On Monday 24 February Botswana government officials announced that 46 rhinos have been poached in the last ten months. According to Save the Rhino, there are 500 rhinos in Botswana.
Speaking to AFP, Moemi Batshabang, the deputy director with the government’s wildlife department said: ‘I can attest that 46 rhinos have been killed by highly organised poachers between April last year to date.’
The poaching incidents occurred in the northern part of Moremi Game Reserve, near the north of the Okavango Delta. The total number is just under 10% of Botswana’s rhino population. Rhinos are a protected species in Botswana.
Botswana has incredibly strict measures in place to protect their animals. Soldiers from the National Defense Force are deployed throughout the Delta and private reserves. They work for six months at a time on rotation. These people put their lives at risk and dedicate their time to keeping these parts safe for the wildlife.
Rhinos Without Borders have translocated almost 100 rhinos from South Africa to Botswana in a bid to protect the species. The devastating drought that has gripped Botswana ultimately halted operations.
Rhinos are poached for their horn, which is made from the same protein as human fingernails, for traditional Asian medicine.
On Monday China’s government approved the decision to ban all consumption and trading of wild animals, while the use of wild animals for scientific research, medicine and exhibition will be strictly controlled. Read: China completely bans consumption of exotic animals.
Image: Unsplash
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