Rhino poachers are back after South Africa eases lockdown restrictions Reuters 2 hrs ago
By Akhona Matshoba and Shafiek Tassiem
HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa, May 3 (Reuters) - Rhino poaching is on the rise again in South Africa since the government loosened coronavirus restrictions, following a year-long lull due to the pandemic, wildlife parks say.
The strict limits on travel, including international travel, imposed in March last year had the happy side effect of keeping poachers at bay. In 2020, 394 rhinos were poached, 30 percent fewer than the year before and the lowest yearly tally since 2011.
But then South Africa began easing international travel restrictions in November.
By Akhona Matshoba and Shafiek Tassiem
The strict limits on travel, including international travel, imposed in March last year had the happy side effect of keeping poachers at bay. In 2020, 394 rhinos were poached, 30 percent fewer than the year before and the lowest yearly tally since 2011.
But then South Africa began easing international travel restrictions in November.
“Since November, December last year and into 2021, this landscape and particularly Kruger National Park has been experiencing serious numbers of rhino poaching incidents,” said Jo Shaw, the Africa Rhino Lead for WWF International Network.
She declined to say how many incidents had occurred.
“There is a very real and realised threat as poaching pressure has increased since lockdown perhaps to meet the demand from the international markets,” she said.
Under lockdown, the country saw a 30% decrease in poaching in 2020 from the previous year.
But organisations say there has been an increase in incidents, particularly at Kruger National Park.
Rhino poaching is on the rise again in South Africa since the government loosened Covid-19 restrictions, following a year-long lull due to the pandemic, wildlife parks say.
The strict limits on travel, including international travel, imposed in March last year had the happy side effect of keeping poachers at bay. In 2020, 394 rhinos were poached, 30% fewer than the year before and the lowest yearly tally since 2011.
But then South Africa began easing international travel restrictions in November.
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