Latest news with #GreaterKruger
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Dehorning rhinos cuts poaching by 78%, landmark study finds
Dehorning must not be seen as a silver bullet, according to experts. (Photo supplied) The research, published in the prestigious journal Science , focused on 11 reserves in South Africa's Greater Kruger region from 2017 to 2023 — a critical global stronghold that conserves about a quarter of all Africa's rhinos. The Greater Kruger, spanning Mpumalanga and Limpopo, includes the Kruger National Park and the private nature reserves around it, and is an umbrella for the various private game reserves that make up the unfenced protected wilderness that lies adjacent to the Kruger Park. 'Kruger National Park had a rhino population of about 12 000 back in 2012,' said the study's lead author, 'Today, we're sitting at around probably below 2 000, so there's been a The project was a 'mammoth effort' involving wide collaboration between reserve managers under the banner of the They documented the poaching of 1 985 rhinos (about 6.5% of the population annually). 'The stakeholders got together to ask the question, 'Why have rhinos declined so rapidly and what can we do about it and have the things we've been doing been working or not, and why,'' Kuiper said. The GKEPF gathered seven years of data on rhino poaching levels, as well as on the various anti-poaching interventions — tracker dogs; air support, including helicopters and planes; detection cameras equipped with artificial intelligence; anti-poaching patrols and rapid-response teams. 'Then there were the more alternative approaches like dehorning to make the rhino less attractive to poachers. What we found across seven years in 11 reserves, including one reserve in Mozambique, was that dehorning was the single most effective intervention. Wherever it was implemented, it resulted in a drastic decline in poaching,' Kuiper said. 'Statistically-speaking, we had eight different sites and were able to isolate these massive reductions in poaching and link them to the wide-scale dehorning of rhinos.' Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching – with 2 284 rhinos dehorned across eight reserves – was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching, using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget. This was based on a comparison between sites with and without dehorning as well as changes in poaching before and after dehorning. Reserves under the study invested R1 billion in anti-poaching interventions from 2017 to 2021. Most of the investment focused on reactive law enforcement — rangers, tracker dogs, helicopters, access controls and detection cameras — helping to achieve over 700 poacher arrests. It costs R10 200 per dehorning operation. 'But we failed to find evidence that those arrests translated into less future poaching,' he pointed out. 'So, on one level these interventions were successful but they did not result in the same level of reduction in poaching as dehorning did.' There are key reasons for this, including 'The internal involvement of reserve staff with the criminal syndicates who are driving poaching means that these syndicates and the poachers can get around the interventions because they have information on where the rangers are going to be, where the rhinos are, where the cameras are [and] where the dogs are,' Kuiper said. The region, too, suffers from a 'great deal of 'And, the criminal syndicates take advantage of these community members, for example by offering to give them loans, and when they can't pay back the loans, they say, 'Well, here's a gun. Help me with this rhino poaching operation.' 'It's not often as simple as that but these criminal syndicates take advantage of the socio-economic vulnerability of both rangers and others in order to get that internal information.' Finally, an ineffective criminal justice system means that arrested offenders often escape punishment, according to evidence from studies on 'The criminal justice system, the internal corruption and the 'In the worst case, these interventions may also isolate the people living around these reserves in terms of their involvement in conservation,' he said. Kuiper cautioned that dehorning must not be seen as a silver bullet. 'We did document over 100 dehorned rhinos being poached. The horn regrows, so in many of these cases, the horn had regrown quite a lot and the rhino was poached. 'This points to the need for regular dehorning but also points to the fact that syndicates are adapting and seem still to be willing to poach a rhino, even if there's only 5cm to 10cm of horn left on the rhino. But, of all of the interventions, we analysed it [dehorning] led to drastic reductions in poaching.' More recent evidence has emerged since the study concluded in 2023 suggesting that the poaching of dehorned rhinos is a growing challenge. Dehorning may also shift the focus of poachers to horned populations elsewhere, Kuiper noted. A multi-faceted approach is necessary. 'We need to look at wider systematic solutions addressing poverty, addressing socio-economic inequality, addressing the demand for rhino horn in consumer rates.' Sharon Hausmann, the chief executive of the GKEPF, which led the initiative by convening manager workshops and gathering data for the evaluation, said: 'The true value of this innovative study, conceived by GKEPF operational managers, lies in its collective critical thinking. Ensuring not only that operations are guided by science, but also that science is grounded in real experience from the frontline.' Markus Hofmeyr of the Rhino Recovery Fund, said: 'From a donor perspective, this study has given excellent insight where conservation donor funding can be spent and where to avoid funding.'
