SA announces rise in rhino poaching

Environmental Affairs.
Among the nine provinces across the country, the north-eastern province of Limpopo, the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal and the northern province of the North West were prime destinations for illegal rhino poachers, with a total of 150 rhinos lost, the spokesperson said.
The department warned that this year’s rhino death total has already surpassed that of last year.
In recent years, the rhino poaching has been on the rise in South Africa, where 448 were killed in 2011, up from 333 in 2010.
It was reported that the rhino poaching is related with the illegal trade of horn, which is seen by some as a cure for various ailments.
Rhino smugglers claimed that 100 grammes of crushed rhino horn could cost around US$7 000.
The conservationists fear that if the current trend of rhino poaching continues, the rhino would be driven to extinction in the future.
Spokesperson Modise said the South African government has been striving to crack down on the rhino poaching, with more than 200 people arrested for poaching and illegal trading in rhino horn since the beginning of this year.
South Africa is home to the largest rhino population of 20 000 rhinos, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the total in the world. — Xinhua.