Death on the savannah The battle to save Africa's last rhinos
Chapter 1 The last of the giants
Rhinos are among the last of Africa's megafauna. One of the continent's "Big Five" mammal species, they can weigh more than three tons. At the start of the 20th century, rhinos numbered around 500,000 worldwide. Today there are barely 30,000 left.
Chapter 2 On the frontline
The battle to save the last of Africa's rhinos is becoming ever more violent. Rangers frequently come up against armed gangs of poachers who are prone to open fire immediately. To protect themselves, the rangers try not to show their faces.
Chapter 3 The prey
Poachers kill rhinos for their horns alone. The rest of the prey is left in the wild.
Chapter 4 The tough search for the killers
When rangers discover a dead rhino, they search for even the tiniest clues relating to the identity of the perpetrators.
Chapter 5 Criminal court
Skukuza Magistrates' Court, Kruger National Park. This is the place poachers stand trial. There are hundreds of cases each year. The punishments are draconian: 20 to 30 years in prison. Acquittals are rare.
Chapter 6 And the earth was formless and empty. (Book of Genesis)
Thank you to
South African National Parks (SANParks)
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)
International Ranger Federation (IRF)