South African Department of Environmental Affairs Releases 2014 Poaching Statistics

[u/ChingShih]

Statistics for the poaching arrests and number of rhinos poached in South Africa during 2014 have been released: 1,215 rhino have been illegally killed and 386 suspects have been arrested. This compares to 1,004 rhino poached in 2013 and 668 in 2012.

49 rhino have been poached since the beginning of 2015.

This information has already been added to the PoachingFacts.com Rhino Poaching Statistics page which I am in the process of slowly opening up with reliable, sourced information on various poaching situations throughout Asia and Africa.

3.3 Arrests, investigations and prosecutions

The number of alleged poachers, couriers and syndicate members arrested has risen from 343 in 2013 to 386 in 2014.

During the 2013/14 financial year, according to statistics provided by the National Prosecuting Authority, a conviction rate of 61 per cent was secured: a figure we as the [Department: Environmental Affairs] remains confident will be improved. At the end of October 2014, with six months to go, the conviction rate stood at 50 per cent.

Noteworthy cases for 2014:

• The arrest on 20 January 2014 of two suspects on suspicion of involvement in the transportation of stolen vehicles, smuggled rhino horn and explosives
• The arrest of ten members of an alleged rhino poaching syndicate in September 2014 – including a pilot, an attorney, and a warrant officer from the Hawks. The arrests came after a year-long investigation by key stakeholders including the DEA
• The arrest in December 2014 of 16 members of a rhino horn smuggling syndicate in Prague, Czech Republic. This was the direct result of assistance provided by the DEA and the South African security services in terms of a Mutual Legal Assistance agreement
• During 2014 a total of 174 alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park, and 212 for the rest of the country

The Czech arrests were the successful outcome of cross-border cooperation between affected countries as well as transit and end-user countries to tackle the illicit trade in rhino horn.

During 2014, 1 215 rhinos were killed. This is a rise in the number of poached rhino from 1 004 in 2013.

“But given the highly organised nature of the syndicates, we believe these figures could be considerably higher were it not for our interventions,” said Minister Molewa. “Year on year, comparatively speaking, the increase in the rate of poaching has slowed since 2012. Nevertheless-the figures remain worryingly high.”

You can read the entire media release here: Minister Edna Molewa highlights progress in the war against poaching and plans for 2015. It's quite long, but covers a variety of topics including rhino translocation, rhino sales, and collaboration with international NGOs and law enforcement groups.