Rhino poaching is increasing again in South Africa.
According to Environment Minister Barbara Creecy, a total of 249 rhinos were poached from January to the end of June.
"Although the number of rhinos killed because of their horns is higher than the 166 in the same period last year, it is less than the 318 poached rhinos in the first six months of 2019," said the Sanparks National Park Authority on Saturday - International Ranger Day - with.
The previous year is considered an exceptional year due to one of the world's strictest corona lockdowns in South Africa.
In the Kruger National Park alone, with 715 poaching incidents, almost four percent more activities were registered than in the same period of the previous year (689 cases). A total of 125 people across the country have been arrested for poaching or smuggling rhinoceros horn, 20 of whom have already been convicted. Creecy: "In the fight against poaching and for the preservation of our wildlife, our rangers remain on the front line and risk their lives anew every day."
The rangers of the famous Kruger National Park are led by a woman for the first time in its decades of history: Cathy Dreyer replaced her predecessor Ken Maggs on May 1st. There are a number of national parks and game reserves in South Africa, but Kruger Park is one of the most important tourist attractions and is one of the largest national parks in Africa. It was established as a protected area on March 26, 1898 by then President Paul Kruger before it was renamed Kruger National Park in 1926. It is about the size of the state of Hesse and is known for the large number of wild animals such as elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalo.