Private rhino owners beg for help to save beasts

POLOKWANE – Private rhino owners, who are not part of any game reserves, claim there is no financial assistance for them to protect their rhinos from poachers.

This comes after a rhino was shot and killed by poachers on a farm a few kilometres outside the city last Wednesday.

Review spoke to some rhino owners on condition of anonymity. According to a neighbour of the owner of the rhino that was killed, the poachers did not remove the rhino’s horn.

“My neighbour said he heard a loud bang, but thought it was a tyre that had burst on the highway. Only the next morning when he found the rhino carcass did he realise the sound he had heard was a gunshot. It was a very sad moment for all of us and we had to cut off the rhino’s horn and hand it to the police,” the neighbour, who is also a rhino owner, said.

Another private rhino owner, also from the neighbourhood, said this rhino was the 14th rhino killed in two weeks on private farms due to poaching that he knew of.

“Rhinos are very friendly and loving animals. They are a part of our families. When one dies, it feels like a family member died. There are so many rhino awareness campaigns, but nothing is available to help private owners to protect their rhinos.

“After my neighbour’s rhino was killed, I called several non-profit organisations that raise funds for rhino awareness, to get help to improve security around the rhino camp, but they said they could not help me.

“They said funds went to the South African National Parks (SANParks). Last year SANParks received R100 million from different rhino awareness campaigns, but still the number of rhinos poached is spiking.

“The future for rhinos is in the hands of private owners, so I think it is about time people started investing to help private owners. We don’t want money, we just want equipment to protect our rhinos,” he said.

Joanne Lapin Thorpe, director of a private commercial enterprise known as The Bead Coalition and creator of the Rhino Force beaded bracelet, said the first Rhino Force bracelet was beaded in 2011 to raise awareness of the rhino crisis.

“The Bead Coalition donates a portion of profit from each bracelet sold to non-profit organisations, private owners or other institutes in need of help with rhino-related matters.

“We have supported many organisations and donated about R5,3 million to date to various rhino conservation organisations, including private rhino owners who have approached us for assistance. Presently, Rhino Force bracelet sales exclusively support the incredible work of Damien Mander and his International Anti-Poaching Foundation,” she said.

Patrick Jordan, trustee for Rhino Revolution said it was true that most funds raised by awareness campaigns were donated to SANParks.

“Rhino Resolution was created to support and help private rhino owners, by raising awareness and also raise funds to support private rhino owners.

“We strive to work with the government to help private rhino owners. Last year Rhino Revolution raised R2 million that was donated to private rhino owners in the Hoedspruit area,” he said.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, said when rhino owners reported a poaching incident, the police responded immediately and investigated the matter.

“We also involve game owners, which include rhino owners, in our meetings where we share information, and work on strategies on how to combat certain situations or problems, as well as share safety and security tips,” Otto said.