A total of 448 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2022 in South Africa, the country with the largest population of these animals in the world, which represents a slight drop compared to 2021, when 451 were slaughtered, the South African Ministry of Environment said yesterday.

Kruger National Park (in the north-east of the country), one of Africa's largest nature reserves and home to most of South Africa's rhino population, has historically been the scene of the vast majority of rhino poaching victims and last year saw 124 of these animals killed.

However, this figure represents a drop of 40% compared to the number of rhinos killed for their horn in 2021.

"Unfortunately, the threat of poaching has shifted to KwaZulu-Natal (east), which lost 244 rhinos, killed by poachers last year, compared to 102 in 2021," the Environment Ministry said in a statement, quoted by Lusa.

In 2022, the police arrested 132 people for poaching rhinos.

"The recent focus on money laundering and international cooperation with other law enforcement authorities has resulted in the arrest of 26 rhino horn traffickers and 13 individuals for money laundering and bribery of rangers," the department said.

Environment Minister Barbara Creecy stressed that the decline in rhino poaching in national parks is linked to South Africa's "relentless war" against the problem and a comprehensive voting program.

Rhino poachers seek out their horns, which are sold mainly in Asian markets, where they are said to have healing and aphrodisiac properties.

South Africa is home to around 20,000 rhinos, by far the largest colony of these animals in the world.