Rhino Crisis Round Up: Death Toll Soars to 373 in S Africa & More

By / September 7, 2012 / 1 minute of reading

At least 373 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South Africa during the first eight months of 2012, according to the country’s Department of Environmental Affairs.

Of the total, 229 were massacred in the famed Kruger National Park.

At least 1,372 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South Africa since 2007. Image © Annamiticus

So far this year, 199 people have been arrested in South Africa for rhino crimes.

Rhino horns seized

The Manila Standard Today reports that a shipment of rhino horns was intercepted by customs officers.

Six rhino horns were hidden among 300 sacks of cashew nuts. Like other countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines was likely a transit point; the rhino horns were headed to either China or Vietnam. The Sun.Star added that the cargo was from Mozambique.

Rhino horn robbers in jail

Two men identified by BBC news as Jamie Channon and Tony Moore have been jailed for stealing a rhinoceros head from Haslemere Educational Museum in May 2011. The Guilford Crown Court sentenced Channon to three years and Moore to two.

Reminder: #worldrhinoday

Rhinos will have their day on September 22nd when World Rhino Day is celebrated! Find out more about World Rhino Day at worldrhinoday.org and facebook.com/WorldRhinoDay.

White rhino with calf via Shutterstock

About The Author

Rhishja is the founder of Annamiticus, a nonprofit organization which provides educational information and news about wildlife crime and endangered species. Rhishja has journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES CoP16 in Bangkok, she joined colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species from economic exploitation. When Rhishja is not blogging about the illegal wildlife trade, she enjoys gardening, reading, designing, and rocking out to live music.

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