The KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs has reported a 52% drop in rhino poaching deaths in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park for the first five months of 2026.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) has reported a major success in its ongoing battle against rhino poaching, recording a 52% year-to-date reduction in poaching mortalities for the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
This progress was revealed in a recent KwaZulu-Natal legislature inquiry, where the provincial Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC Reverend Musa Zondi outlined the multi-faceted strategy driving these improvements.
Zondi said the May shootout between police and suspected rhino poachers, where firearms were recovered, highlights the persistent threat facing HiP and its field rangers.
“Despite ongoing conservation efforts, poaching pressure on the park remains significant,” Zondi said.
