South Africa: 1020 rhinos killed by poachers so far in 2014

update (20 Nov 2014): The Department of Environmental Affairs has just confirmed that South Africa lost 1020 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2014. A total of 344 alleged rhino poachers, couriers and poaching syndicate members have been arrested in South Africa since the start of 2014.

According to Julian Rademeyer, author of the book "Killing for Profit - Exposing the illegal rhino horn trade" and editor of fact-checking site @AfricaCheck, South Africa has lost a total of 1020 rhinos to illegal poaching since the beginning of 2014.

Grim new #rhino poaching record set in S. Africa: 1020 lost so far this year compared to 1004 in all of 2013 pic.twitter.com/H7JIvlFzv4
— Julian Rademeyer (@julianrademeyer) November 20, 2014

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is urging members of the public to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.