There are several animals that are being poached and trafficked in South Africa, and the following are some of the most notable examples:
African elephant: Poached for their ivory tusks, which are highly valuable in the illegal wildlife trade. There are an estimated 415,000 African elephants remaining, with the species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Rhino: Poached for their horns, which are also highly valued in the illegal wildlife trade. There are only around 18,000 white rhinos and 5,500 black rhinos remaining, with both species listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Lion: Poached for their bones, which are used in traditional medicine in some parts of Asia. There are an estimated 20,000 lions remaining, with the species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Pangolin: Poached for their scales, which are also highly valued in traditional medicine. There are eight species of pangolin, all of which are listed as either endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Cheetah: Poached for their skins and other body parts. There are only around 7,000 cheetahs remaining, with the species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Leopard: Poached for their skins and other body parts. There are an estimated 50,000 leopards remaining, with the species listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
African wild dog: Poached for their body parts and also killed due to their perceived threat to livestock. There are only around 6,000 African wild dogs remaining, with the species listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
It is important to note that the numbers given for each species are estimates and may vary depending on the source. Additionally, the illegal wildlife trade is often secretive and difficult to track, so the actual numbers of individuals affected by poaching and trafficking may be higher than reported.