KZN anti-rhino poaching task team appointed
A task team has been appointed to assess anti-rhino poaching initiatives in KZN.
The team was established on Friday and will have to report back to the Provincial Executive Council, with recommendations, within six months.
Even though around 107 rhinos have been in KZN this year, the Department of Environmental Affairs's Albie Modise says rhino hunting is legal and is done through the scrutiny of an application process.
"It's looked at in terms of the number of rhinos in that particular stock and the decision to allow you to hunt is based on that. You don't hunt at all in the national parks. National parks are purely meant for public use to ensure that we keep the rhino and allow people to access the park for them to enjoy our successful track record in terms of conservation. Hunting happens in a legal format, you apply to hunt," he said.
Project Rhino says the high number of poaching incidents in the province is due to tight security at the Kruger National Park, meaning poachers are now making their way into KZN parks and reserves.
Speaking on Friday which was also world Rhino Day, WESSA conservationist Chris Galliers said last year there were 1 175 recorded poaching incidents in the country.