“Starting this year, 90 Rhino Monitors will be trained and deployed annually across Kruger National Park. They are not just protecting rhino. They are protecting livelihoods, family legacies, and the possibility of green jobs for a generation to come,” Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Dr Dion George said on Tuesday.

The Minister made these remarks during the official launch of the Rhino Renaissance Campaign at the Kruger National Park, which is grounded on 24/7 rhino tracking; biological management such as targeted dehorning; DNA tagging and genetic research; enforcement cooperation across provincial, national, and regional levels and, critically, resource mobilisation to sustain operations over the long term.

With South Africa currently hosting the Group Twenty (G20) Presidency, this campaign has been adopted as a G20 Legacy Project to rally global support, both diplomatic and financial, to scale this work.

South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, which runs to 30 November 2025, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”.

“This work does not stand alone. We are fighting wildlife crime on every front. Our National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking is anchored in the Medium-Term Development Plan, the country’s roadmap for the next five years.

“This strategy brings together key government departments – including my department, Police, Justice, Border Management, Intelligence, [the] South African National Parks (SANParks) and the provincial conservation entities – in a united, multidisciplinary response. It also builds strong partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and communities on the ground,” George explained.

Tackling wildlife crimes

Fighting wildlife crime is one of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s six core priorities.

“At its heart is a commitment to a fair and sustainable future – one where our iconic wildlife supports livelihoods, uplifts communities, and strengthens our national identity.

“The Rhino Renaissance Campaign is a vital part of this effort. It supports our vision of a fair industry for lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinos — a future where these species are not only protected but thrive alongside the people who live among them.

“No country or sector can tackle this threat alone. South Africa is building strong enforcement networks across borders and finalising agreements with rhino horn destination countries,” the Minister said.

Government is engaging partners such as Interpol, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) neighbours to strengthen intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation.

South Africa’s response goes beyond law enforcement. It includes financial intelligence, anti-corruption efforts, and international diplomacy- because wildlife crime is deeply embedded in global criminal networks.

Decline in rhino poaching

As of the end of June, 195 rhinos had been poached across South Africa this year – a reduction of 35 compared to the same period in 2024.

“While any loss is too many, this decrease signals that our intensified enforcement efforts are starting to have an effect. June recorded the lowest monthly poaching figures so far this year, with 22 rhinos killed nationwide. Here in the Kruger, which is still a primary target for poachers, we lost 11 rhinos in both May and June, down from 17 in January and 30 in February.

“These numbers are a stark reminder that the threat remains real and unrelenting. But they also show that progress is possible. Our rangers, enforcement teams, and intelligence units continue to work tirelessly on the front lines to protect our wildlife and hold the line,” the Minister said.

Through rhino dehorning, South Africa removes the reasons rhinos are being killed in the first place.

“Dehorning does not harm the animal. It saves its life. It buys us time – to restore numbers, upgrade security, and disrupt demand,” he explained.

The country is already seeing green shoots which include the relocation of 2 000 rhinos from African Parks to safe havens across the country; Munyawana Conservancy and others are growing populations through rewilding; cross-border work is underway in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and across the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Safe havens have been identified in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana and collaboration between government and private wildlife owners in the Integrated Wildlife Zones has been enhanced.

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“The loss of 103 rhinos to poaching in the first three months of 2025 is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife. Yet, the absence of poaching in four provinces shows that our targeted interventions are yielding results, and we must build on this progress,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, said on Monday.

The latest statistics for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025 are closely aligned with the average monthly poaching rate of 35 rhinos over the previous 12 months (420 rhinos annually).

The Minister said the figures underscore the sustained pressure on the rhino populations and the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat this illegal activity.

The breakdown of poaching incidents by province reveals that South African National Parks (SANParks) recorded the highest number of losses, with 65 rhinos poached.

KwaZulu-Natal reported 16 cases, followed by Limpopo with 10, Free State with five, the North West with four, and Mpumalanga with three. No rhinos were poached in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, or Gauteng during this period.