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Dehorning rhinos reduces poaching by 80%, study finds
Cutting the horns off rhinos causes a large reduction in poaching, according to a new study, which raises questions about the effectiveness of expensive anti-poaching techniques used to protect the African mammals. Poaching for horn is a significant threat to the world's five rhino species. The substance, which is similar to human fingernails, is commonly used for traditional medicine in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries. Dealers in the hidden market will pay tens of thousands of dollars for the horns, which are falsely believed to be effective at treating fevers, pain and a low sex drive in traditional medicine. But new research in the journal Science has highlighted ways to better protect the animals from illegal hunters. An assessment of rhino protection methods in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa – home to a quarter of the continent's rhinos – found that removing horns reduced poaching by nearly 80% between 2017 and 2023. In a collaboration between scientists, conservationists and government officials, the research found no statistical evidence that traditional anti-poaching interventions – such as rangers, detection cameras, dog tracking and helicopters – caused significant reductions in rhino poaching, despite their multimillion-dollar cost, even though they were successful at detecting hundreds of poachers. 'Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget,' said Dr Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University, a lead author of the study. 'We might need to rethink our goals. Do we just want to arrest poachers? It doesn't appear to be making a massive difference to reducing rhino poaching.' To dehorn a rhino, workers sedate the animal, apply a blindfold and earplugs, and cut off the horn with a power saw. The horn will gradually regrow – an average rhino needs to be dehorned every 1.5 to two years. The process poses a very low risk to the animal and does not hurt it. 'The headline result is that dehorning stood out for its effectiveness. We are cautious to say that the other interventions are not working. They worked when measured by whether they were detecting poachers. But detecting and arresting a load of poachers doesn't necessarily bend the curve on rhino poaching,' Kuiper said. In South Africa, rhino poaching remains high, with 103 killed in the first three months of 2025. Last year, 420 were lost. In recent decades, rhino populations have collapsed in Asia and Africa due to poaching and habitat loss, continuing falls driven by European colonial hunters. But the researchers behind the project, representing the University of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela University, University of Stellenbosch and the University of Oxford and other conservation institutions, cautioned that dehorning rhinos was not a magic bullet. A significant stump of horn mass remains on the rhino after dehorning, and some poachers were still prepared to kill rhinos for this section. Sharon Haussmann, a pioneer in rhino conservation in South Africa and co-author on the paper, played a leading role in coordinating conservation efforts in the study area. She died unexpectedly at the weekend and Kuiper wanted to highlight the collaboration between different sectors that are often mistrustful of each other in her memory. 'Is a rhino still a rhino without its horn? That's a bigger question,' said Kuiper. One study of black rhinos indicated that while poaching rates decreased, dehorned animals became more timid and covered much smaller ranges. Researchers believe that horn is used to establish territories and dehorned rhinos were unable to do this after the procedure. 'We wouldn't like to keep dehorning them for the next 100 years,' Kuiper said. 'Ideally we would like to address the drivers of poaching. But it is better than the impacts of poaching' Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow the biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield in the Guardian app for more nature coverage
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Travel + Leisure
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
One of the World's Most Famous National Parks Just Got a Brand-new Lodge With Bright-pink Glamping Tents
The camp's interior design is bold, with vibrant pops of color and statement furniture pieces that add a sense of playfulness. Guests can dine whenever they prefer, as meals are not served on a strict schedule. Located in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a private reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park, there are far fewer vehicles, making for a quieter and more private experience. The tents are extremely spacious and feature private plunge pools. Dusky rose canvas, electric yellow tables, art deco-style chandeliers, magenta velvet couches, pink and white striped tented ceilings; forget neutrals and dark, earthy colors—this is a safari camp with a style of its own. Masiya's Camp officially opens on June 1, but I was one of the first guests to see it