Poaching of African rhinos and the illegal sale of their horns has declined. Restrictions on public life as a result of coronavirus prevention may have contributed to this decrease, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Traffic, an NGO working against wildlife smuggling, said in a press release on Monday. . Compared to 2015, the African rhino poaching rate has more than halved in 2021.
2015 marked the most devastating year for African rhino populations, with 5.3% of the total population being poached illegally. For 2021, the IUCN and Traffic have now calculated a value of 2.3% and managed To a decrease of more than 50% compared to 2015. Between 2018 and 2021, at least 2,707 endangered pachyderms were victims of poaching, including rhinos white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) and black rhinos (Diceros bicornis). As a result, the white rhino population in Africa dropped nearly twelve percent to around 16,000 animals, while the black rhino population was just 6,200 animals at a similar rate of decline.
Troubled Child South Africa
“The overall decline in rhino poaching is encouraging, but it remains an acute threat to the survival of these iconic animals,” said Sam Ferreira, a rhino expert at the IUCN. However, a trend reversal is not to be expected without further delay: “For the rhino population to continue to grow, it is essential that populations continue to be actively managed and measures to combat poaching continue”, urged Ferreira. South Africa remains a troubled child, on whose soil 90% of known cases of rhino poaching have been recorded, according to the report.
In 2019 alone, more illegal African rhinos were seized in international trade than in a decade, according to the IUCN and Traffic report. This is possibly also due to forced police and search work. Not all countries have committed equally so far, summarized animal rights activists. In 2020, particularly little relevant material was confiscated. Whether Corona was also responsible for this cannot finally be clarified, said Sabri Zain of the organization Traffic, in conclusion.