To strengthen efforts against wildlife crime, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has taken proactive measures to address factors related to bail applications for perpetrators.

“We are working closely with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure that repeat offenders and those with no fixed address face stronger opposition to bail,” George said.

The department shares best-practice affidavits with investigators to ensure more effective bail opposition and is exploring options to secure funding for dedicated support to SAPS in these applications.

“The South African government remains steadfast in its commitment to combating wildlife crime. We continue to strengthen anti-poaching measures, including enhanced ranger patrols, advanced surveillance technologies, and collaboration with national and international law enforcement agencies.

“We are also working closely with various stakeholders to bolster anti-poaching efforts through the deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as drones and thermal radars. Additionally, we are engaging with communities living near protected areas to foster sustainable livelihoods and reduce the socioeconomic drivers of poaching,” the Minister said.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) can alleviate this burden. By processing massive amounts of data quickly, it can map the movements of offenders and illicit goods, identify patterns in criminal behaviour and activities, and make focused connections.

AI has been recognised globally for its potential to save police hours of search and analysis work. In April, Britain’s government outlined how £230 million would be spent on AI technology to help the police save 38 million hours of police time. The European Union is implementing a project that uses AI to provide comprehensive intelligence to detect organised crime.

Policing organised environmental crime in particular is expensive, laborious and complex. These crimes often occur in remote, hard-to-access areas, involve different networks of actors, and cut across jurisdictions. Despite their significant costs to the environment, economy and society, environmental crimes tend to be a lower priority for law enforcement.

Research by the ENACT organised crime project at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) shows how AI can do some of the resource-heavy and complex aspects of investigating environmental crime in Africa.

TrailGuard AI is a system of cameras that enables national park officials to detect, stop and arrest poachers before they kill wildlife. The tiny cameras are easily camouflaged, and placed along trails where local intelligence has identified a threat. AI models filter out 99% of false positive images, saving battery life in remote places.

Eric Dinerstein, Director of Nightjar at the non-profit organisation RESOLVE, which helped develop TrailGuard, told ISS Today that with good cell transmission, an image triggered by wildlife or poachers can reach a cellphone within around 30 seconds. This enables the appropriate authorities (e.g. park rangers or police) to mount a real-time response. The system also works with other anti-poaching interventions, such as sniffer dogs.

TrailGuard technology was first deployed at Tanzania’s Singita Grumeti Reserve in 2018. It enabled the arrest of 30 poachers and the seizure of almost 600 kg of illegal bushmeat during a test phase in East Africa.

Operation Pangolin was launched in 2023 as a collaboration between universities, conservation initiatives and Gabon’s National Agency for National Parks. It collects and processes data from existing trail cameras, using AI to recognise pangolins from camera traps and thermal cameras. The imagery is used with Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool data from ranger patrols to build predictive models for pangolin poaching. The project’s long-term aim is to develop separate AI models that help predict trafficking routes and markets.

The project currently operates in Gabon and Cameroon and works closely with Nigerian stakeholders. Its team is exploring ways to build local capacity so that the data, technologies, and tools continue to be used and offer value beyond the project scope. Team member Bistra Dilkina told ISS Today that the ‘AI tool is an empty shell without local data. We need local champions embedded in the project.’

Skylight is a marine data platform that applies AI-powered pattern recognition, computer vision and machine learning to satellite data. Skylight uses ship movement identification and analysis from subject matter experts and rapidly applies it globally to detect illegal fishing across the oceans.

It alerts coastguards and other maritime enforcement agencies to suspicious vessel patterns and locations, allowing them to assess potential non-compliant or illegal activity and distinguish it from ‘normal’ behaviour. Madagascar, Kenya, Gabon, and nations around the Gulf of Guinea are among the 70 countries that use the platform. Officials use their knowledge of national laws and their institutions’ priorities, mandates and resources, to determine how to respond.

The data is received quickly enough that law enforcement can act fast, enabling timely intervention if necessary. According to Ted Schmitt, Senior Director of Conservation and Programme Manager for Skylight, coastguards had used their data to board vessels and uncover illegal fishing activity.