before it officially welcomes travelers. It's the latest camp from The Royal Portfolio, which owns a number of South African hotels and the Royal Malewane collection of safari lodges in Thornybush Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park. Masiya's Camp is the first tented camp in the collection. Though there were a couple of minor snags in the first days of opening, service in camp was excellent, fun, and on-point—something I've always found consistent at Royal Portfolio properties. The camp is named after the late Wilson Masiya, a certified Master Tracker (one of only 13 people in South Africa to hold the highest tracking qualification), who worked at Malewane Lodge since its opening in 1999. He arrived in the area with his family in 1977, having fled Mozambique's civil war and walked more than 80 miles through Kruger National Park, which shares a border with Mozambique. After a career that established him as one of the best trackers in the safari industry, Masiya passed away in 2015. The main living room space at Masiya's Camp. The Royal Portfolio co-owner Liz Biden is responsible for the lodges' interiors and is known for her eclectic, colorful style. With Masiya's Camp, she threw the safari rulebook out, opting for a riot of color, textures, and patterns, as well as pan-African references that speak to the diversity of South Africa and the broader continent. The pink tents have been 'the talk of the bush,' joked duty manager Ray Mayer, as he showed me to my room. And while the camp's style may not be everyone's cup of tea, I think Biden's choices have paid off, setting Masiya's apart—in design terms, at least—in a sector that can feel quite stale. The tents—and the decks, in particular—are huge, ranging from 1,076 square feet to 2,476 square feet. When I say I must have clocked up a few hundred steps walking between the open-plan bathroom and the walk-in closet/dressing room on either side of the spacious tent, I'm only exaggerating a bit. Art is always a prominent feature in The Royal Portfolio hotels and lodges. Here, there are floral paintings by Zimbabwean artist Tafadzwa Tega, street fashion photography by South African Nontsikelelo Veleko, and dreamlike suburbia scenes by Kate Gottgens, also from South Africa. As much as the camp is an attraction in its own right, the safari experience is also top-notch, especially for first-timers hoping to see some of South Africa's most iconic animals. Over the course of two nights, I saw the Big Five (an old hunting term for the most dangerous animals to find on foot—elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions, and leopards), and more. We had a coffee break by a waterhole where hippos were wallowing and a crocodile flawlessly imitated a log. We found lionesses gorging on a zebra carcass, the pride's youngsters already splayed out on their backs, showing rotund, white, fuzzy bellies. A young male elephant couldn't decide if we were worth intimidating as we sipped gin and tonic sundowners beneath a tangerine sky (after sizing us up and giving us a few head shakes, he sulkily crashed off into the trees). Back at camp, vervet monkeys had heard word of a new kitchen in town and were keen to join us for breakfast. Here's my full review of Masiya's Camp. From left: The interior of a Masiya's Camp tented suite; the view from the tent. Heather Richardson/Travel + Leisure There are six tents at Masiya's Camp. Each has a spacious, elevated deck with loungers, armchairs, and a heated plunge pool. It's common to see nyalas (a type of antelope) wandering along the thickly vegetated area in front of camp, and birds sipping from the pool. Tents one and two are furthest away from the main area, and tents five and four are closest; they're all linked with a raised boardwalk. The tents have an open plan, with curtain separators and floor-to-ceiling windows. At one end are king beds (which can be split into two twin beds) with mosquito net drapes, while the bathroom, with a standalone bathtub and indoor and outdoor showers, is at the other. A living area with plush couches and armchairs is in the middle. In some tents, there's an armchair so big, Mayer told me one of Biden's friends had dubbed it the 'elephant tranquilizer chair.' A guest bedroom at Masiya's Camp. Each tent has its own color scheme—from the yellows and greens of tent five, where I stayed, to the pink florals of tent two. The wooden East African-style doors, Persian rugs, ornate Moroccan vases, bright artworks, and various knickknacks add to the camp's colorful maximalist vibe. There are also hidden pop-up TVs at the foot of the beds. Minibars are included in the room rate and are well stocked with teas and coffee, wines, spirits, soft drinks, and a range of snacks. From left: A lounge space at Masiya's Camp; avocado toast for breakfast. Heather Richardson/Travel + Leisure Meals are served in the main area—a big open-plan space with dining on the deck or inside, where raspberry-hued velvet semi-circular booths are set around bright yellow tables. Meals are typically private, but your guide might sometimes join you for dinner. Or you may dine in your tent, if you