JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South African officials say a record 1,215 rhinos were poached in 2014, a 21 percent increase over the previous year.

Edna Molewa, South Africa's environment minister, announced the grim statistic on Thursday.

Home to most of the world's rhinos, South Africa has struggled to stem a surge in rhino poaching within the past decade.

International criminal syndicates are said to be involved in poaching rhinos, whose horn is worth a fortune on the illegal market in parts of Asia.

Some Vietnamese and Chinese view the horn as a status symbol and a healing agent, although there is no evidence to suggest it can cure.