Digital Earth Africa (DEA) takes vast raw geospatial satellite data from across Africa and translates it into analysis-ready information. Observing changes in land use over time from satellite imagery provides insights into illegal mining activities. For instance, surface-level activities such as creating artificial ponds, clearing vegetation and building access roads may indicate unlawful mining.

Localised, real-time data on illicit mining can help make the deployment of limited resources more cost-efficient and effective. Ghana’s government has partnered with DEA to identify the location of illegal mining activities outside of mining concessions.

There are also challenges and risks to harnessing AI for law enforcement in Africa. These include limitations in the availability and volume of local data and inadequate basic communication and digital infrastructure. A lack of technical skills and resources to respond to environmental crime even when identified, is also a problem, as is limited investment in research and development. There are also concerns about reactive regulatory systems and data privacy, unauthorised surveillance of civilians, and criminal threats.

But AI is here to stay and is advancing quickly. By engaging with AI’s potential, policymakers across Africa could make a real difference in the fight against organised and complex crimes.

This requires a dedicated investment in building the capacity to gather large, local and relevant data sets. Budgets will also need to be allocated to digital and communication infrastructure, and generating the human capacity and skills for AI development and implementation.

With the African Union’s AI White Paper and Roadmap as a guide, African countries should draft and enact legislation on AI to ensure its use is regulated. Meanwhile, public-private partnerships can be leveraged to implement existing, proven AI interventions that can generate powerful crime-fighting tools.

Written by Romi Sigsworth, Research Consultant, ENACT, ISS.

Republished with permission from ISS Africa. The original article can be found here.

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The decrease, Dion George said in a Thursday (1 August) statement, was slight – two – down to 229 from the corresponding 231 last year. This came with what he called “a significant drop” in May and June: 21 and 22 compared to 42 and 34 for the first six months of last year.

The reduced loss is thought to be attributable to the dehorning of rhino populations in KwaZulu-Natal and specifically in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park where over a thousand rhinos have been dehorned since April 2024.

Well over half – 191 – of the 229 rhino lost to poachers to date this year were on what the Minister has it are “State properties” presumably national parks and provincial game reserves.

The Kruger National Park, straddling Mpumalanga and Limpopo, lost 45 rhino to poachers from January to June compared to 42 in the same period in 2023. Kruger continues to implement its rhino conservation plan focusing on guarding and protecting this Big Five species in core rhino areas as well as “use of appropriate technologies”, dehorning and “implementing innovative biological management” in.

The Kruger integrity management plan (IMP) addresses staff integrity and other initiatives including field ranger selection and training, polygraph testing, wellness, financial literacy and skills development programmes.

George also reported implementation of first year targets for the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT). The over-arching South African government structure for security – NatJOINTS (National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure) – is part of the strategy by way of its priority committee on wildlife trafficking, according to the Ministerial statement.

During the reporting period, over 60 suspects were arrested and 20 heavy calibre firearms recovered in relation to rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking.

“Successful joint operations and investigations between SAPS Stock Theft & Endangered Species Unit, Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) from national and provincial conservation agencies and departments, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) and private security teams are to be commended for their sustained effort,” George is reported as saying.

With regard to rhino population numbers, at the end of 2023, South Africa reported 16 056 rhinos comprising 2 065 black and 13 991 white rhinos. These figures compare with figures estimated for the end of 2021 when there were 2 056 black and 12 968 white rhinos in the country.

“South Africa had 1 032 more rhinos in 2023 than what there were in 2021 despite the poaching – in 2022 and 2023, 2.9% and 3.2% of South Africa’s rhinos respectively were poached. These were lower than the threshold of 3.5% beyond which rhino numbers will decline,” George said.

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What is the rhino horn trade?

