In an unrelenting assault on one of Africa’s most emblematic endangered species, South African authorities have confirmed that 103 rhinos were killed by poachers in the first three months of 2025 alone, with the majority of the slaughter occurring within the borders of national parks.
Environment Minister Dion George, in a stark assessment delivered on Monday 06 May said 65 of the animals were poached on protected lands between January and March — a grim continuation of last year’s trend that underscores the ongoing existential threat facing the rhino population.
“The average of more than one rhino killed per day is a sobering testament to the scale of the challenge,” Minister George remarked, adding that the data “reinforces the urgent call for coordinated conservation, enforcement, and intelligence-led interventions.” South Africa, home to an estimated 16,000 to 18,000 rhinos — both black and white — bears the heaviest burden in the global fight against poaching. Conservationists warn that without intensified protection, these majestic animals may slip irretrievably toward extinction.
Black rhinos, which are found exclusively in the wilds of Africa, remain critically endangered, with just 6,400 individuals globally and approximately 2,000 in South Africa alone, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While national parks serve as sanctuaries for these vulnerable giants, they are increasingly becoming hunting grounds for sophisticated poaching syndicates.
South African law enforcement, working in tandem with conservation bodies, has in recent years shifted its strategy to focus on dismantling transnational criminal networks fuelling the illegal wildlife trade. However, the latest figures signal that poachers remain emboldened, exploiting porous borders, corrupt networks, and the persistent demand for rhino horn in illicit markets abroad.
As the nation continues its high-stakes defence of biodiversity, calls are mounting for enhanced surveillance technologies, stiffer penalties, and regional cooperation to stem the tide of poaching. The future of the rhino, a symbol of Africa’s wild heritage, hangs in the balance.