Chalmers quoted the SA Veterinary Foundation as saying: "While different provinces and government departments do currently collect data on wildlife, this information is not integrated and is thus fragmented.

"The establishment of a database containing all relevant information on wildlife in SA, including details of the identity of the animals, their ownership, and the properties where they occur would be a vital tool for the management of the animals."

Police spokesman Vishnu Naidoo said the database system had assisted the police "significantly" in their determination to stop poaching. "The database cuts investigation time down tremendously and is a great support to the SAPS."

The database, which currently holds more than 500 individual identities of rhinos, is based on the Combined DNA Index System used by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to match a suspect's DNA to a crime scene.