Question NW2198 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
01 November 2016 - NW2198
Steenkamp, Ms J to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(a) What are the latest numbers of (i) rhinos and (ii) elephants that were poached in each (aa) province and (bb) national game park from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, (b) how many poachers were (i) caught and (ii) successfully prosecuted and (c) what punishments were enacted in each case?
Reply:
(a) (i) (aa) and (bb) It should be noted that statistics related to rhino are reported in line with calendar years rather than financial years in order to align with international reporting mechanisms.
From April 2015 to March 2016, 1 131 rhinos were poached, with 35 Elephants in each province, as reflected below:
|
MONTH & YEAR |
PROVINCE |
TOTAL |
|||||||||
|
GP |
LP |
KZN |
NW |
WC |
NC |
MP |
FS |
EC |
SANParks |
||
|
Total for 2015/16 Elephant |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
35 |
35 |
|
Total for 2015/16 Rhino |
2 |
87 |
118 |
50 |
1 |
2 |
59 |
13 |
17 |
782 |
1131 |
(b) From January 2015 to December 2015, a total of 432 arrests were made in relation to rhino poaching. From January 2016 to August 2016, a total of 414 arrests were made in relation to rhino poaching.
At this time we are working with the South African Police Service in relation to the SAPS CAS System and the related crime codes in order to enable more specific analysis of the cases and reporting over different periods for rhino and elephant poaching arrests and convictions as well as wildlife trafficking cases.
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