Rhinoceros poaching is still at crisis levels, according to the South African government, which today released statistics on rhino poaching and rhino horn smuggling in 2017. Some 1,028 rhinos were illegally killed last year, 26 fewer than in 2016 but far above the 13 killed in 2007.

“While this may look like progress on paper, it's overshadowed by the fact that rhino populations are still in critical danger,” said Jimmiel Mandima of the Nairobi-based African Wildlife Foundation. “A small drop in yearly poaching statistics doesn’t tip the scales against the imminent threat of extinction.”

South Africa is home to about 80 percent of the world’s 29,000 rhinos. Though this is the third year in a row the number of rhinos poached in