Johannesburg, South Africa — 2026-02-10 South Africreports 16% Drop in Rhino Poaching for 2025 South Africa has announced a 16% decrease in rhino poaching for the year 2025, attributing the decline to intensified anti-trafficking efforts and integrated strategies. Minister Willie Aucamp revealed that 352 rhinos were poached in 2025, a decrease from 420 in 2024. Despite the national trend being positive, regional disparities are evident.
Mpumalanga province, which includes the Kruger National Park, experienced a nearly doubling of rhino poaching, with 178 animals lost.
In contrast, KwaZulu — Natal’s Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park saw a significant drop from 198 to 63 incidents.
The government has credited the decline to a multi — faceted approach, including strategic dehorning, enhanced detection through advanced camera networks and sensors, and the Integrity Implementation Plan.
This plan features mandatory polygraph tests for park law — enforcement personnel to combat corruption. Moreover, stronger legal prosecution has contributed to the decline.
A dedicated prosecutors’group is consolidating cases to target organized crime networks, resulting in longer imprisonment terms.
South Africa’s collaborative international efforts have also been recognized, as it received the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award for its role in combating transboundary wildlife crime. Regional officials confirmed that while the national trend is positive, the situation in the Kruger National Park and Mpumalanga province remains critical.
The government stated in a communiqué that it remains committed to protecting rhino populations and will continue to implement effective strategies.
Further details on the specific strategies and their impact are expected to be released in the coming weeks. For now, the government and conservationists are cautiously optimistic about the downward trend in rhino poaching.
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Source: South Africa sees 16% decline in rhino poaching in 2025 — iol.
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*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
