Fifteen years after South Africa was hit by an unprecedented wave of rhino-horn poaching, the slaughter rate remains relentless - with one rhino shot almost every day in KwaZulu-Natal, the historic heartland of global rhino conservation. More than 60% of the rhinos killed in South Africa so far in 2023 drew their last breaths in KwaZulu-Natal as poachers continue to shift more of their deadly firepower and axes to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, one of the world’s last strongholds of wild rhino conservation. Latest poaching statistics for the first six months of 2023 show that 231 of these animals were gunned down nationally over this period. Of these, 143 rhinos (or more than 60% of the national total) were shot in reserves managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. In comparison, only 43 were poached in the much larger Kruger National Park that was home to more than 10,000 fewer than two decades ago. Announcing the latest rhino poaching statistics at a media briefing at SA National Parks headquarters in Pretoria on 1 August, Environment Minister Barbara Creecy said her officials were in discussion with Ezemvelo on further measures to stem the KZN slaughter in particular.