Update: Monday, March 3:
PHABENI GATE – The photo of a lone white rhinoceros with a gaping head wound and no left eye, has sparked renewed public outrage against poaching of these animals. It has also created debate for what is perceived as inaction by authorities, in the face of this scourge.
It is not known for how long this particular rhino stumbled through the Kruger National Park (KNP) in this state before visitors, Mr Frans Lombard and Ms Ciska van Niekerk came across it near Phabeni Gate on Friday afternoon.
The shocking photo, forever a record of this animal’s suffering, is a memento no visitor hopes to take home. Posted on Latest Sightings Kruger (a Facebook page), it was soon shared on many other social-media sites, among these Lowvelder’s own. Lombard, a tour operator was accompanied by Van Niekerk, a field guide, who responded to some of the paper’s questions.
According to her they encountered the animal when it unexpectedly came stumbling out of the bush onto the road on Friday afternoon.
“It remained standing for five minutes and then returned to where it had come from,” said Van Niekerk.
They made contact with the relevant section ranger and a helicopter was dispatched to conduct a search.
Spokesman for the KNP, Mr William Mabasa, confirmed that the operation had continued in the form of foot patrols on Friday, complemented by rangers on motorbikes and bicycles. These yielded no results and by Monday morning, the rhino had not been found.
Although the search was extended, Mabasa admitted that it was with less intensity, saying that the animal may have been consumed by predators. It was known that poachers hacked out a rhino’s eyes due to the belief that field rangers could see them in the eyes of the dead or dying animal. “If it is found, we will have to decide what its chances of survival are,” commented SANParks veterinarian, Dr Markus Hofmeyer. According to him the chance was slim.
Mutilated animals like this have survived in the past, albeit with a tremendous amount of care and hard work, said Dr Ferrreira du Plessis, a well-known wildlife veterinarian and expert on rhino care. They do experience pain he verified upon questioning and stated that bone infection would be the biggest concern in this case. Rhino are able to survive with one eye or limited vision.
Social-media mobilisation
The incident sparked response from an outraged public with many questions about how the funds to curb rhino poaching were being utilised.
This haunting image emerged mere days before the first annual World Wildlife Day. One vehement member of Outraged South African Citizens Against Poaching (Osca) a group of more than 12 000 on Facebook,
Ms Glynnis Higgins commented, “It is World Wildlife Day and the world is focused on the High Court in Pretoria… for the sake of sleaze and money!”
“SANParks CEOs get performance bonuses each year. What for?” asked
Mr Bool Smuts on the Osca page. This kind of discontent is obvious from the comments made by our readers over the weekend, including Ms Michelle Lee van Wyk, who wanted to ask the organisation, “What the f# are you people doing? Need manpower? Just ask! Instruct or point in the right direction, thousands of citizens care”.
According to Mr Stephen Barnard, a group of Nelspruit residents offered to help in their spare time. “What were we told? We needed qualifications. I know of a couple Koevoet soldiers who are jobless – sure they can track a dripping, bleeding rhino…”
Apart from offering to assist what seems to be a beleaguered KNP, questions about funding were also widespread.
Ms Raymanda Mitchell asked, like many others, about the utilisation of the money that was supposed to protect these animals. “Millions of rand.” Are these funds paying for Johnny Walker? Looks like rhino horn is now like coal and wine – a big export commodity.”
In defence of the personnel on the ground doing the actual tracking and protecting in the field, Ms Janine Olivier Scorer Wendy responded, “Even with helicopters the bush is so thick at the moment, it’s practically impossible. I don’t think people realise how difficult it is, and there has been rain which hampers tracking.”
The R232,2 million from the Peace Parks Foundation to assist in curbing poaching would be used to devalue the horn by physical devaluation and contamination.
The number of rhino poached in the KNP in the financial year 2012/13 numbered 482. Eighty-seven suspected poachers were arrested. This year 95 incidents have occurred and 20 arrests have been made.
Original: Saturday, March 1
PHABENI GATE – It is not the photograph you hope to take back from a visit to the Kruger National Park (KNP). The shocking photograph of a maimed rhino, with its horn hacked out of its face, was taken by a Mr Frans Lombard on Friday afternoon, three kilometres before the Phabeni gate and posted on Kruger Latest Sightings (a Facebook page) from where it was shared to, among others, the Laevelder/Lowvelder page. Lombard was a visitor to the park and hails from the Western Cape. Lowvelder attempted to make contact with him on Saturday but is still awaiting a response.
However, according to a companion of Lombard on this trip, they encountered the animal unexpectedly when it came stumbling out of the bush onto the road on Friday afternoon. She said, “It remained standing for five minutes and then returned where it came from.” They made contact with the relevant section ranger.
Spokesman for the KNP, Mr William Mabasa confirmed on Saturday afternoon that a helicopter search was launched on Friday and foot patrols Saturday. These yielded no results and the animal could not be found.
Lowvelder confirmed with Mabasa this morning (Sunday) that the search is being continued. He explained that all the rangers of that section of the park are involved in the search, tracking on foot, motorbike and bicycle.
From the photograph it is clear that the animal’s left eye is also damaged, probably deliberately done by the poachers.
The incident has sparked response from an outraged public on our Facebook page, with many questions about how the funds to curb rhino poaching is being utilised.
Read more this week in Lowvelder and on this website.
