Rhinos tracked by satellite

Devices fitted to stumps of dehorned animals.

- Pretoria Rekord

A new Swiss-designed satellite checking device fitted to dehorned rhinos is a game-changer in the Kruger National Park.

Previously, similar tracking devices were planted in the horns of rhinos, but the new caps being fit to the stumps of dehorned rhinos have shown to make a real difference in the fight against poaching.

During 2023, 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa; 406 were killed on state property and 93 on privately owned parks, reserves and farms.

This was an increase of 51 in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022.

Kruger National Park recorded a 37% decrease from 2022, with a total of 78 rhinos poached in 2023.

Researcher Vanessa Duthé, a member of a team researching dehorning, said universities were testing the efficacy of the tracking device caps glued to stumps of horns.