KZN loses 20 rhinos in 12 days
YESTERDAY Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife confirmed that 20 rhinos had been poached in the province’s reserves in the past 12 days.
The sudden surge in rhino poaching has lead to nine baby rhinos being held in a boma.
The latest orphaned rhino was rescued last Saturday. Believed to be around three months old, it is so tiny that rescuers were able to load him directly into the helicopter.
EKZNW spokesman, Musa Mntambo said the baby animal remained traumatised and confirmed that seven rhinos had been lost to poachers this week. He said that on Tuesday the number of poached rhino this year was 107 and by yesterday the figure stood at 115.
This is an increase of more than 20 percent compared with last year.
The chief executive of EKZNW, Dr David Mabunda expressed his “utmost shock” yesterday regarding the latest discovery of the rhino carcasses.
“These killings undermine our success with the number of poachers who have been arrested to date. This year 91 poachers have been arrested, comparable to last year’s arrest rate of 49 poachers,” said Mabunda.
The news of six slaughtered rhinos being discovered at Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park on World Rhino Day horrified animal conservationists around the world, when the news was spread on social media. The six rhino were shot and dehorned in three separate incidents.
In response to the spiralling death toll, the provincial government announced the setting up a new task team this week in order to combat the brutal killing spree of rhinos across the province.
Premier Willies Mchunu said the extinction of the rhino will “have a devastating impact on our tourism industry.
“This team must look at all possible ways to strengthen our anti-poaching campaigns and strengthen resources of our law enforcement agencies,” he said.