The 22nd of September is World Rhino Day, a day to reflect on the large-scale slaughter these enigmatic animals are facing due to human greed and superstitious culture.
For the first time in years there is a reason for cautious optimism, with the South African Ministry of Environmental Affairs announcing on the 11th of September that, despite an enormous increase in the number of poaching incursions into the Kruger National Park, there has been an almost 18% decline in the number of rhinos killed by poachers in the period January to August in South Africa’s flagship Park, rightly attributed to the never-ending efforts of dedicated rangers and other people in law enforcement. Still, the 458 carcasses found in Kruger so far this year (compared to 557 for the same 8 month period last year) is a terrifying number, and it is even worse when considering that in our country as a whole at least 702 rhinos have been killed this year, bringing the total lost since the scourge started escalating in 2007 within sight of the 6,000 mark.
Today is also another chance to express our deep gratitude to those brave men and women out in the bush, fighting a war against the decimation of our wildlife, putting their lives on the line so that black and white rhinos remain a feature of Africa’s natural heritage for generations to come.
A couple of de-horned White Rhinoceros in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. De-horning is a drastic and costly measure to protect the animals, and sadly only a practical option in smaller populations.
DeWetsWild 
These are big numbers in spite of an overall decrease. That makes this a terrible situation. In the long run, the demand side of this equation needs to be seriously addressed to make poaching unprofitable 😦
Absolutely agreed, Joanne. As long as there’s someone interested in buying there will be people involved in providing.
😦
It’s a sad day when you hear of so many being slaughtered! Man kind and greed, the worlds greatest enemy! 😦 T.
I think that’s part of the horror of it all, Teresa, that in an “enlightened” age as we live in today people would still kill such magnificent animals for something as utterly useless as a horn made of hair…
No kidding! T.
Mens moet elke dag omgee
Dit is so Tina. En daar is soveel mense wat elke dag juis dit doen, en selfs hul lewens op die spel plaas.
Wonderful photo of these beleaguered creatures, Dries. It’s so sad and awful that they have to be de-horned to deter the poachers. 😦
Thanks Sylvia. It is a terrible compromise to have to make just to keep them alive and safe.
I agree with you. 😦
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I like your portrait.
Thanks very much P J B!
Cautious optimism – but still a heavy heart for these gentle browsers. All kudos and continuing strength to the conservation effort. The numbers are staggering.
A future without rhinos roaming our wild places is too horrible to contemplate…
Dankietog daar is mense wat omgee…
Absoluut Tannie Frannie. Sonder daardie mense was renosters lankal uitgewis.
Ek is so vroeg wakker want ek moet ‘n bietjie werk – wat is jou verskoning?
Ek sou n baie goeie boer gewees het, Tannie Frannie – teen hierdie tyd sou helfte van die koeie al gemelk gewees het!
I don’t have a lot of confidence but I do have hope.
We can’t afford not to!
Such a terrible thing as with elephants as well. Thanks for sharing this and I so appreciate those trying to stop the poachers. Rhinos are so ugly that they’re kind of cute. 🙂
janet
Thanks Janet! Indeed, we owe those dedicated rangers so much, as without them I’m in no doubt that all the wild rhinos would have been wiped out already.
Thanks for sharing -did not know about this day – 💙
We’re glad to have played a minute part in spreading the message of World Rhino Day!
🙂
Very inspiring… 🙂
Thanks Drake. We can only hope that the message gets to the ears that need to hear it the most.