From 2005 to now, over five thousand rhino have been poached in South Africa.  Of these, 81% (4115) have been poached in the Kruger National Park and another 18% (934) in adjacent national parks in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.  Sixty rhino (1%) have been poached in the Eastern Cape.  

Between 2007 and 2015 there has been a more than 9000% increase in poaching in South Africa.  The fierce escalation is captured in the following graphic: 

Similarly, the graphic to the right illustrates the catastrophic decline in the black rhino populations since the 1960s. 

Kruger National Park Poaching Pressure

Kruger National Park poaching statistics are a powerful illustration of the escalation of the crisis.  Between 2012 and 2015, the Kruger National Park has seen between 2 and 8 incidences per day. Poaching activity measured over this period includes: 

• 3 incursions per day
• 12 groups in the park at any time
• 4300 poachers in the park last year
• 111 contacts
• 77 sightings
• 1403 incidents

This pressure continues despite the Kruger's continued investment in anti-poaching measures.  The Kruger's Anti-Poaching Force includes:

• 400 Field Rangers
• 22 Section Rangers
• 4 Regional Rangers
• 15 Special Rangers
• 12 Investigators
• 2 pilots
• 140 protection services
• 1 commanding officer