GRAPHIC: 9 more rhino slain in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park as KZN rhino prove ‘easy pickings’ for poachers
It seems that this latest attack on these majestic creatures in the park, which is known as the cradle of global rhino conservation, labels the historical site as “the new ground zero in the battle to save the species, rapidly matching casualties sustained by Kruger National Park,” according to a report by Simon Bloch.
WE’RE not even halfway through 2017 yet and 89 rhino have already fallen victim to poachers in KZN alone so far, according to Ezemvelo’s official 2017 count.
A total of nine rhino carcasses were discovered at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park earlier this month, massacred for their horns by ruthless poachers. It seems that this latest attack on these majestic creatures in the park, which is known as the cradle of global rhino conservation, labels the historical site as “the new ground zero in the battle to save the species, rapidly matching casualties sustained by Kruger National Park,” according to a report by Simon Bloch.
This sudden increase in the number of attacks on the rhino population could be linked to the amount of Mpumalanga poaching syndicates that have now taken to targeting Zululand reserves.
‘KZN is facing a crisis’ – Ann McDonnell, MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
“There can be no denying that KZN is facing a crisis with our historical havens of wildlife now the first port of call for poachers. There are several factors for this, the first being that the Kruger National Park has stepped up its anti-poaching efforts, making KZN’s parks easy pickings,” stated Ann McDonnell, MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. “Another critical factor is the 900 odd vacant posts that currently exist within KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife – many of them for rangers. This is an indictment against MEC Zikalala and his senior officials. Despite an increased budget having been passed, changes in political leadership and the Ezemvelo Board, have brought the recruitment process to a grinding halt, leaving our rhino without the first and most effective line of defence – foot soldiers. This, while people within rural communities are desperate for jobs.”
In the saddening wake of the untimely demise of the nine slain rhino at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, these latest figures have catapulted the total of poached rhinos, in KZN alone, to 23 in only 12 days.
https://vryheidherald.co.za/60905/poaching-and-budget-crises-spur-dehorning-move-in-africas-rhino-conservation-cradle/
Two suspected poachers from Mpumalanga were arrested after the attack and a hunting rifle recovered.
All traces of the 18 savagely stolen horns are gone, leading investigators to suspect the involvement of other groups of poachers during the full moon cycle in which these heinous acts against nature took place.
