S. Africa forges united front against rhino poaching

South Africa is forging a united front with neighbouring countries in the fight against rhino poaching, authorities said on Friday.

For this purpose, South Africa has supplied equipment worth 2.6 million rand (about 170,000 U.S. dollars) to game rangers in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the Kruger National Park (KNP) said.

The aid, which includes a light plane, is aimed at creating a united front against rhino poaching, said Johan Jooste, head of the anti-poaching unit in the KNP, one of Africa's largest game reserve in northeastern South Africa.

"We realized immediately that the people, our neighbours to the East, are not equipped to the same level as we are," Jooste said.

"We are one. We face this challenge as one and if we do not all cooperate there will not be success in this campaign ultimately," he said.

South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have been committed to working together in combating against rhino poaching in the Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Conservation Area.

The Great Limpopo Trans-frontier Conservation Area was formed in 2002 by South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to cooperate on cross-border conservation.

South Africa has lost a total of 749 rhinos between January and August this year, and of these, 544 were poached in the KNP, which bears the brunt of rhino poaching, official figures show.

In 2014, a record 1,215 rhinos were illegally killed in the country last year. That's one rhino poached every eight hours.

Observers expect the number of rhinos poached this year in South Africa to overtake the 1, 215 of last year despite intensified anti-poaching efforts. Enditem