Wildlife

SA Rhino Poaching Toll Hits 500

More than 500 South African rhinos have been killed this year, official figures showed Wednesday, amid strong demand for horns on the Asian black market.

"As of yesterday (Tuesday), a total of 515 rhino have been killed so far this year," said the environment ministry.

The lucrative Asian black market for rhino horn has driven a boom in poaching in South Africa, which has the largest rhino population in the world.

Many of the killings are thought to be perpetrated by poachers from global syndicates.