Poachers Decried, "Kingpin" Arrested ahead of World Rhino Day

The fourth annual World Rhino Day will take place Sunday, Sept. 22, and ahead of it comes both grim and promising news.

In South Africa, where rhino poaching is out of control, more than 660 rhinos have been killed for their horns this year alone, on pace to exceed the 2012 record of 668 poached rhinos in one year. But officials there have also made some progress in combating illegal wildlife traffickers, with national park officials in Johannesburg saying they have arrested a "kingpin" in the illicit trade.

Ike Phaahla, a spokesman for South African National Parks told the AFP that they believe the arrested man, whose identity has not been released, is the "mastermind" behind poaching operations in the country.

"So far we have arrested a large number of foot soldiers, we believe this guy is the mastermind," Phaahla said. "The man was arrested on Tuesday and is suspected to be one of the kingpins," he said.

Phaahla said the kingpin was arrested in a village just outside South Africa's Kruger National Park, which borders Mozambique.

Nearly 200 poaching suspects have been arrested this year, the AFP reported.

Jim Leape, the general director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has called for the United Nations General Assembly to accelerate efforts to combat illicit wildlife trafficking when they convene next week in New York.

"The criminal syndicates targeting rhinos, elephants, tigers and other species are also undermining peace, security and economic development in many countries," Leape said.

"Countries must take action without delay and show they are serious in the fight against wildlife crime. Only a combination of strong criminal penalties, zero tolerance of corruption and the disruption of smuggling routes will bring this plague to an end," he said.

South Africa is home to about 75 percent of the world's rhinos, estimated at 25,000.

Jo Shaw, the rhino coordinator for WWF South Africa, said South Africa is home to three out of every four rhinos living in the world, but poaching is leading to the death of about two rhinos per day.

"It seems that we could even surpass the 2012 figure by the end of September, or even by World Rhino Day itself, and perhaps reach 900, or even 1,000 animals for 2013 in total," said Shaw, according to Voice of America.

"I think in five or ten years' time we'll look back on 2013 as being a critical time for the future of rhinos globally, and September the 22nd to give everybody the opportunity to say, 'I am for rhinos' and to call for everyone around the world to support their future," Shaw said.