SA has lost 103 rhinos to poachers in the first three months of the year, forestry, fisheries and the environment minister Dion George disclosed on Monday.

This equates to an average of 34.33 rhinos a month, very similar to the monthly poaching rate of 35 rhinos over the previous 12 months (420 rhinos annually).

“This underscores the sustained pressure on our rhino populations and the urgent need for intensified efforts to combat the illegal activity,” George said.

SANParks recorded the highest number of losses with 65 rhinos in its reserves poached.

KwaZulu-Natal reported 16 cases followed by Limpopo with 10, Free State with five, North West with four and Mpumalanga with three. No rhinos were poached in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape or Gauteng during this period.