was, for the source, “completely useless”.

The source attributed current statistics to countrywide lockdown measures.

Hubschle attributed the decrease in statistics to the lockdown, too, saying that severely restricted the movement of both poachers and the transportation of horns and other parts around the world.

She said a few years ago, it was easier to say there were successes in curbing poaching, but now, due to population numbers diminishing, a rhino population census must be done to take the statistics into context.

“It’s great to see a decline, but we need to measure this against the population numbers. We see 21.6%, but compared to what?”

However, this data is secret, and will not be disclosed by SANParks or the department of environmental affairs, forestry and fisheries.

“Most people do not realise the other reason why poaching is dropping is because there are no rhinos anymore. The rhino population in the Kruger has dropped by more than 50%. It’s not as much of a drop as it should be,” the source

The department did not respond to questions.