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.