CAPE TOWN, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Minister of Environmental Affairs Edena Molewa on Monday voiced "cautious optimism" over the fight against rhino poaching but warned against claiming victory.
"There has been a slight decrease in the number of rhino poached nationally," the minister said at a press briefing in Cape Town.
A total of 529 rhinos have been poached since January 2017 this year, compared to 542 in the same period for 2016, representing a decrease of 13 rhinos, according to Molewa.
With regards to the Kruger National Park (KNP), one of Africa's biggest game reserves in northeastern South Africa, a total of 243 rhino carcasses were found between January and the end of June 2017, said Molewa.
This is compared to 354 in the same period in 2016, representing a decrease of 34 percent.
The KNP is traditionally the hotbed of rhino poaching.
"As we have always stated, these declining numbers do not mean we can proclaim victory. Nevertheless, the downward trend is being established, which is cause for cautious optimism," Molewa said.
Whilst there has been a decrease in the number of rhinos killed for their horns in the KNP and nearby Mpumalanga Province, the number of rhinos poached unfortunately increased in some other provinces, according to the minister.
"The threat of poaching is now a challenge to other provinces, particularly KwaZulu-Natal," she said.
With rhino poaching still alarming, sustained effective law enforcement efforts have been intensified, Molewa said.
In the reporting period, a total of 359 alleged poachers and traffickers have been arrested nationally, according to Molewa.
"We are acutely aware that in order to make a real impact on rhino poaching, these arrests must translate into successful investigations and prosecutions," Molewa said.
Although the campaign is far from won in the KNP and elsewhere, South Africa is reaping the benefits of anti-poaching endeavours supported by so many state and private parties, said Molewa.
Molewa has warned before that South Africa's rhino population will be close to extinction by 2026 if no effective measures are taken to curb rhino poaching.
South Africa, which is home to more than 80 percent of the worlds' rhino population, bears the brunt of rhino poaching.