Rhino horn is not particularly special in terms of its biochemistry. Its composition is close to that of various other mammal horns, hooves and hair. Despite this, and the ban on international sales, rhino horn continues to be illegally trafficked from Africa to Asia – principally China and Vietnam – where there is a demand for the horn. Rhino horn is used as a status symbol (ownership is associated with affluence), linked with use in traditional Chinese medicine and used as an aphrodisiac.

Rhino are poached (killed) for their horn, which is then illegally traded. With the three Asiatic rhino species on the precipice of extinction, the main sources of rhino horn today are the African rhino: the black rhino and the white rhino. Today, South Africa has fewer than 23,000 rhino left of a historical population of 500,000. In 2023 alone, 449 rhino were lost to poaching.

Rhino can be protected against poaching if they are guarded or monitored, moved to areas where the poaching risk is lower, or through veterinary surgeons removing their horns under anaesthesia. A rhino with horn removed is in theory less likely to be poached as, with a much shorter horn, the financial reward to the poacher is greatly diminished.

However, data on the effectiveness of de-horning as a conservation tool is limited and results are mixed. The rhino horn also grows back, meaning that the rhino needs to be dehorned regularly to reduce the poaching risk. These harvested horns are often stored instead of being destroyed.

What is the rhino horn stockpile?

Rhino horn obtained by regular harvesting, horn from natural rhino deaths, and horn confiscated by law enforcement is stored in stockpiles by rhino owners, investors and government. In 2020, when the last official stockpile figures were released, the South African government stockpile stood at 27,641kg, with 47,544kg in private hands. These stockpiles are supposed to be stored securely to prevent the horn from being stolen and sold on the illegal market.

Rhino horn can be traded legally within South Africa, under permit, but there is no local demand. Previous hopes of a rhino-horn tourism industry, where visitors would travel to legally consume rhino horn in South Africa, have not transpired.

Why stockpile rhino horn when there is no legal international market, and therefore no economic value to it? The chief motive for stockpiling rhino horn seems to be the hope that the international market will reopen in future. Private landowners in South Africa may have invested in rhino, and stockpiled harvested horn, speculating that a future international legal market will provide financial rewards.

The South African government itself lobbied for a lifting of the international ban on trade in rhino horn at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 2016. However, the conference upheld the ban on trade. If the ban was lifted, clearly a lot of money could be made from selling the vast amount of stockpiled horn. On the black market, rhino horn is bought and sold for between US$10,694/kg and US$22,257/kg in Vietnam.

Why is the rhino horn stockpile a problem?

In spite of the ban on international trade, and the legal requirement for secure storage, rhino horn has been diverted from South African stockpiles into the illegal global wildlife trade.

A South African government stockpile was the target of theft in 2023, losing 51 horns to thieves who broke into the storage area. The South African government’s statistics also indicate a decrease in rhino stockpiles of over 4,000 horns between 2019 and 2020.

Seizures of illegal rhino horn shipments have been found to contain rhino horn from South African stockpiles – both private and government. In South Africa, each rhino horn removed from rhino should be microchipped; this unique ID enables rhino horn to be traced to its source.

The EMS report argues that the stockpiles contribute to creating a demand for more accessible rhino horn, in larger amounts. This can lead to poaching and costly knock-on effects such as a greater investment in rhino protection, and danger to those guarding the rhino. Destroying rhino horn stockpiles would signal a commitment to no-trade and symbolise the worthlessness of rhino horn as a commodity.
What is the solution to the rhino horn stockpile problem?

The pro-trade side want a future with a legal international trade in rhino horn, and argue that this is the route to saving the rhino. The no-trade side believe a legal trade in rhino horn would make a future for free-living wild rhino even more challenging than it is now. Unfortunately, these opposing visions of a future for rhino are not compatible. The rhino are caught in a policy no-man’s-land.

I believe that the key to saving the rhino is demand reduction. Promoting behaviour change among consumers, for example via publicity and education campaigns, by turning rhino horn into a badge of shame rather than a medallion of status would undermine the market demand.

