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Rhino poaching almost doubled in South Africa’s Kruger National Park in 2025 compared to the previous year, the government said last month. This is happening despite interventions such as dehorning and lie detector tests for rangers.
South Africa is home to the world’s largest population of rhinos. These animals are poached for their horns, which can fetch high prices on the black market.
Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicine for a range of illnesses. In Vietnam, it is seen as a status symbol. Rhino horns are sometimes given as gifts by wealthy people.
Kruger lost 175 rhinos to poachers in 2025. This is an increase from the 88 rhinos killed the year before.
Across South Africa, poachers killed 352 of the animals last year. This was 16 per cent lower than it was in 2024. The decrease was due to good results from dehorning programmes and detection measures, such as the use of advanced cameras and sensors to catch poachers (see graphic).
Kruger also noticed that when more rangers failed lie detector tests, there was also more illegal hunting. After investigating these cases, seven staff were dismissed.
South Africa had nearly 14,390 rhinos at the end of 2024, more than 80 per cent of them white rhinos, according to the International Rhino Foundation. There are about 26,700 rhinos left in the world.
The environment ministry did not say if the poached animals were white rhinos or black rhinos. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists black rhinos as critically endangered.
