Poachers senselessly kill rhino calf

Police received a call on Wednesday morning last week from a ranger of a game reserve on the R69 regarding gunshots that were heard on the property. Police officers and the ranger searched for and tracked a female rhino with a calf. They found that the rhino had been shot and her horn was cut off, but the calf was missing. The following day, the search continued and they sadly found that the calf had also been shot. It is believed that the mother and calf were shot together, but the calf managed to run away and died some distance away from its mother. The calf’s horn was not poached.
During the postmortem, it was discovered that the female rhino was pregnant. The poachers were not found.
Due to security reasons, the Vryheid Herald will not publish any names regarding the poaching or the exact location.
During the first six months of this year, 229 rhinos were poached in South Africa (compared to 231 for the same period last year). Of the rhinos poached, 191 were killed on state properties and 38 on privately-owned parks/reserves/farms.
“A significant drop was noted during May and June this year, with national losses reported at 21 and 22 respectively (May and June 2023 were recorded at 42 and 34). This drop is thought to be attributable to the dehorning of rhino populations in KwaZulu-Natal and specifically at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, where over 1000 rhinos have been dehorned since April,” said Minister of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment Dr Dion George.
During the same period, over 60 suspects were arrested and 20 heavy-calibre firearms recovered in relation to rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking.
People can report any suspicious activities surrounding wildlife to the environmental crime hotline, which is 0800 205 005, or the 10111 SAPS emergency number.

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