More than 100 rhinos have been killed by poachers in South Africa in the first quarter of 2025, with most of the slayings occurring inside national parks, the government has revealed.
The grim toll underscores the ongoing crisis threatening one of the world’s most iconic endangered species.
South African Environment Minister Dion George confirmed that 103 rhinos were poached between January 1 and March 31. Of those, 65 were killed in national parks—highlighting the difficulty of safeguarding even protected areas.
“This is a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife,” George said. The figures are consistent with last year’s numbers, averaging more than one rhino killed per day.
South Africa is home to the world’s largest rhino population—estimated at between 16,000 and 18,000 animals—including both black and white rhinos. Of these, the black rhino is critically endangered, with only about 6,400 left in the wild. Roughly a third of them are in South Africa.
Authorities have increasingly focused their anti-poaching efforts on criminal syndicates, which are believed to drive much of the illegal trade.
The environment ministry celebrated a major breakthrough last year when Simon Ernesto Valoi, described as a Mozambican “kingpin,” was sentenced to 27 years in prison for organizing poaching operations in Kruger National Park.
Conservationists warn that unless stronger measures are taken and regional cooperation is expanded, the rhino’s future remains in peril.
