Rhino mother and calf slaughtered for horns in KZN
Even though Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is running a rhino dehorning programme to try and save the endangered species, another mother and calf have been killed by poachers.
A gruesome discovery was made on a game reserve in the Magudu area, in KZN, on Sunday morning when a rhino female calf and her mother were found dead with their horns cut off.
The inhumane slaughter follows the announcement by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that it had commenced with the dehorning of rhinos in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park on April 8.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo says 109 rhinos have been killed in the park since the beginning of the year.
In South Africa, 231 rhinos have been poached this year, of which 143 were in KZN.
Mntambo says the process of dehorning a rhino has no impact on the animal. After being sedated, the rhino wakes up and shows no signs of discomfort, he explains.
“KZN has played a critical role in rhino conservation in Africa, which is why we are committing resources towards supporting the authorities in their efforts to protect rhinos,” says World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa CEO Dr Morné du Plessis.
“Beyond the dehorning programme, we will also be supporting Ezemvelo in its broader efforts to implement the Ezemvelo KZN Guardianship Strategy for Rhinoceros,” he adds.
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