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The Kruger National Park has a major rhino-poaching crisis, but that's just one of many mounting problems - and it's extremely worrying.

Singapore - An eight-week INTERPOL operation against wildlife crime and trafficking resulted in arrests and seizures across Asia and Africa. Codenamed Golden Strike, the operation - which ended late last year - targeted the criminals and networks smuggling wildlife protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) from Africa to Asia.

Despite back-breaking work from a dedicated and passionate SANParks team, Kruger National Park rhino populations have continued to plummet - as per the latest population count from 2020. Recently published research estimates that there are about 2,607 white rhinos remaining in the Kruger National Park, while black rhinos are estimated to number just 202. This represents a population decline of 75% for white rhinos since 2011 (from 10,621) and 51% for black rhino since 2013 (from 415).

A court in Mozambique has sentenced the leader of a poaching gang to 30 years in prison on Wednesday. The man was convicted of the crimes of poaching, illegal possession of weapons and association to commit offences, the ministry said in a statement, noting that he had also been sentenced to pay a fine of 1 percent of minimum wage for 28 years, news website Club of Mozambique wrote. The accused was arrested on May 3, 2021, "when he was returning from an attempt to hunt rhinoceros for the second time illegally", authorities said.

Rhino poaching in South Africa is at a critical level despite a "deafening" silence from official government communications and mainstream media, one of southern Africa’s most dedicated and respected wildlife vets Dr Dave Cooper maintains. Referring to the violent killing of rhino as "murders" rather than the mild, mundane "poaching", he issued a massive cry for action before it's too late, begging the world to wake up, see and stop what is happening in South Africa, according to Rhino Review. His plea comes days after witnessing possibly the "worst…

A reward of N$30 000 is being offered for information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the people responsible for the poaching of a rhinoceros in Namibia's premier wildlife sanctuary, the Etosha National Park, about a week ago.

A black rhino has been killed and dehorned in the Etosha National Park, the first confirmed poaching incident in a national park this year. Minister of Environment and Tourism, Uahekua Herunga, yesterday confirmed that the carcass was found with 10 gunshot wounds and that the horn was removed. He said the ministry was alerted on Tuesday and currently there is not much information, as investigations are still ongoing at the scene. The rhino carcass was discovered in the southwest part of Etosha on Tuesday with its horn hacked off.

A Windhoek magistrate yesterday warned the prosecution not to paint a picture of laxity in the country's courtrooms and to expedite matters in courts. Magistrate Johannes Shuuveni was speaking at the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura when the State asked for another postponement in the case of three Chinese men accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns worth more than N$2 million out of Namibia.

Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Environment and Tourism's proposal to de-horn rhinos in Namibia.

The three Chinese men accused of trying to smuggle two suitcases with rhino horns out of Namibia in March pleaded not guilty to all charges against them during their latest court appearance yesterday.

The three Chinese nationals who stand accused of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of Namibia have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case has in the meantime been referred to the office of the Prosecutor-General for a decision. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing and Pu Xuexin appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura yesterday on charges of possession and export of controlled wildlife products.