Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Ministers and members at large, I greet you. With regard to the adequacy of the National Environmental Management Laws First Amendment Bill of 2012, stemming from rhino poaching, South Africa has a proud track record of successful rhino conservation, and has the highest number of white rhino on the continent. At the end of 2007, South Africa had conserved 35% of Africa's black rhino in the wild and 93% of the continent's white rhino.
But, the ongoing scourge of rhino poaching in our country is an area of great concern to government and ordinary South Africans, whom we represent here in Parliament. Rhino poaching is a crime that is, undoubtedly, fuelled by a thriving black market trade in rhino horns. Since January this year, a total of 459 rhinos have been poached, mainly in the Kruger National Park, our iconic flagship conservation endeavour. The Kruger National Park remains the worst affected area, with 320 rhinos killed this year alone.
October was the worst month for rhinos in South Africa, with 75 of them killed during that month. This November, 34 rhinos have already been killed, and November is not yet over. The growing relentless killing of rhinos by the poachers threatens to reverse the hard-won population increase achieved by the conservation authorities during the 20th century.
The illegal killing of rhino and the smuggling of their horns in recent years clearly indicates the increasing involvement of the highly organised and well-structured crime syndicates that are operating ludicrous international enterprises. In addition to the loss of horns through the increased poaching, concerns have also been raised regarding the leakage of South African rhino horns onto the illegal international market, from stockpiles in the public and private sector.
The concern for conservation authorities is that poaching continues to escalate at the current rate, unabated. We could reach the situation where the rhino numbers start declining, to a point where more animals could be poached than are born into the rhino population, as has been experienced in other rhino range states in the recent past.
Stemming this tide requires a properly structured and concerted effort by government and other relevant role-players, as ongoing poaching of animals poses a significant threat to the rhino population, and also to the reputation of the ecotourism industry and the public image of South Africa.
The Biodiversity Act is the most suitable legislation for rhino conservation. It is a very important piece of legislation that deals with poaching of South Africa's biodiversity resources in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, Act 10 of 2004. We are aware that the Biodiversity Act has introduced innovative approaches to rhino conservation, with some encouraging signs that rhino conservation work is reaping rewards. For example, the country's population of black rhinos is still growing, despite the ongoing threat of poaching. The annual growth of the overall rhino population is about 7%. Currently, over 2% of the rhino population is removed through legal hunting and poaching.
With increased efforts being put into antipoaching work, it is possible to see even more gains in the rhino conservation work today. South African law enforcement officials have made 224 poaching-related arrests in 2012 alone. Sentences imposed for rhino offences have also been increased in recent years, with poachers and horn smugglers receiving long prison sentences. We need ... [Interjections.] [Time expired.]