143 rhinos poached in KZN between January and June
Over 140 rhinos were poached in KwaZulu-Natal between January to June this year.
The Department of Environmental Affairs says rhino poachers have continued to target the Hluhluwe/iMfolozi game reserve.
Overall, 231 animals were poached nationwide in the first six months of this year.
The figure is down 11 percent compared to the same period last year.
Minister Barbara Creecy outlines the progress in the fight against rhino poaching at a briefing at SANParks' offices in Pretoria earlier.
She says poaching trends continue to show a move away from the Kruger National Park to provincial and private reserves.
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Forty-six rhinos were killed in the country's private game parks.
Creecy says collaboration between law enforcement agencies is critical to protecting these animals - as the demand for rhino horn remains a constant threat.
"An important development in strengthening the collaboration between these role players in order to effectively address the organised nature of rhino poaching and wildlife trafficking is Cabinet’s recent approval in May this year of the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking.
“This strategy aims to break the illicit value chain of wildlife trafficking in South Africa and beyond its borders. It represents a commitment by the government to direct law enforcement ability and effort and mobilise society support to address the threat wildlife tracking poses to national security and the country’s rich biodiversity.
"Although currently, our main focus is rhino, the Strategy also aims to address the illegal trade in, and poaching of, other species that are threatened by trafficking syndicates, like abalone."
