Rhino poaching down, still work to do

South Africa reports a heavy decline in the number of rhinos killed by poachers, which officials say is partly the result of lockdowns related to Covid-19.

In 2020, 394 rhinos were killed for their horns in the country, a reduction of 33% from the 594 recorded in 2019.

Would-be poachers and rhino horn smugglers, had their movements restricted by lockdowns.

It is however the sixth year that recorded rhino deaths in the country have fallen.

Conservationists warn that the rhino population in South Africa has plummeted drastically in recent years and that poaching remains a huge problem.