Diminishing demand for rhino horn would ultimately remove the incentive for poaching rhino. It would also remove any incentive to private land owners to farm rhino for their horn. I am against “saving” the rhino by domesticating them: I want to see wild animals living a natural life in their natural environment – contributing to the ecosystem. Symbolic funeral pyres of burning rhino horn may be the best way forward for rhino conservation.

Written by Jason Gilchrist, Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University.

Republished with permission from The Conversation. The original article can be found here.

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The reserve is, by way of a multi-pronged partnership, countering rhino poaching and boosting the success of its rewilding techniques for this Big Five species.

A five-way technical collaboration has since 2021 seen the convergence of ground-based tools and satellite technology lead to 16 suspected rhino poaching arrests. Additionally, information provided by the high-tech solution helps in management and restoration of the reserve’s 750 sq km wilderness.

Madikwe Futures Company (MFC) in collaboration with the Connected Conservation Foundation (CCF), Cisco, Airbus Foundation and Actility integrate cutting-edge technologies into shield against poachers and assist in managing the landscape.

From LoRaWAN (low-power, wide area networking protocol) networks to 30 cm resolution satellite imagery, Madikwe is now equipped with a holistic system merging ground-based measures with sky-based monitoring technologies.

“Our ongoing work with CCF and other partners to deliver networking equipment across Madikwe is part of Cisco’s ‘Partnering for Purpose’ initiative. The combination of powerful partnerships and innovative technologies supports a holistic approach to conservation, helping create safe havens for wildlife and secure jobs for local communities,” said Tony Meredith, Senior Director, Global Strategic Partner Sales at Cisco.

Satellite imagery combined with thermal cameras along the reserve’s perimeter are vigilant guardians operating 24/7 to detect and deter poachers.

The cameras offer real-time surveillance and provide insights into poaching behaviour, enabling implementation of more effective counter-strategies.

Madikwe strengthened its surveillance against poaching with the introduction of sophisticated Pléiades Neo satellite imagery. This technology, donated by the Airbus Foundation, provides a landscape scale perspective enabling the team to analyse poacher entry and exit routes.

Koos Potgieter, MFC Managing Director, said,“Poachers are professionals who are part of organised crime syndicates. They’re experienced. It’s valuable to monitor their behaviour closely”.

The imagery enhances anti-poaching resource deployment and contributes to the reserve’s overall rewilding and restoration plans, guiding decisions on environmental factors such as sickle bush removal and grassland enhancement for key species like lion, wild dog, hyena and rhino.

“The Airbus Foundation donated Pléiades Neo satellite imagery to contribute to Madikwe Game Reserve’s anti-poaching resources. By analysing poacher routes and supporting overall management plans, this technology plays a crucial role in the conservation efforts of this remarkable living landscape,” Rachel Schroeder, Airbus Foundation Managing Director, said.

Madikwe Game Reserve is implementing a new LoRaWAN network, supported by Cisco, Actility and CCF, covering vast areas with advanced sensing devices ranging from fence sensors and vehicle trackers to wildlife, canine and ranger trackers. This network enhances surveillance, identifies potential poaching threats and optimises patrol routes through data analysis, offering a data-driven approach to conservation.

“By harnessing cutting-edge IoT (Internet of Things) technology, including the transformative power of LoRaWAN and our ThingPark connectivity platform, we commit to safeguarding the world’s wildlife. These ground breaking tools allow us to bridge the gap between progress and conservation effectively, ensuring harmonious co-existence between humanity and wildlife. Join us in this noble endeavour, leveraging innovation for a synergistic and sustainable future,” Nicolas Jordan, Actility Chief Operating Officer, said.

Sophie Maxwell, CCF Executive Director, adds insight into the future of LoRa devices. “LoRa devices will keep on developing – from new animal trackers to alarms. The Connected Conservation project enables Madikwe to easily plug in and utilise new LoRa devices to safeguard rangers and wildlife.”

Madikwe Game Reserve has experienced a reduction in rhino poaching incidents, accompanied by enhanced levels of landscape and community security. A commendable achievement is protection of previously identified hotspots poachers use for entry and exit into the reserve.

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