prefer. The food was consistently good, and I appreciated the choice of light and vegetarian dishes (safaris are traditionally all about hearty, meat-based fare). Early mornings start with small bites—I highly recommend the grilled cheese sandwich with butter and Bovril, a salty beef-extract paste. After your game drive, guests can have a proper breakfast, which includes pastries, cheeses, fruit, and a choice of hot food. I had the avocado ricotta toast, with poached eggs. Lunch options might include crumbed eggplant with napoletana sauce and ricotta, and kingklip (a white fish) with grilled zucchini. There's a choice of three courses for dinner. One night, I had the braised cabbage (a bit too salty for my taste) with delicious lamb chops. On the second night, I had seared impala loin, melt-in-the-mouth oxtail with risotto, and I found room for a spoonful of the 'bush banoffee'—caramelized banana with Amarula, a South African liqueur similar to Baileys and a safari staple. I didn't see them in action, but there's a pizza oven and a large braai (South African barbecue) area on the deck. Wonder Mlambo is the head mixologist and your man for anything beverage-related. He whipped up a passionfruit-based mocktail for a fellow guest, while I stuck to the South African Sutherland and Copper Pot pinot noirs. Like any self-respecting South African high-end lodge, Masiya's has a large choice of excellent local wines. Lounge chairs by a suite's private pool. Every tent has a private pool, but a larger heated pool is also available in the main area, where guests will also find a little boutique stocked with clothes and accessories curated by Biden. The main activities are safari game drives. Guests have private vehicles and partner with a tracker/guide team for the duration of their stay. There are two game drives a day, one in the early morning, just after sunrise, and the other in the late afternoon, around 4 p.m. The late drive usually incorporates sundowners in the bush as the sun sets, a quintessential safari experience. It's possible to go on a bush walk, too. I didn't have the opportunity to do so on this trip, but you can expect an easy-going walk of an hour or so, during which you might get to examine the smaller elements of the bush, such as plants, birds and insects, and possibly come across larger animals, too (your guide will be armed, but guides and trackers are well-versed in reading wildlife). There are some conservation-related activities, too, that need to be booked in advance and come at an additional charge, such as visiting the counter-poaching dog unit and taking part in a poaching-deterrent rhino dehorning operation. There isn't a spa at Masiya's Camp, though I was told there will be one in the coming months. In the meantime, guests can use the Royal Waters Spa at nearby Malewane Lodge, which has three treatment rooms, a steam room, and hot and cold baths. The signature 180-minute Royal African Face and Body treatment involves a full body scrub, massage, and a facial. Alternatively, travelers can also book in-tent treatments—there's certainly enough room on the deck to set up a massage bed for an aromatherapy massage, or a deep tissue massage that incorporates the African knobkerrie stick to really get into those muscles. Children must be over 10 years old to stay here, unless you're booking the whole camp, in which case, any ages are allowed. There are no specific family-friendly offerings at Masiya's Camp, but babysitting is available. There are two tents, numbers five and six, that don't have any steps, though the main area does. A ramp will be installed, but currently, the camp is not suitable for wheelchair users. Masiya's Camp uses solar and hydronic energy for underfloor heating, air conditioning, and pool water heating. There are few single-use plastics in the rooms: water is in reusable glass bottles and soft drinks are all in cans. The floors are concrete-free, incorporating mixed-use waste materials instead. Masiya's Camp is located in Thornybush Nature Reserve, a private reserve within the Greater Kruger National Park in northeast South Africa. Kruger is known for its biodiversity and density of wildlife such as leopards and lions. It is also one of Africa's largest national parks, roughly the size of New Jersey. Since it's a private reserve, only camps and lodges based in the area can operate game drives, which makes it a lot quieter than the public national park. Guides can also drive after dark, take bush walks, and drive off-road if needed, which isn't possible in the national park. There are multiple ways to access Masiya's Camp. Guests can fly directly from Cape Town or Johannesburg to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS), which is about a 40-minute drive from the camp (Masiya's will arrange a pick-up service). Or you can charter a flight and land directly at Royal Malewane's private airstrip. The Royal Portfolio doesn't have a loyalty program. Nightly rates at Masiya's Camp start from $2,870 (R52,500) per person, based on two people sharing. All food and most drinks are included in the room rate. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
