South Africa:Cops hunting Limpopo rhino poachers


Johannesburg - Police on Tuesday launched a man hunt for people who killed two rhinos and injured another two on a farm near Thabazimbi.

Farm workers heard automatic gun fire on Monday night and notified the police, said Colonel Motlafela Mojapelo.

A team was set-up to trace the poachers on the 7000ha farm.

The injured rhinos were found at different places on the farm with their horns not removed.

As the search continued, two carcasses were found with horns removed.

"It appears these rhinos were shot and killed two weeks ago as some sounds of gunfire were heard on the same farm but subsequent searches did not yield any results."

A case of illegal hunting of Specially Protected Animals without a permit has since been opened.

Earlier on Tuesday police found another dead rhinoceros at a game farm in the same area. Its horn had not been removed, as police believe that the poachers were scared off by someone.

- SAPA

Rhino shot dead, horn left intact



Polokwane - A rhino has been found shot dead on a game farm in the Thabazimbi area, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.

"People heard gunshots on Monday night and when they went to the place where the sound came from they found the dead rhino... the horn was not cut off," said spokesperson Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo.

"We think they tried to poach the rhino for its horn but [the attackers] were scared off."

He said police were still on the scene and a search party was combing the area for any more rhinos that might also have been shot.

No arrests have been made.

- SAPA

Hunt on for rhino poachers


Police on Tuesday launched a man hunt for people who killed two rhinos and injured another two on a farm near Thabazimbi.

Farm workers heard automatic gun fire on Monday night and notified the police, said Colonel Motlafela Mojapelo.

A team was set-up to trace the poachers on the 7000 hectare farm.

The injured rhinos were found at different places on the farm with their horns not removed.

As the search continued, two carcasses were found with horns removed.

“It appears these rhinos were shot and killed two weeks ago as some sounds of gunfire were heard on the same farm but subsequent searches did not yield any results.”

A case of illegal hunting of Specially Protected Animals without a permit has since been opened.

Earlier on Tuesday police found another dead rhinoceros at a game farm in the same area. Its horn had not been removed, as police believe that the poachers were scared off by someone.

Anyone with information could call the police at 08600-10111 or Col Nelson Mabotja of the organised crime unit on 082-451-7161. -

Sapa