Limpopo: Poachers kill pregnant rhino

11 January 2011, 02:23

Alan Bunn

Poachers kill pregnant rhino

2011-01-10 21:25

Polokwane - A pregnant rhino was killed and de-horned on a game farm in the Hoedspruit area, Limpopo police said on Monday.

"According to information, the carcass of the rhino was discovered on Saturday when a farm manager was patrolling the farm," Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said.

She said the name of the farm could not be made public. It seemed as if the rhino was killed a few days earlier.

"Both the horns were removed."

A post-mortem revealed the animal was shot with a high-calibre hunting rifle. Police were still looking for the poachers.

- SAPA

Cheers,

~ Alan

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11 January 2011, 02:27

Alan Bunn

3 rhinos killed, calf survives in KZN

Johannesburg - Four white rhino were poached for their horns in KwaZulu-Natal at the weekend, as one of them, a mother, left behind a calf, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said on Monday.

"A female white rhino was shot during the early hours of Friday in the Emakhosini-Ophathe Heritage Park... the rhino had a calf which survived and is being nursed at the Centenary Game Capture Centre in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park," said spokesperson Maureen Zimu.

"The carcasses of another three white rhino males were found on (Friday) in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park."

A post-mortem revealed the animals had been shot a few days earlier.

Meanwhile, it is believed that the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife anti-poaching unit intercepted a group of suspected poachers in the Western Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park on Sunday.

"(The) unit was on a routine patrol (at 16:00) when they heard a gunshot.

"Upon investigating they came across three armed men pursuing a white rhino. (The men) disappeared into thick bush."

She said the field rangers could find no injured rhinos in the area.

"The unit, working with the Police Dog Unit from Empangeni, combed the whole area without finding a rhino carcass."

She said the search would continue until the unit was satisfied that no animal had been hurt.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize, has reiterated that the war against rhino poaching will be intensified in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, with a further 18 field rangers being added to the park's staff and additional specialised equipment being provided.

- SAPA