‘We do not use mutilated rhino body parts’
The recent mutilation of two rhinos at the Polokwane Game Reserve brings the number of animals that have been brutally attacked in Limpopo to seven
POLOKWANE – In May, two while lionesses were poisoned and their heads and paws removed. Weeks later, three more lions were shot and poisoned, and also had their heads and paws removed.
Yesterday, two rhinos, a cow and a bull calf, were shot and killed. The two rhinos were dehorned, while the cow’s intestines and eyes were removed. The bull calf had its tail and parts of its skin cut out.
It has been reported that the animal body parts are being used for muthi. However, the Limpopo Traditional Health Practitioners deny this, and condemn the killing and mutilation of animals.
Dr Sylvester Hlati, president of the Limpopo Traditional Health Practitioners, says it is very sad and brutal what people are doing to rhinos.
“We are against rhino poaching, and are currently working on a rhino poaching awareness campaign. People are desperate for money because they are suffering and will do almost anything to get money, but they have wrong information because we do not practise like this,” says Hlati.
He says traditional healers do not use parts that were removed in such a brutal way.
“We have an agreement and arrangement with the Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as the Kruger National Park that when we do need things for our practise such as skin or bones, we get permission from authorities, which allows us to get what we need from animals that are already dead,” Hlati explains.
