Poachers kill 11 rhinos already in 2012
18th January 2012
It's only 18 days since the new year began, yet already 11 African rhinos have been hunted down and killed by poachers in South Africa
At least 11 rhinos have been found dead over the last two and a half weeks – with a shocking eight found in Kruger National Park in just one day.
South African authorities have reacted to the recent spike in killings by adding 150 more rangers to patrol the national park. This is as well as installing a 95-mile electric barrier along the area most trafficked by the illegal hunters – along the border with Mozambique.
South Africa has been hit the hardest by rhino poaching, as it home to the largest population of rhinos in the world. However, the extra rangers will boost total numbers to 650 and authorities believe this will help control the current crisis.
Conservationists believe 2012 could be the worst year for rhino poaching yet. In 2011, 448 rhinos were killed in South Africa, over half of which lived within Kruger. Late in 2011, authorities decided to stop pinpointing rhino locations for travellers on safari, amid fears poachers were using the information. Other deterrents to control the poaching crisis have included de-horning the rhinos and coating the rhino's horns in a toxin harmful to humans.
According to the BBC, a government-commissioned study into whether legalising trade in rhino horn could help to bring down poaching is due in August.
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