In total, 138 of these animals were killed by poachers between 2018 and 2022, with a peak in 2021, in particular due to an increased demand for horn in Asia.
MO12345lemonde with AFP
Monday, February 20, Botswana revealed to be faced with a sharp increase in poaching of its rhinos. In total, 138 of these animals were killed by poachers between 2018 and 2022, with a peak in 2021, before descending in 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Philda Kereng said on Monday, February 20. For comparison, between 2012 and 2017, Botswana had identified only two rhinos victims of poachers.
The Minister awarded this increase to “increased demand for rhinoceros horn on the international market”, mainly in Asia, but also to “a displacement of criminal organizations since other southern African States”. Neighboring South Africa, a traditional high place of poaching of rhinoceros, has experienced in recent years a constant drop in the number of animals killed due to the increase in patrols in national parks, which has forced poachers from look for horns elsewhere. In Asia, rhino horns are used in traditional medicine for their supposed therapeutic effects.
According to the Convention on International Trade in endangered species (CITES), it would remain a total of 285 white rhinos and 23 black rhinos in Botswana. The country, which has in turn intensified its anti-Braconnier patrols, has started in recent years to decor its rhinos to reduce their attraction for poachers, but that has not had the expected effect, because the strain of the horn residual remains precious for poachers.