SANParks has denied that it has sold 260 rhinos to private land owners.
According to SANParks the transactions were based on the unauthorised commitment by a member of the SANParks Executive, who has subsequently been suspended, pending disciplinary action. An independent forensic audit has also been commissioned into this matter.
“The Board of SANParks has not, prior to, or during, any subsequent time, approved any decision to sell any number of rhino,” SANParks said in a statement.
The SANParks Board has been constantly engaging with experts and stakeholders on the issue of combatting rhino poaching. Following the recent announcement of a cabinet-approved policy guidance by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, the Board is now in a position to finalise its strategy to address the rhino poaching crisis.
“The Board has now made a decision to, inter alia, move some rhinos out of high risk areas or areas with too high densities of rhinos. These movements may include movements within parks, between parks, to provincial reserves, community areas or private areas,” said Kuseni Dlamini, Chairman of SANParks.
“Rhino management implementation plans, which will include details of numbers and possible destinations, still need to be approved by the Board and the Minister of Environmental Affairs and will be undertaken with due sensitivity and in compliance with the relevant governance frameworks,” added Dlamini.
