KwaZulu-Natal’s Rhino populations are facing increasing pressure from poaching for the international illegal trade in Rhino horn. Alarmingly, 307 individuals were killed in the province for their horns in 2023, as compared to 200 in 2017. This is an unsustainable rate of mortality that the population cannot withstand.
If interventions to limit poaching aren’t supported now, this rate of poaching risks eliminating one of the most important rhino populations in Africa. The very same population that was crucial in countering the Southern White Rhino’s risk of extinction in the 20th century.
As a result of this increasing pressure from the surge of poaching, the difficult decision was made to dehorn the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) Rhino. This decision by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was not made lightly, but with funding from WWF South Africa and other partners, they are bravely executing this devaluation operation, and we commend this dedicated team.
HiP is the oldest protected area in Africa and is renowned as the “the birthplace of the rhino”, following Operation Rhino’s efforts more than half a century ago, which saved the Southern White Rhino from the brink of extinction.
Before the start of this dehorning operation, HiP also homed the largest horned population of Rhinos (i.e. rhinos that have not been dehorned as a measure to deter poaching) in Africa, making this a particularly historic and significant event.
The Wildlife ACT team is therefore incredibly privileged to assist with the Rhino devaluation operation, in the planning phase and on the ground. Our experienced staff act as scribes, assist researchers with taking fecal and DNA samples, ear notching identifiable individuals, deploy tracking units, and get their hands dirty wherever needed to assist our partners in conservation.
Furthermore, our growing Black Rhino monitoring team on HiP will be playing an important role in helping to keep a close eye on this dehorned population – an important responsibility that we look forward to building on together with our partners.
The scale of this operation and the widespread dehorning that is taking place across southern Africa in response to Rhino poaching highlights the urgent need for a better understanding of the impacts of dehorning on population growth rates and poaching levels.
Wildlife ACT remains committed to working with our partners to protect the HiP Rhino population, as well as others that may now experience increased pressure after this devaluation operation. It is not an easy feat, but together we remain optimistic and look forward to more impactful Rhino conservation work this year.
With thanks to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, WWF South Africa, Save the Rhino International, African Wildlife Vets, Wildlife ACT Innovations, WWF Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP), Kenchaan Foundation, and Black Rhino Ecology
