GRAPHIC: Rangers foil rhino poachers at Phinda
Poachers were interrupted in the act of butchering a rhino bull with an axe
A RHINO bull has been shot with large calibre rifles and thereafter mercilessly dehorned with an axe, while he was still alive.
The latest rhino tragedy happened at the Phinda Private Game Reserve yesterday at about 6:30 pm.
Owner of Nyathi-Anti Poaching Unit, Barend Lottering spoke to the Zululand Observer from the scene.
According to Lottering blood foam around the mouth and nose of the carcass and scuff marks in the sand, indicated the horrific suffering the animal endured.
‘Last night at about 6:30 pm, rangers heard the shots and proceeded in the direction of the fire,’ he said.
‘The poachers saw them approaching and fled, abandoning two heavy calibre rifles and the axe on the scene.’
The rangers are still tracking down the suspects.
It was the third rhino killing in Phinda only this month.
This latest killing brings the number of rhino killed in KZN this year to just over 100.
WARNING: The gallery below contains graphic images that some viewers may find disturbing:
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