COVID-19’s Influence on Rhino Poaching in South Africa
Written by Ellie Stephens and Harry White - Entrants in the AASOA x Exeter ACS Engage in Africa Short Essay Prize
It’s the return of the Rhino...
Finally, there is positive news regarding the impact of Covid-19. Amongst all the doom and gloom of the pandemic, researchers at the International Rhino Foundation show that fewer than 400 rhinos were killed in South Africa last year, compared to 594 in 2019 (Maxwell, 2021).
Strict lockdown rules in South Africa, in response to the country’s prominent outbreaks of coronavirus, have prevented social mixing which subsequently reduces the movement and number of poachers and rhino smugglers around the country (Jacobo, 2021).
Rhinos are killed for their horns, which are often used in Asia for medicines and remedies. About 80% of the world's rhinos live in South Africa, according to U.K. based conservation charity Save the Rhino.
A mother and baby black rhinoceros. Credit: David Clode - Unsplash.
A Positive Trend
Rhinos Poached in South Africa, 2007-2020 (SaveTheRhino, 2021).
2020 marks the sixth year running that poaching rates have fallen in South Africa as the country’s systems for protecting national parks and tracking wildlife crime have grown more sophisticated. This has led to the arrest of 150 poachers between January to December 2020. Frequent national lockdowns, increased conservational funding efforts, and increased security in the national parks have given hope to a species at risk of extinction. Significantly, the strict curfew rules increased the risk of being caught while going out to find a rhino, along with the reduction in international flights that limited trafficking opportunities.
As stated by Barbara Creecy, South Africa’s Environment Minister, “Despite our battle to beat the Covid-19 pandemic contributing in part to the decrease in rhino poaching in 2020, the role of rangers and security personnel who remained at their posts, and the additional steps taken by the government to effectively deal with these and related offences, also played a significant role in saving our beautiful animals,” (Cuff, 2021).
A WWF advertising campaign aimed at reducing Vietnamese demand for rhino horn. Source: www.traffic.org/news/ad-campaign-aims-to-reduce-vietnamese-demand-for-rhino-horn/
However, despite the decrease in killings being “celebrated as a moderate win," wildlife advocates "cannot become complacent as the escalating demand in consumer countries ensures a lucrative black-market trade and thus relentless pressure on all resources to combat this organized crime."
In April 2020, at the start of the pandemic, conservationists feared poaching in Africa would rise due to the lack in tourism financially, which resulted in a loss of crucial funding for animal reserves. Online campaigns have managed to generate a fraction of the revenue to help save the Rhinos, however experts fear this is not enough. As reported by the Associated Press, “despite the dramatic decrease in Rhino killings credited to the pandemic, the risk of poaching resurgence remains high when the country opens up.” This was unfortunately evident in December 2020 exemplified with a "significant spike" in poaching activity after lockdown levels eased.
In conclusion, despite the risk of poaching resurging after the pandemic, the year 2020 has been a welcome break for rhino communities which have been able to thrive in their natural environment with a 22% reduction in poaching activities in South Africa's Kruger National Park over the year. The curfews introduced to curb the spread of the pandemic have subsequently aided the arrest of 165 poachers! As an endangered yet very loved species, this news is welcomed by many worldwide.
#SaveTheRhino
References:
Cuff, M. (2021, February 2nd ). Rhino killings drop by a third in South Africa as lockdown stops poachers roaming national parks. Retrieved from iNews: https://inews.co.uk/news/lockdown-blocks-poachers-from- killing-rhinos-in-south-africa-854868
Jacobo, J. (2021, February 5th). Rhino poaching in South Africa declines dramatically due to COVID-19 lockdown, officials say. Retrieved from ABC NEWS: https://abcnews.go.com/International/rhino-poaching-south- africa-declines-dramatically-due-covid/story?id=75633086
Maxwell. (2021, January 4th). Rhino numbers 2019-2020. Retrieved from International Rhino Foundation: https://rhinos.org/blog/
SaveTheRhino. (2021, Feb 1st ). 394 rhinos poached in South Africa during 2020. Retrieved from Save the Rhino.