Former Benonian is dedicated to catching rhino poachers
Glen Thompson lived in Benoni Small Farms for 33 years before deciding to pursue a career as a rhinoceros crime-scene manager.
In 2015 Thompson moved to Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province because “[he] always loved nature and to see what was happening with rhino poaching.”
He decided he needed to try and raise general awareness.
Read:
Elderly man explains his attack on New Year’s Eve
He now works for Hemmersbach Rhino Force.
Thompson said every day in his job is different and brings new challenges. When asked what his job entails, he said he is in charge of various tasks.
“My main job is rhino crime-scene, by this I mean I have to go to a poached rhino scene and take photographs,” he explained. He then looks for possible evidence left behind by poachers such as bullet casings, spoor or other evidence that can be found.
“Evidence will need to be photographed, the GPS location will be recorded and everything will then be sealed in an evidence bag,” he said.
He explained once this has been done his team will then focus on the carcass to initiate the DNA collection process.
“This can be used to identify horns that are confiscated at airports for instance,” he said.
An autopsy will then be done. He said they start with first examining the carcass to locate any projectile entry or exit wounds.
“If any are found, a projectile rob will be used to try establish the path of the projectile.
“We also scan the carcass with a metal detector to try and find a location of a projectile still in a carcass.”
Thompson said once they finish scanning the carcass they start physically cutting the rhino up in a systematic way.
“While this is being done we are still checking for evidence of any trauma or haemorrhaging,” he said.
He also explained the process involves removing the skin, flesh and ribs. If no evidence or projectile is found on one side, they inspect the opposite side of the carcass.
“No crime scene is the same,” he said.
He said the age of a carcass at a scene can be anywhere from a few hours to a couple of months old.
“Working on a fresh carcass is always better as you can gather more information.”
Thompson said the hardest part of his job when he first started was finding a foetus in a rhino carcass. He has processed about 150 rhino and two elephant carcasses.
He believes not only rhinos are affected by the rhinoceros poaching crisis.
“The very landscape they inhabit could also be affected and new research published in the Journal of Ecology suggests that the reintroduction of white rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger National Park has changed the structure and composition of the park’s savannah grasslands, indicating that rhinos have a key role in how the savannahs function,” he said.
He said this role rhinos fulfil is now threatened by a poaching epidemic which could drive the species to extinction within 20 years.
When asked what Benonians can do to help conserve the species, Thompson said everyone must get involved, raise awareness and support the different NGOs. He also warned about scam organisations.
“Make your voice heard with regards to poaching, I am sure we all want our kids and grandchildren and future generations to be able to see living rhino,” he said.
Also read:
Pack a punch by eating healthy
Follow us on these platforms:
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp: 079 431 1217
Instagram: benonicitytimes.co.za
