181 rhino killed in SA this year

A total of 181 rhinos have been poached in South Africa this year, the environmental affairs department said.

"The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of the losses, with 111 rhinos having being killed illegally since the beginning of this year," spokesman Albi Modise said in a statement.

Another 25 rhinos were killed illegally in Limpopo, 18 in KwaZulu-Natal and 17 in North West. The other 10 were poached in the rest of the country.

Modise said it was encouraging that 113 suspected poachers had been arrested since the beginning of the year. Last year 448 rhinos were killed and 232 poachers arrested.

Modise appealed to the public to help combat rhino poaching by reporting suspected illegal hunting to 0800-205-005.

(Sapa, April 2012)